Guest Commentary
by Steve Hunyar
In 2012, Donald Trump actually supported Hillary Clinton in a number of different ways. In March of 2012 he said, “Hillary Clinton, I think, is a terrific woman. I am biased because I have known her for years. I live in New York, she lives in New York, and I’ve known her and her husband for years and I really like them both a lot.” He also said she did a “good job” as Secretary of State. WHAAAAAAT?
Yesterday presidential candidate Trump said, “Easily, she’s [Hillary Clinton] the worst Secretary of State in the history of our country.”
Will the real Donald Trump please stand up?
The reality is Trump is siphoning conservative voters and is capturing all the oxygen in the campaign right now (including Mrs. Clinton’s). The frightening thing is that he has hinted that he may run on an Independent ticket if he ultimately does not win the GOP nomination.
If Trump changes his affiliation, he will be Mrs. Clinton’s Ross Perot, guaranteeing her a victory. Ironically, had Perot not gotten involved in the first place, Hillary Clinton would likely be nothing more politically than the former First Lady of Arkansas. Nonetheless, Perot captured 19.7 million votes; approximately 19 percent of the total. His independent candidacy catapulted Bill Clinton into the presidency with a paltry 43 percent of the total vote.
As I climb into the clouds and cynically look from the 40,000 foot level, this seems a little too convenient.
On one hand, this strategy explains much — Mrs. Clinton basically going through the motions and keeping a far distance from the media. The utter orchestrations of every move she makes and how seemingly uninterested she is in the electorate.
And why not? If she knows her coronation is inevitable, why should she make her job more difficult?
I could be wrong. I hope I am wrong. But the Clintons have always proven themselves to be master strategists — thinking years in advance.
On the other hand, Trump may have been playing to his audience over three years ago, and his comments now about an independent run may have simply been to throw down the gauntlet to RNC Chair Reince Priebus and the rest of the Committee, to treat him with the respect he deserves. Many of the 69 percent of GOP voters who said they would never voter for Trump six weeks ago have already changed their minds.
The worst case scenario for conservatives is Hillary winning with Trump having run on an independent ticket. The next worst scenario is Trump winning the GOP nomination with the establishment Republican Party having completely alienated him and his tens of millions of voters. “Dysfunctional” will have a new definition in political circles.
Personally, I like the quivering of the establishment elitists in the GOP. However, I do not like that a few of the other candidates have decided to eat their own.
It does make for good theater. This play shall be called “Trumped”. Problem is, which Trump card will he use?
*****
Hunyar is an author and conservative activist.
Comments 6
As frightening–disastrous–as a Trump third-party candidacy would be, the really frightening thing to me is the effect Trump’s had on so many so-called conservatives.
What does it say about the state of the conservative American mind?
Craig, my take: They pine for anything and anyone not part of the GOP status quo, as do I, but don’t see that showmanship doesn’t make a candidate any different than those they detest. I fear that next year’s elections may be the epitome of what Louis Brandeis referenced, but in this case a description of “ours” instead of the statists he meant: “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.”
I think you’re right. Barry.
If showmanship did make him “any different,” I think it’d be for the worse. The Donald, I suspect, knows perfectly well what he’s doing. Among those “without understanding,” I would prominently place his followers.
PS–at points a little over the top, but, in general, true.
http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/rex-murphy-dont-blame-trump-blame-america
Can answer the question without reading the article. Conservatives always get played. It’s how we got a Republican majority in Congress that has done nothing to even slow down the Obama train wreck.
Not surprising. Republicans are only intermittently conservative.