Posted on 07/19/2015 1:01:23 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Even before Donald Trump found himself on defense for disparaging Sen. John McCain's military service, Sal Russo wasn't too impressed with the real estate mogul's presidential prospects.
Russo knows a thing or two about populist uprisings and anti-establishment candidates. The former Reaganite spent eight weeks advising billionaire Ross Perot's third party campaign in 1992. In 2002, he consulted for a conservative challenger to moderate Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan in California's Republican gubernatorial primary (his candidate won the nomination). A few years later, Russo founded Tea Party Express, a group he still runs.
On Saturday, Trump came under fire for questioning whether McCain's time as prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, during which he was severely tortured, qualifies the Arizona Republican as a war hero. The day before, in a telephone interview with the Washington Examiner from his home in Sacramento, Calif., Russo discussed the billionaire businessman/reality television star's upstart bid for the GOP presidential nomination.
Russo's verdict: The frustration with Washington and the political establishment that Trump has tapped into with his unorthodox, blunt style is very real and shouldn't be dismissed. Trump has risen in part by taking a hard line on illegal immigration. But the New Yorker's comments have been interpreted by some as broadly anti-immigrant, and Russo said that Trump's message lacks the substantive seriousness and positive, uplifting vision required to turn anti-establishment agitators, like President Ronald Reagan, into winners at the ballot box.
The interview with Russo was edited for length and clarity.
Examiner: What do you make of Donald Trump?
Russo: Both Trump and Bernie Sanders are taking advantage of abject frustration with the established order — on the left and the right. People think the system doesn't work. The manifestations are, of course, candidates that speak very boldly but not necessarily in ways that make them universally popular. The problem with their electability is, protest candidates aren't usually successful. Those that are successful articulate a vision for the future.
Examiner: Has Trump caught fire with Tea Party voters?
Russo: I would say no to that. We continually poll our donors to see what they're thinking and he has not polled very well.
Examiner: In 1992, you spent about eight weeks in Dallas advising Perot, another billionaire businessman rabble-rouser. Any similarities?
Russo: I don't think the overlap is clear with Trump other than the frustration and [voters] liking the blunt, straight talk. And Perot was pretty folksy — he was far less provocative than Trump.
Examiner: You live in California and witnessed first hand the 2003 recall of Gov. Gray Davis, which featured another celebrity-turned-politician in Arnold Schwarzenegger. Any similarities between that race and what you're seeing with the Trump phenomenon?
Russo: Schwarzenegger has the celebrity that Trump has, [although] in the campaign Arnold never said anything too provocative. That's where Trump — a lot of things he says strains credibility. He hasn't laid out an agenda where people can relate to it. But when you look at Arnold saying, 'I'm going to blow up the boxes,' nobody was offended by that. It was, okay, he's going to go up there and clean up. It's an important pivot point, credible even if unspecified. If voters like you and trust you they'll impute to you what they think should be done. But you need to be likable.
Examiner: Is Trump hurting the Republican Party's brand and jeopardizing the eventual nominee's chances against Hillary Clinton?
Russo: I would generally say no to that. I don't think anything is damaging particularly. The nominee defines the party. When we have a nominee that person is going to define the party and what the alternatives are. I hear all that hand wringing; I think it's pretty silly. I don't think it's going to matter. If Trump's on the ticket, it matters.
Examiner: Can Trump win?
Russo: We have never in modern times elected a protest candidate as president. The candidate with the more forward looking agenda has tended to win all of the time. So the big question is, can Trump turn his protest movement into something more appealing to the general public? The personality candidates seem to often be the protest candidates, which means there is a limited shelf life. People want a vision.
I’m a Tea Party Type, and I support Trump and his taking on both the GOPe and the Democrats.
I’m not impressed with anyone who claims to be a Tea Party “leader”.
This is a movement with no leader.
Who has the secret decoder ring?
Tea Party Nation has officially endorsed Cruz, but I see a lot of Trump support there as well.
This repeat posting of Trump history is incredibly meaningless. Who cares? Do you personally not like Trump or just think it your role to trash him in support of Walker? Walker is a local or regional candidate that is a nobody, a back bencher that might get GOPe attention if Bush III or Rubio fall aside, but otherwise, he is wasting time and money. He seriously needs a new message and some better presentation skills. Very NOT impressive.
Good post, CW.
While Walker is my 2nd choice, I appreciate people telling the truth about Trump.
> I didn’t think the Tea Party wanted the Donald anyway.
FIrst time I’ve heard this too. Probably the liberal media trying to paint the Tea Party in the same light as Trump to split the vote away from Cruz by indirectly dropping the suggestion that they were going to vote or him or to paint them in a negative light.
So people can’t ever come around to conservative points of view? Do they have to be born GOP? My mother was a life long liberal union nurse- and all it took was Obama and the affordable care act, and now she’s a Limbaugh listening conservative. People’s view points evolve over time.
I am pretty much Tea Party, and I totally support Trump."
Yet you're on record as being pro-Obamacare, and you've stated abortion isn't a big issue with you.
On another thread, a Trump fan said Trump might be a Democrat, but he's better than Hillary, even if he is for abortion and homosexual marriage.
So I would say true conservatives, true Tea Party haven't fallen for Trump, other than appreciating his blunt comments for what they are.
Cruz or Walker. No way I'm supporting a guy that in the past has supported both Hillary and Obama. That is way beyond even worst of the other Republican candidates. He has in the past supported illegal immigrants. Just because he is riding the anti-immigrant wave today doesn't mean I could trust him. A skunk who has it's white stripe dyed black is still a skunk.
I might not agree with everything Mr. Trump says but right now I find him talking about issues that the others won't talk about.
I have just about had it with the Establishment Republican Anointed candidates and I will not vote for Jeb Bush under any circumstances. So if Trump somehow becomes the nominee and is, in your words, the protest candidate I will vote for him. By the way Sal protest candidates have won at every level of politics so maybe it's time one won on the national level. Don't call for any money, you aren't getting any as is the RNC and any other Republican calling.
Spot on. Emphasis on *establishment hacks*.
Funny how the “tea party experts” were no where to be found when they were all under the eye of the IRS.
Just saying...
Trump is strongly for bringing back jobs to America.
He’s the only candidate, saying one word about US jobs.
That is a very strong issue, and he’s got it all to himself so far.
There are 15 candidates. Any one of those 15 candidates could be out there, saying the things Trump is saying.
But thus far, he’s it. Trump is all alone on this very important issue.
So, in other words, the Tea Party becomes less relevant AND helps the Dems at the same time.
When Cruz dumps Trump, I will too. Guess the Tea Party is mad at Cruz now too?
Uh, I thought there wasn’t a singular “Tea Party” to decide on anything? So where did they assume collective opinion on Trump?
Here is a tip for the people that dont like this guy on the right: TELL THE PERSON YOU SUPPORT TO GET OUT THERE AND MAKE SOME NOISE.
And since when did we start feeling sorry for McCain? Let him and his RINO buddies defend him.
“A few other posters don’t seem to understand (or pretend to not understand) that simple and logical fact. “
Oooooh. Condescension. That’s helpful.
BESURETODRINKYOURKOOLAID?
I completely agree. And I consider myself 100% Tea Party. Most of my friends as well and everyone of them is cheering on Trump. Comical to see people come along and claim to represent Tea Party and try to say what and who we support or not.
I sure don't donate to the RNC.
I think Trump is separating the sheep from the goats and not sure that is even his goal.. Just telling the truth!
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