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Donald Trump Backs Out of Debate, Floating Independent Bid
ABC News ^ | Dec 13 2011 | Matt Negrin

Posted on 12/13/2011 12:16:42 PM PST by worst-case scenario

Donald Trump has backed out of moderating a Republican debate because, he says, he’s still considering running for president as an independent candidate.

In a statement on Tuesday, Trump said that GOP candidates are “very concerned” that he will announce an independent candidacy after “The Apprentice” ends, and that they won’t agree to a debate with him unless he rules that out. Which he won’t do.

“It is very important to me that the right Republican candidate be chosen to defeat the failed and very destructive Obama Administration, but if that Republican, in my opinion, is not the right candidate, I am not willing to give up my right to run as an Independent candidate,” Trump said in his statement. “Therefore, so that there is no conflict of interest within the Republican Party, I have decided not to be the moderator of the Newsmax debate.”

Trump was scheduled to moderate the Dec. 27 debate in Iowa, though only two Republican candidates had agreed to be there — Newt Gingrich, the technical front-runner, and Rick Santorum, who has trailed in polls.

The Donald had flirted with running for president early in the year, but he said he was abandoning that decision in May, after President Obama made public his full birth certificate, which Trump had demanded be released. At the time, Trump insisted in a statement that “if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election.”

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cancellation; debate; donaldtrump; trump
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The man is nothing but a publicity hog. It's not like the Republican primary process has had enough ups and downs, without this clown popping out of the car again.

What do you think? Is this the savior we're waiting for to take down Obama? How would be do in a three-way debate?

1 posted on 12/13/2011 12:16:48 PM PST by worst-case scenario
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To: worst-case scenario
The man is nothing but a publicity hog.

Amen, brother. Amen.

2 posted on 12/13/2011 12:20:29 PM PST by varon (Allegiance to the Constitution, always. Allegiance to a party, never!)
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To: worst-case scenario

I wouldnt believe a word of this. He knew that no-one was going to watch.


3 posted on 12/13/2011 12:20:50 PM PST by sickoflibs (Man we are screwed!)
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To: sickoflibs

Trump’s a dick.


4 posted on 12/13/2011 12:22:25 PM PST by REDWOOD99 ("Everyone should pay taxes. Everyone should pay the same rate.)
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To: worst-case scenario

And yet there were people who thought he was fantastic on FR back in the spring. And now they have glommed on to Gingrich.


5 posted on 12/13/2011 12:23:11 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: worst-case scenario

He’s going to pull a Perot.


6 posted on 12/13/2011 12:24:04 PM PST by DBrow
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To: worst-case scenario

thank goodness, the whole idea was a farce.

Gingrich has got this in the bag


7 posted on 12/13/2011 12:24:16 PM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (Newt Gingrich 2012!)
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To: REDWOOD99

Trump’s a dick.

no ,he’s Obama’s trump card ,well, and what you said


8 posted on 12/13/2011 12:24:57 PM PST by molson209
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To: worst-case scenario

Gingrich has my vote, period.


9 posted on 12/13/2011 12:25:08 PM PST by Gator113 (~Just livin' life, my way~.. Newt/Palin-West-2012."got a lot swirling around in my head.")
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To: worst-case scenario

Well I don’t like any of the candidates but anything is better than the Marxist. Palin I think realy screwed up by dropping out but who can blame her? Our treasonous press does everything it can to destroy the family life of any Conservative candidate. That whole Herman Cain scene infuriated me. When Clinton was running they totally kissed his arse, made it look like Republicans set him up.


10 posted on 12/13/2011 12:25:08 PM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda (Nancy Pelosi - The #1 reason why we need a Constitutional amendment for Congressional drug testing.)
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To: worst-case scenario

We have been inclined to like his messages - but wary of the messenger.

There’s no way Trump will endorse anyone until the GOP nominee is chosen, because he hates to back a loser. And whomever wins the GOP nomination - he has left his option open to say: ‘not him/her so I’m going Indy’.

That’s Trump the Gambler;)


11 posted on 12/13/2011 12:25:38 PM PST by sodpoodle ( Gingrich - flying solo - without congressional baggage!!!)
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To: sickoflibs

Got that right.


12 posted on 12/13/2011 12:27:32 PM PST by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: worst-case scenario

Dear Donald Perot:

It’s time to just go home. Your ratings will be just fine and you really don’t need to be messing with the future of our Republic.


13 posted on 12/13/2011 12:29:07 PM PST by InterceptPoint
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To: worst-case scenario
Is this the savior we're waiting for to take down Obama?

You believe this if you're a moron.

14 posted on 12/13/2011 12:33:12 PM PST by Nonstatist
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To: Gator113
"Gingrich has my vote, period."

Same here. He'll rip the Obamunist a new one.

15 posted on 12/13/2011 12:34:24 PM PST by Senator Goldwater
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To: Senator Goldwater

Indeed, and Newt has the best chance to save America from complete breakdown.


16 posted on 12/13/2011 12:36:36 PM PST by Gator113 (~Just livin' life, my way~.. Newt/Palin-West-2012."got a lot swirling around in my head.")
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To: InterceptPoint

It’s actually Ross Paul or Ron Perot.


17 posted on 12/13/2011 12:38:26 PM PST by Notwithstanding (1998 ACU ratings: Newt=100%, Paul=88%, Santorum=84% [the last year all were in Congress])
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To: worst-case scenario; Reagan Man; Impy
So much for Santorum getting more airtime in a "two-way debate" with Newt. I thought the freepers who swooned over Trump as "the only man with the guts to take on Obama" learned their lesson last spring. His short-lived "tea party" campaign to get the GOP nod by waiving the birther flag was only used to boost his reality show ratings.

But sadly, the pro-Trump freepers didn't wise up to this scam artist.

Those gullible pro-Trump freepers proved to be gluttons for punishment. Trump hung around afterwards and declared himself to the GOP kingmaker, asking GOP candidates to grovel before him and kiss his ring to get The Donald's endorsement (why a lifelong smarmy liberal & real estate tycoon has any business telling the GOP who they should nominate is beyond me). Like Charlie Brown & the football, the pro-Trump freepers were STILL heaping praise on this douchebag months later and sneering that anyone who wouldn't kiss The Donald's ring was "cowardly" and how Donald Trump "is going to ask the tough questions the media won't". The most common tactic of the pro-Trump freepers was to claim anyone who opposed Trump's grandstanding egotistical "debate" prefers the mainstream media debates on CNN & MSNBC (nope, I don't care for those debates either but there's no "poll" asking conservatives if the GOP candidates should also avoid a debate moderated by Chrissy Matthews). The "mainstream media debates suck, therefore conservatives must support Donald Trump's debate" argument reminds me of the liberals using some straight couple (Britney Spears, Kim Kardasian, etc.) who makes a mockery of the institution of marriage in order to argue that gay marriage is OKAY. No, I don't like when Britney Spears gets "married" for 3 weeks and I don't like when Adam & Steve get "married" when they're both biologically male. Both make a mockery of marriage, just as both Donald Trump and Chris Matthews make a mockery of conservative debates.

If Donald Trump runs a self-serving third party "campaign" (he won't make a serious effort to get elected, his only purpose will get people to tune in and see his mug on TV), these same freepers will probably still buy this man's B.S. that he's an honorable patriot who is doing it because he loves this country and wants to "save America". I wouldn't be surprised if oodles of freepers vote for Trump over a RINO like Romney, even though Donald "Impeach Bush for lying about Iraq" Trump's 30-year record is even more liberal than Romney's. Somehow they'll claim that splitting the anti-Obama vote and helping Obama get re-elected is GOOD for America and Donald Trump is a conservative hero for doing so. I guess you can't fix stupid.

18 posted on 12/13/2011 12:40:13 PM PST by BillyBoy (Illegals for Perry/Gingrich 2012 : Don't be "heartless"/ Be "humane")
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To: worst-case scenario

Trumps only concern is Trump; he is an a$$. If he ran and siphoned enough votes to elect Obama; he wouldn’t care.

Because it’s all about Trump.


19 posted on 12/13/2011 12:40:29 PM PST by HereInTheHeartland (I love how the FR spellchecker doesn't recognize the word "Obama")
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To: Notwithstanding
It’s actually Ross Paul or Ron Perot.

Indeed. That ego is the real threat to a GOP victory in 2012.

I'm hoping that Rand Paul can be tortured by the GOP to talk his father out of re-electing Obama. One would think that the Senate leadership at the minimum should have some pretty good leverage on Rand.

20 posted on 12/13/2011 12:44:03 PM PST by InterceptPoint
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