Trump: 'I identify with some things as a Democrat'

Donald Trump, a 2016 Republican presidential candidate, said Friday he sometimes identifies more as a Democrat when pressed to explain previous statements that the economy generally does better under Democrats than Republicans.

"I identify with some things as a Democrat," Trump said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" when pressed about the comments from 2004, adding that "generally speaking" he was "never a Bush fan."

"When the economy crashed so horribly under George Bush because of mistakes they made having to do with banking and lots of other things, I don't think the Democrats would have done that," Trump said.

"Now, I see it both ways, but I hated what I was watching in the last two years of George Bush, because it was a bubble that was waiting to explode," he added. "What they were doing was a death wish, and I saw that."

"I have seen things done by Republicans that are not good and are not smart, and I would not do that," he said.

The celebrity real estate developer skyrocketed to the top of many polls following the launch of his GOP White House bid in mid-June, amid weeks of criticism and media attention to his controversial comments on Mexican immigrants.

Trump made waves this week after he threatened during an interview with The Hill to run as a third-party candidate. He played down that possibility Thursday, saying, "I want to run as a Republican. I think I'll get the nomination."

"Over the years as a businessman, I've always helped everybody," Trump said Friday on MSNBC, further explaining his past support for both Democrats and Republicans.

"I'm a conservative, I want to run as a Republican, I'm leading every poll," he said. "I do not want to do independent at all. Now, if I'm treated poorly, that's one thing. If I'm treated well and with great respect and don't win, I would not do that."

Trump had suggested to The Hill on Wednesday that the Republican National Committee "has not been very supportive." He said Friday that the RNC has been "very, very nice over the last few days.”

I don’t know that anyone believes Trump is a better choice that Cruz. But the gop is never going to allow Cruz or any other republican the nomination unless they’re a rino. Trump is the only one who doesn’t need their “okay”. And that’ why I like what he’s saying.

Unfortunately, a rino will be the nominee and he will not get my vote.

I guess it was lost on him that the DEMOCRATS were completely in charge then???

Then what is the excuse with Republicans in charge with an opposite party President?

The answer is that both situations have the same thing in common: weak Republicans, whether it was "compassionate" Bush who wouldn't defend himself, or Congressional Republicans who won't fight.

When Trump says "I identify with some things as a Democrat," he's saying he didn't support the way the Republicans were handling the crises of the time. He must still feel that way today, because he's running for President so he can decide how to tackle the nation's problems, not McConnell and Boehner. But he's running as a Republican, which to me means that Trump is rejecting the Democrat brand.

-PJ

You and I are in the same camp, but I don't think you have a grasp of how big the looney bin camp is. It's huge right now...about a quarter of the Republican electorate, probably 50% of the base....for a man who does not deserve that support from those folks.

Time will tell. I expect Trump's support, although broad, is also probably shallow. Trump is all over the place on policy issues. The more he talks the more inconsistent he demonstrates himself to be. That's going to hurt him in the long run. Right now, my fear is that the GOPe will make a martyr out of him, and drive him to a 3rd party run. That guarantees us another 8 years of democRAT communist policy.

"It's always interesting to see the fools when the fool's gold is exposed. BTW, for the past month, that includes el Rushbo......who was never fooled by Perot for a second. I think wife #4 has dulled the senses...."

Some guy called in to Rush's show yesterday. He was angry that conservatives have fallen for Trump's line, and he laid out some of Trump's liberal history.

Rush mocked the caller and completely dismissed everything he said.

The guy was in his early twenties, and he came across as sort of whiny and excitable, but he didn't deserve that kind of treatment...his information was on target and well-documented.

Never a Bush fan either. He fought daddy’s war rather than finishing up with bin laden. I gave bush a pass anyway but wasn’t happy to. And I can no longer identity with the current trend In the GOP. Never been a Dhimmicrat though....never will be. Will vote for Cruz in the primaries......but could vote for Trump in the general unless he goes third party. Won’t go to the polls in the general if Bush or Rubio are the chosen ones (I might go and write in someone).
Most of what trump says strikes a chord and he is refreshingly honest so far. A plus to me.

I like Trump. I have never maintained he is a great conservative, mainly because I am not aware of any conservatives in either party. Here, posters claim Cruz is conservative, but he voted to empower Obama on two critical issues, both of which can destroy the nation — one , its sovereignty, the other, by nuclear war. He voted to give Obama more power. Can you conceive? And talk about someone saying things you want to hear.

The Republican caucus, in the majority because they scammed voters last November by insisting they were conservative and would oppose Obama on major fronts, insists on maintaining the present leadership of Boehner and McConnell, who support Obama fully.

The main issue facing the nation, if we are to survive, is immigration. Trump is the only one willing to step up and address it in the critical terms necessary. He has placed it as a top agenda, while the other candidates flim-flam it.
Idiots like Jeb! claim it is our national salvation.

I am fed up with the conservative/liberal debate pertaining to politicians (not the cultural/governmental aspect). It has been going for all the years since (and before) Reagan, we have elected supposed conservatives, and they govern just like liberals do. Anyone remember the definition of insanity?

How many republicans have voted “yea” on democrat bills? Even Cruz voted for some doozies. Apparently when he did that he was “thinking like a democrat”.

Personally, I would be very happy to see a conservative who refused to compromise. Unfortunately, with people like boner and mitchy and other professional politicians calling the shots, a “pure” conservative will never accomplish anything.

The only hope is to get rid of the republican party completely.

Trump is serving a useful purpose and I fully support it (that purpose, getting under the skin of the right people - I don’t support him).

That said, if I were polled today, I’d say Trump.

Voting for him? The only scenario I can see voting for him would be as a third party candidate opposed to El Jefe as the GOP nod.

If the Establishment foists El Jefe on us, they can go freep themselves. And I don’t care how many concern trolls tell me I have to vote for him to save us from Cankles.

"Yeah, they have to do that to support their absurd Reagan analogy......and BTW, I guess all the Trump groupies are sleeping late today....which is why they're not around this thread. Go figure...."

Yeah, just give it a while. Spinning will reach new heights...or should I say lows?

Last night Trump was called a superhero. See, he moonlights with the cape when he takes time out from being Reagan and Churchill.

You really need to dig past the headlines when it comes to Ted Cruz. The MSM version of Ted Cruz is really not what you should be after......................... Cruz is reminiscent of Palin, the media can’t resist reporting the slightest faux pah on the part of Cruz. They are spewing buckets of vitriol on Cruz and ignoring the other Republican candidates. Its Trump and Cruz they fear the most, they are already spreading the word. Read some of the idiotic comments they (uninformed)leave on the comment pages of the Yahoo news reports. This a.m. I read some real beauties. Stupidity reins.

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