Posted on 06/19/2016 7:12:54 PM PDT by MaxistheBest
Republicans in competitive down-ticket races are fighting to distance themselves from the party’s nominee. It’s a recipe for failure
Whether Republicans in competitive races in the House and Senate like it or not, their fate is inexorably tied to that of the Republican nominee for president – Donald Trump.
Over the last few decades, as the partisan divide widened, we have increasingly become a nation of straight-ticket voters.
These facts haven’t stopped Republicans in competitive races in November from trying – almost assuredly in futility – to distance themselves from statements by Trump they believe will be unpopular in their state or district.
Mark Kirk, the most endangered Republican in the Senate, recently called Trump “too bigoted and racist” for him to support. Senator Ron Johnson, pitched in a tough re-election battle with former Senator Russ Feingold in blue Wisconsin spoke out against Trump’s proposed pause on Muslim immigration to the United States. Another endangered Republican, Senator Pat Toomey, called Trump’s criticism of the Trump University case judge “deeply offensive”.
Ironically, the more these Republicans fight to distance themselves from Trump in order to save their political hides, the more damage they do to Trump in their state or district, which in turn makes it harder and harder for these Republicans to win in November.
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Instead of looking to put distance between themselves and Trump, these Republicans need to find a way to capitalize on the energy and enthusiasm Trump has brought to certain demographics – particularly working class white people. The challenge for these Republicans – and the GOP in general that may be leery of some of Trump’s more outside-of-the-box proposals – is how to embrace part of the message without embracing all of it.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
For GOPee incumbents, I don't see that as a long term problem.
Kirk, Toomey, and especially Johnson have been disappointments. No losses there.
So the narrative from here on out is that Trump is bigoted and racist because he actually puts Americans before foreigners.
This, of course, is basically the same narrative that liberals always use to bash conservatives.
Instead of trying to distances ourselves from the narrative, we should challenge the leftists who try to pin it on us.
“What do you mean by ‘bigoted’? Do you have examples?” And so forth.
We’ve sat back and let the left control the narrative for too long. Our country is sinking fast as a result. If we allow the narrative created by the left to influence our vote and we do nothing to fight it, I think that Venezuela level problems are not that far in our future.
I doubt we can survive another four years of a socialist president, especially with our do-nothing congress and senate who just sit back and obey every time the liberals threaten to use the narrative on them.
th he eh
It’s horrible that we cannot have at least one reasonably unified patriotic party that genuinely gave a damn about our sovereignty, safety and freedoms!!!
America used to be the land of hope and opportunity for all!!
Unless Donald Trump is elected, we will all be living an endless nightmare if we’re still living at all!!
Agreed, don’t forget the flake Flake from Arizona. And to think I donated to Johnson. Shame on me.
Typical obvious Guardian agitprop.
When President Trump takes office these effete Quislings will be isolated, then discarded.
Flake is safe this time around, though his butt-buddy Ariz. Juan is ahead of the 3 previously mentioned Rynos on the To-Do list.
Or they can change their ways.
They’re not anti-American RINOs because of their beliefs- they have no beliefs.
Illinois hasn’t had decent representation in the Senate for over a decade and, with the exception of Peter Fitzgerald, was spotty for quite a while before that. Kirk can (and will) go. He was useful only for organizing the Senate. He will probably blame his inevitable loss on Trump, but the truth is he is just lame.
Agree, and in Kirk's case I'd encourage Trump supporters in Illinois to vote for his opponent. I doubt there's a dimes worth of difference between them.
These down-ticket Republicans should be embracing Trump. Do they really think they’ll get support from voters of the opposing candidate and the media by denouncing Trump?
I’m totally finished with each and every politician and elected official who is NOT 100% supportive of Nominee Donald Trump.
I’ll not only withhold my vote, I have started to write to each one to inform them of my plans.
Any down ticket Republican who refuses to back our party’s nominee deserves to be shown the door.
Trump would rather have down ticket Republicans win too but he would win without them if need be.
They’re not as indispensable as they imagine.
This is the money quote:
“The sobering truth for many in the GOP is that control of the Senate, as well as possibly the House, rests entirely in the hands of Donald Trump. If Trump wins in November, once again defying the political odds, Republicans will undoubtedly maintain control in Washington. If, however, he loses badly, Republicans down ballot will pay the price as well.”
If Republicans think they can hang to power by repudiating and running away from Trump, they’re in for a rude awakening. Voters despise turncoats and political hacks. The Trump brand is based on a total repudiation of Washington and the insider class. The latter needs to grasp only Trump can save their political hides. In a word, its Trump or bust for GOP politicians.
We’ve sat back and let the left control the narrative for too long.///
They control the media, academia, and our dumbed down populace doesn’t know they’re being led by the nose. And GOPe politicians don’t rock the boat because all they care about is re-election and principles be damned.
In 1792 we needed George Washington. In 2016 we need a billionaire Sam Adams.
[We’ve sat back and let the left control the narrative for too long. Our country is sinking fast as a result.]
Exactly right. The GOPee have done nothing to change who the spokespeople are in the political fights. Because of that Republicans are always on the defensive....the left gets to define the Repubs. The Dems attack and the Repubs powerlessly defend. One broadcast co....FOX is owned by conservatives..The lone voice against ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, NPR. Any move by the Repubs to acquire one of these?
The republican party was lost a long time ago, their infighting today only demonstrates how liberal they have become. Republicans have destroyed themselves, Trump only brought it to the surface.
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