Trump: Actually, I May Break My Pledge Not To Go Third Party

Townhall.com ^ | November 23, 2015 | Guy Benson

[Kaslin]

Hey, remember this?

The Pledge #MakeAmericaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/5OVWdxgLn9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2015

After routinely flirting with a third-party run, Donald Trump signed an unambiguously-worded pledge in early September, vowing ;forego a third-party presidential bid if he fails to secure the Republican presidential nomination. Having committed his word,Trump averred that he had "no intention" of reconsidering the promise: "I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge," he said, calling the pledge "total." Now he's mad about some opponents and outside groups announcing plans to attack him, so the thin-skinned and erratic Republican frontrunner is once again changing his tune. Surprise:

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump would not rule out making a run for president as an independent despite signing a pledge over the summer saying he would support the eventual GOP nominee instead of running a third-party bid. "I'm going to have to see what happens. I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly," Trump said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" when asked about a new guerrilla effort by operatives within the Republican Party to derail Trump's candidacy.

But not to worry, conservatives. He'll be totally reliable on all the issues on which he's completely reversed himself in order to pander to you -- from tax increases, to abortion, to gun control, to government-run healthcare (which he still praises), to immigration rhetoric and policy, etc. His longstanding alignment with the Democratic Party and financial support for Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid shouldn't concern you either. Nor should his ongoing left-wing talking points on "fairness," the Koch brothers, "blame Bush," and expanding the federal bureaucracy. And neither should his abysmally low (34/61) favorability rating among the general electorate, much worse than even his dear friend and benefactor Hillary's terrible numbers. He'll never abandon you in pursuit of his own self-serving interests, or for attention. Incidentally, Trump was given yet another opportunity on Sunday to clear up the "media smear" regarding his allegedly nonexistent support for a national registry of Muslims -- including citizens. He took another pass, declining to answer the question asked of him, keeping things nice and hazy:

Here's the full Trump quote, which seems to be about Syrian refugees, not Muslim citizens. pic.twitter.com/jtnE3Xkk5L Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) November 22, 2015

This is more evidence supporting my suspicion that he's deliberately obfuscating. His supporters who insist this is a made-up media hit job can point to his responses focusing on refugees, while other supporters who like the idea of this unconstitutional scheme won't find a denial in there. And then there's this:

GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump is doubling down on comments that thousands of people in parts of New Jersey with large Arab populations cheered on 9/11. Trump said at a rally on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. that he watched as the World Trade Center "came tumbling down." "And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down," he added. "Thousands of people were cheering." ABC "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos asked Trump on Sunday if he misspoke, noting that "police say that didn't happen and all those rumors have been on the Internet for some time." "It did happen. I saw it, " Trump said. "It was on television. I saw it ... George, it did happen," Trump persisted.

He did not see it, and it was not on television. In fairness to Trump, I distinctly remember hearing rumors about crowds of Muslims in parts of New Jersey openly celebrating on 9/11, but no credible corroborating evidence ever emerged, and local police have strongly refuted the claim. He may have been thinking of this footage showing Palestinians dancing in the streets of Gaza. Conflation is often how false memories form. What's inexcusable, but not surprising, is Trump's reckless, fact-free double-down. But cults of personality will justify and excuse virtually anything. Which helps explain why this vile man still has an approval rating in the low 40's:

Obama: GOP doing the terrorists' work for them; WATCH: https://t.co/bgQyLsQJ2p pic.twitter.com/mMSezkW2UF The Hill (@thehill) November 22, 2015

[Girlene]

I went unaffiliated last December............

So willyou be able to vote in your primary for a republican nominee? That's kind of important.

[Pirate Ragnar]

Anything that singes his bloated narcissistic ego will cause him to change his mind.

[JoSixChip]

IN my opinion, I think Trump should stay the course, and make the GOPe do whatever it think they can do

It's refreshing to hear from a woman with more testicular fortitude then most self proclaimed conservatives on FR. Not to mention a Harley girl that I bet would appreciate the prettiest red 04 FLSTCI to ever exist that is in my garage.

[WilliamRobert]

GOPe screws with the process I’ll write in like I did last time.

[laplata]

I make a comment and you get all bent out of shape. It is uncalled for.

Quit bothering me and that is a warning because I’ll report you.

[Pirate Ragnar]

Third party = Circular firing squad

[crosdaddy]

Hey you two,take out back the garage

[Jim Robinson]

if he fails to secure the Republican presidential nomination."

Cute but Trump has not yet lost the nomination. He is, in fact, the head and shoulders leader in the race. I do not see any reason for Trump to go third party. He has already soundly kicked the ass of every GOPe amnesty pimp they put up against him. And they burned through $150,000,000 plus of corrupt Cheap Labor Express money trying to knock him out, where he has spent next to nothing. If the GOPe now goes dirty and tries to run roughshod over our leading non-establishment candidates, and they (Trump and Cruz) decide to join forces to fight them, it will be Katie bar the door. Trump and Cruz are resonating with and have the full support of the America loving people.

The GOPe tried and failed with Bush. Then Fiorina. Then Carson. Kasich was a nothing burger. Now it is gang of eight amnesty pimp Rubio. Good luck with that. They even flirted with resurrecting Myth Romney.

Who will they put up next?

Go Trump, GO!!

Go Cruz, GO!!

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Agreed

[VerySadAmerican]

I’ve always said that the rinos should come over and join us rather than we always having to join them. But they’d rather have Hillary than anyone who isn’t a rino.

[crosdaddy]

Of course they would,they don’t want an outsider coming in and screwing up their good thing.

[JimSEA]

If you recall, Bill Clinton won with 43% of the vote in 1992 thanks to Ross Perot.

[SquarePants]

You post that as if there was really any benefit in having re-elected GHWB in 92 over Clinton. Bush left a huge vacuum of people who had supported Reagan but saw how Bush proved himself untrustworthy in his first term. Clinton was elected because of Bush

[JoSixChip]

So willyou be able to vote in your primary for a republican nominee? That's kind of important.

Yep, in Colorado you can vote in one, but not both, party primarys. But in Colorado, you can also go to any precinct and claim you plan to move there and register to vote on the spot. The really nice thing is that you don't even need an ID to register. The democrats in Colorado do not believe in leaving elections to chance.

[JoSixChip]

Quit bothering me and that is a warning because I'll report you.

I recommend you do just that, call it a "micro aggression" that always gets their attention.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

If Trump goes 3rd party then he will guaranty Hillary the White house.

Here's a question though: does the GOPe deserve the White House at any cost?

I won't support any GOP candidates if they play dirty with Trump. I suspect that millions of people would feel the same, and all the positive energy of the election will be down the drain. The GOP is signing its own death warrant.

[crosdaddy]

Is this the first Freeper micro aggression on record?

[detch]

Bush would have gotten almost all Perot’s votes, as unhappy Republicans would never have voted Democrat,

So, let’s see...

Colorado, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Louisiana, Kenucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennesylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada...

I am aware of the electoral college. Thanks for the lesson in basics though.

Many Republicans were unhappy with the “no new taxes BS” by GHWB, but I maintain Perot GAVE IT TO CLINTON (unintentionally as he was delusional about his chances and should have dropped out of the race).

Trump won’t make such a mistake. His running as an independent is claptrap.

[crosdaddy]

They wouldn’t have voted Democrat........they would of just stayed home.
You know,like they did for macainiac and Romney

[JoSixChip]

Is this the first Freeper micro aggression on record?

Not even close, I wasn't even obnoxious this time. Believe me, I've been rougher on Jim himself.