Is Donald Trump Conservative? Here’s the Rundown

Breitbart ^ | January. 24,2016 | Ben Shaprio

[Hojczyk]

Tax Plan. Trump’s tax plan is certainly conservative. He proposes lowering the top tax bracket to 25 percent, drops the capital gains tax to 20 percent, dumps the death tax, and drops the corporate rate to 15 percent.

Our analysis finds that the plan would reduce federal revenues by $11.98 trillion over the next decade. However, it also would improve incentives to work and invest, which could increase gross domestic product (GDP) by 11 percent over the long term.

That’s different from his past positions on taxes, which include fighting the flat tax and proposing a wealth tax that would force owners to liquidate their property to pay taxes every year.

Trade. Trump is for international tariffs, including an extraordinarily heavy tariff on Chinese goods, in the mistaken belief that this somehow helps the American economy. Tariffs certainly benefit protected sectors, but they hurt American consumers and destroy American purchasing power. Trump also wants to leave mandatory union dues alone – or at least he hasn’t commented differently on the issue for several years.

Guns. Trump has become progressively more pro-Second Amendment over time. His website states: “The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.”

So, there you have it: Trump’s mixed record on conservatism, even at present, belies the notion that he sees eye-to-eye with the Tea Party. Actually, Trump is far more populist than conservative — which means he has appeal to blue-collar Democrats, but also that he may not reliably stand by conservative principles in office. In fact, given his repeated position switching, the safe bet is that anything he says today will changed based on convenience. That should not encourage any conservative thinking of Trump in the primaries.

[The Toll]

Two things Trump will do that will prove once and for all that he couldn’t possibly be a conservative.

A) win the election
B) secure the border

[central_va]

Tariffs certainly benefit protected sectors, but they hurt American consumers and destroy American purchasing power at first. Prices return to the pre tariff level as domestic manufactures ramp up over time.

Fixed.

[Jonty30]

Trump is a New Yorker elite, including his values. However, I don’t think he is hostile to the Constitution and I think he has changed his mind on a few things as he’s become less engaged with his business and broadened his horizons. He’s not a traitor to the country.

[Phinneous]

Where is he on same-sex marriage?

[central_va]

What hath free trade wrought?

Here's my question: If a little offshoring of manufacturing is good then why not off shore every manufacturing endeavor to Asia/China. Can't get too much of a good thing right? We can go back the agrarian economic model and sell hamburgers to each other.

[Nicojones]

Is Paul Ryan a conservative?

Is mitch mconnell a conservative?

Was John boehner a conservative?

All of them claimed to be and have actually betrayed us, but I don’t remember seeing an entire issue of national review devoted to pointing this out. If trump builds that wall and stops the illegal invasion, he’ll have done more than any elected so called conservative politician in the last 20 years.

[FrankR]

The GOP has become the “placeholders” for the democrats. They spend their wins cleaning up after the rats, and filling the coffers for the nex dem president.

[Vermont Lt]

He would say he’s provided jobs.

[mouse1]

I don’t know how it’s going to be under President Trump. He has a deep love of his Country and cares about it’s future. He has molded this election season. He threw his opponents, both republican and democrat, off guard with his ability to command what the issues would be. Do you think immigration would be one of the top issues of this campaign without Trump hammering away at it? The primary season would be awfully boring since the guy with the biggest war chest would be the candidate. 2016 would be a battle of Jeb vs Hillary. Instead, who knows how this will end. But it has been anything but boring!

FYI before everyone starts bashing me for liking Trump, I am a Cruz supporter but would have no problem voting for Trump in the general. Anyone else, I’ll stay home.

[GrouchoTex]

Trump is conservative on a lot of things and centrist to left on others. It is a mixed bag.at the end of the day, Reagan, both Bushes, and even Clinton,ended up governing more centrist at the end of the day.
Obama has been left, obviously.
I would like to elect a true conservative once in my lifetime, we really have not.
Does not seem that I will get my wish this election, should all the polls hold up.
Cooledge may have been the last true to form one we have elected.

[FreedomForce]

I don’t trust his rhetoric at all on the 2nd Amendment. I think he’s a Fudd at best (probably because his sons like to hunt big game.) He’ll use the 2nd Amendment as a bargaining chip, something to be dealt away to get something else that he actually cares about. The 2nd Amendment won’t be a priority for him in Supreme Court nominees either.

[Starstruck]

Is Trump smart enough to run as a conservative in the Republican primary? Yes

Are conservatives gullible enough to vote for him in the Republican primary

Yes.

[floozy22]

Trump's positions would appear to hold up pretty well to conservative scrutiny.

VA & Vets / U.S. & China Trade / 2nd Amendment / Immigration / Tax Reform

donaldjtrump.com/positions

[Isara]

Your handy, dandy Trump vs. Cruz comparison chart!

Simply click each policy or issue to read the back-story.

Policy or Issue	Trump	Cruz
In 2013, supported Amnesty for all 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S.	Yes	No
In 2000, supported an Assault Weapons Ban	Yes	No
In 2015, supported "touchback" Amnesty for every illegal alien in the U.S.	Yes	No
In 2000, supported Partial-Birth Abortion	Yes	No
In 2015, lied to gun media about his past support for an Assault Weapons Ban	Yes	No
Supports seizure of private property by the government using Eminent Domain (Kelo)	Yes	No
Supports Mitch McConnell's habitual lies to constituents and fellow GOP Senators	Yes	No
Currently courting and being courted by GOP establishment	Yes	No
Currently supports crony capitalism: billions in taxpayer ethanol subsidies	Yes	No
In 2000, supported Extended Waiting Periods to Acquire Firearms	Yes	No
Amount of debt owed to bankers	Many billions	$1 million
Amount donated to the bogus Clinton "Foundation"	$100,000	0
Endorsed by GOPe icon Bob Dole, who thought Ronald Reagan was "too fringe"	Yes	No
Number of bankruptcies declared by firms he led	4	0
Amount of debt defaulted on	$4.7 billion	$0.00
Number of times married	3	1
Number of "birther" conspiracy theories circulated	2	0
Praised/endorsed Communist for Mayor of New York	Yes	No
Spends virtually every waking moment on social media	Yes	No
Appears to shift his position on important issues literally overnight	?	No
A guy so stable, sober and poised that you want his finger on the button	?	Yep

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Hear,hear

[lodi90]

You left out one column for TPA Teddy. Goldman Sachs campaign donations: $100,000

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Damn good point.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

We were just born way too late.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I’m at a real loss to even remember a good 100% conservative over the last 20 years.

Both of my senators and even my congressman over the past 10 years have been everything a RINO stands for. From illegal alien labor, to the Gubmit Motors bailout.

Just building the damn wall will make Trump appear that he accomplished more than Bush & his worthless dad combined over 12 years.

[seowulf]

The argument this time around is not between conservative and liberal/progressive. It is between nationalist and internationalist.

Both the Republican establishment and Democrats are internationalist. They are TPP, Agenda 21, Davos, and on and on.

Trump seems by what he says, to be a nationalist "conservative," and he is only a populist in that the people are rejecting internationalism.

So maybe he's "conservative" or not. It doesn't matter. If he's going to cast the devils out of DC, he's on our side.

Mark 9:38-40

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.