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With abortion answer, Trump showed that he never studied for his Conservatism 101 finals
Hot Air.com ^ | March 31, 2016 | JAZZ SHAW

Posted on 03/31/2016 3:51:54 PM PDT by Kaslin

By this time, everyone with a television, a smart phone or a computer has already seen the MSNBC town hall exchange between Chris Matthews and Donald Trump where the abortion question came up. (Even if you lack all three of those modern devices, you may have caught wind of it via the screams of horror emanating from the windows of your neighbors, both Democrat and Republican.) But on the odd chance that you were in a coma for the past sixteen hours and happened to turn to Hot Air before doing anything else this morning, here’s the short but brutal recap. (WaPo)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump came under fire Wednesday for saying that women should be subject to “some sort of punishment” for undergoing illegal abortions, a position that antiabortion and abortion rights groups alike emphatically denounced.

The GOP front-runner said during a pre-taped town hall hosted by MSNBC that criminal punishments would be appropriate for women seeking abortions if the procedure were made illegal nationwide. Moderator Chris Matthews pressed Trump on the practical implications of banning abortions.

Before going any further, I’d like to preface this column with something that at least approaches a bit of an apology to my friends in the #NeverTrump camp because yesterday’s events led to a wake-up call of sorts for me on a personal level. As regular readers know by now, I’ve gone out of my way to leave some maneuvering room for the GOP this fall by attempting to maintain Donald Trump’s status as a viable back-up plan if Ted Cruz fails to secure the nomination. (And I’ve been gently taken to task for it by some very prominent writers.) I recognize that I may have even engaged in a bit of willful disregard for some of the more troubling aspects of his campaign rather than simply throwing up my hands and tossing the keys to the Oval Office to Hillary Clinton. But after a night to sleep on and digest last night’s debacle, even I must confess that something in the stew smells like it’s gone past its expiration date here.

Allahpundit seemed to touch on part of what went wrong yesterday when he wrote this:

You can almost see the wheels turning in his head here: He knows, as a political matter, that he can’t let Cruz get to his right on abortion. Republicans will let him slide on a lot — a lot — but if he gives them reason to think he’s BSing them on an issue at the very core of social conservatism, it could give Cruz the break he needs to take off.

I think part of that analysis is correct, but it doesn’t fully get to the uneasy feeling that interview brought on. It’s a suspicion that I’ve had nagging at the back of my mind for months, even as I’ve tried my best to keep Trump viable as a general election candidate. Unlike Allahpundit, I don’t see this as Donald Trump making a quick calculation of how to best position himself against Cruz here. The more likely (and disturbing) conclusion is that Donald Trump is someone who really doesn’t know much of anything about the conservative movement beyond what he read in some headlines while contemplating a run for the GOP nomination. He’s like the student who failed to study for the test and is now picking the multiple choice answers which sound the best even if they are extreme catnip designed to catch the unwary in a failing grade.

This isn’t a crazy theory because what we’re seeing is the essence of a populist strategy without any real research behind it. If you want to win over the hearts and minds of conservatives, you identify what they most want but can’t obtain under the current rules and then offer them the moon. In retrospect, we’ve seen this too many times before, and while some of the answers sound great and stir up the masses with great support, they all fall short to one degree or another in terms of practicality. Immigration? Everyone else wants more border patrol and aggressive ICE enforcement. So I’ll give you a wall the size of the moon which won’t cost a dime. Trade deals? The other candidates are free traders who don’t address issues of job outsourcing and trade deficits. I’ll just screw everyone else on the planet and build virtual tariff walls. War on terror? Those other guys talk tough about confronting the enemy, but I’ll give you torture and huge conquering armies laying waste to the Arabian Peninsula.

And when it came to the abortion question, Mr. Trump obviously recognized that everyone on the conservative side of the fence was, to one degree or another, against the procedure. So his first impulse was to start putting pregnant women in jail. Too many authors on the Right have already described how damaging this is to the pro-life movement, but it took several hours of immediate backlash before Trump finally arrived at his third answer which was at least somewhat close to the correct one.

What this tells me is that Donald Trump never studied for the test when he decided to win over conservatives in his quest for the nomination. He just trusted in his instincts, scanned a few topic summaries and went into it like a real estate negotiation, promising the clients a mansion when he knew they’d wind up in a condo. Unfortunately this is akin to trying to win over the affection of a petulant child you’re babysitting who doesn’t want to eat their vegetables. Rather than promising a better selection of healthy options and a treat after the meal, your first move is to simply tell them everyone will have chocolate layer cake for their entire dinner.

It’s difficult to admit it, particularly when so many pieces of the plans Trump has proposed at least sounded like great ideas on paper. And the rest were able to be written off by saying, “at least he got a conversation started” on the issue. All that may be true, but underneath it all, Donald Trump doesn’t understand conservatism. He’s winging it as he goes along and the learning curve has finally left him behind.

TrumpNewHampshire


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 1stcanadiansenator; abortion; antireagan; biggovernmenttrump; conservatism; cruzcorkerbill; cruzh1b; cruzsoccerball; cruztpa; donaldtrump; dyingonthestreets; globalistcruz; gopprimary; hotair; hughjazzshaw; kaslinpost; lyindonald; moosebitsister; noteligiblecruz; openboarderscruz; rickshaw; singlepayertrump; talksrightsmilesleft; trump; trump5point0; trumpbaggage; trumpisnotreagan; unipartynarrative
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To: Rennes Templar
Trump is not a slick politician who says all the right answers, which leads to nothing getting accomplished. This is why he will make America great

To some extent I agree with you. The Problem trump has is that he at the age of 70 hasn't learned to put his brain in gear before his mouth. Shoot from the hip, but put some thought into it before you blast it out there.

He gets clobbered for his answers to Chris Matthews on Abortion then steps right back onto another huge pile of political crap with his Nuclear Proliferation comments. You don't consult your Foreign policy team on Policy after you blow off at the cuff on it in Public, you do it before.

Now you can say he speaks his mind but as I heard him say as he called into the O'really/Ted Baxter show last night he "Mis-spoke" was excuse number #4. Then he claimed his position has "Always" been the Same as Reagan....LOL Which position of the 4 he and his team trotted out in the last 36 hours would that be?

201 posted on 04/01/2016 5:31:08 AM PDT by VRWCarea51 (The original 1998 version)
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To: Reagan Disciple; 60Gunner; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; Impy; BillyBoy; chris37; LMAO
RE:”“So freaking what if Trump is not a ‘pure’ conservative?”
......
Trump is not a “pure” anything, let alone a Conservative. Nothing wrong with that either......if he and his supporters didn’t spend so much time trying to convince the base that he is we would be on to something else”

Trump just says whatever he thinks that those who he wants the votes from, at any given time, wants to hear. And it obviously works with many here.

I saw a few from pro-life organizations explain why Trump said what he said. They explained its because he doesn't understand the issue, never gave it much thought, never talked to committed pro=lifers. That what he said is how Dems characterize pro-lifers as to hurt them, as women haters, so they(Dems) can get elected and remove all restrictions on abortion and clinics.

REMEMBER : Trump still supports Planned Parenthood.

202 posted on 04/01/2016 5:38:03 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Trumpetir :"He could go on a shooting spree downtown and I would still worship him"')
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To: Don Corleone
With abortion answer, Trump showed that he never studied for his Conservatism 101 finals.

Politics 101, maybe...who knew conservatism was about turning baby killers into victims?

203 posted on 04/01/2016 6:19:10 AM PDT by gogeo (Donald Trump. Because it's finally come to that.)
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To: VRWCarea51

No denying he’s on a sharp learning curve. I liken him to LeBron James, if he were to switch to pro football. He’d have to learn a lot, but he’s got all the tools, and would excel in time.


204 posted on 04/01/2016 7:39:45 AM PDT by Rennes Templar (President Trump: It's all over but the counting)
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To: wardaddy

Indeed .


205 posted on 04/01/2016 7:49:55 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) since Nov 2014 (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: LS

LOL!


206 posted on 04/01/2016 8:02:40 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) since Nov 2014 (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: DoughtyOne

Up until recently I didn’t know Cruz was a veritable Head Case, as well as a turncoat : )


207 posted on 04/01/2016 8:08:18 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) since Nov 2014 (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: VRWCarea51

I think you parse this in an excellent fashion. How many of us are put in a situation where an inflammatory subject is broached and we are harangued into an immediate answer which has so many connotations that invariably, no matter what your answer, it will be wrong, or perceived as wrong, and determinations on your character, your views on women, or men, and on business, are colored by many people, which are invariably incorrect, but difficult to change.

This of course is a trap, set by people who know what they are doing, and for predefined reasons.

However, as most people do, with a reflection period of about 24 hours, reveal facts that cannot be disputed, and they are simply...facts.

1. On the outset, all sexual activity, is the responsibility of the man and woman.

2. Contraception is the responsibility of BOTH the man and the woman.

3. Failure of either person CAN cause, death of the fetus, disease, injury, physical and psychological damage to one or both partners. Financial hardship.

Most importantly to others, is that when one or both partners are not responsible, the result changes the responsibility from the two partners, to the public.

For it is at this point, that parents first become involved, or spouses, in the cases of infidelity, police if a matter of rape, social services in the case of minors, and the state, in cases of abortion, or adoptive services. Hospitals for birth or abortion, really the list is endless.

Then comes those with opinions that affect these two people. There are those who like to place blame, either on the man or the woman.

Often IMO these people who are pro-life, are as extreme as the pro-abortion people, in that they intend to impose their beliefs onto other people, well meaning or not, and invariably do so to the point that they actually take responsibility for their words or actions.

What I mean, is the pro-lifers are adamant to the point of actually taking the unwanted child and raising it themselves.

The pro-abortion advocates do so, to the point of taking the woman to the clinic, sit with her during the procedure, stay with her thru recovery, help her psychologically deal with the death of the life inside her, and all the struggles so many women deal with from that point on in their lives. I know so many women who celebrate woefully the birthday (or death day) of that aborted child.

In all of this, MOST of us do NOT want to make a decision on something that is not our business, really. It stems from irresponsibility of the original partners. We have been taught, well, many of us have, that life begins at conception. That the victim here is really the unborn child.

Reality is that this pregnancy is INCONVIENIENT, expensive, life altering, precious, infuriating, and socially exposing. Lives change as the result of an unexpected pregnancy. Some change for the better, some for the worse, but they all change.

This issue becomes a pawn in politics, because it is incendiary. Depending on how your affected by it, you draw lines in the sand, and fight to the death for your opinion.

Rarely tho, does the unborn child have a voice. We have literally lost generations to abortion, and as a result our numbers have grown substantially smaller. I doubt that the most staunch pro-abortion advocate could stand before God, and successfully defend his/her position, as all life is sacred to him. So, many simply deny the existence, or deity of God.

IMO, the issue is not about Abortion. For a man to argue this issue, is nonsense. Far too often, we are removed from the beginning from saving a life if the mother wants an abortion. If the mother wants to keep the child, his participation in the childs upbringing is determined by courts and families, and often child protective services, and child support courts.

Politicans will use this issue to disparage, in this instance Political candidates. Rudimentary knowledge of state and federal law knows that one person rarely makes a law, but rather it is a large group of people making this decision, but they will condemn a single person for not being sharp on an issue, as if it implies that they cannot become versed, or have experts available to help to form a rational and cohesive platform.

Even given that, others with differing viewpoints and a platform to expound, will dither away at the object of their disdain.

Regardless of the reason, the public, in a very public forum will have to determine individually those people who align with their beliefs, and determine if, or how that will affect their vote. That is the American way.

I would say, that at this point, each person has to muddle through what is sensationalism, and what is truth, what is hype, and what is spin, and most importantly why.

For many, they don’t have the time, and live by the MSM reporting, which by the way has its own agenda, discussions with friends and family, and if they can stay connected, and don’t just give up in exasperation, will go to the polls and vote.

In the end, Pundits and the Media, and the other candidates either want you to agree with them, and vote with them, or stay away. The tough minded, will vote.

To those, is my applause. Vote with your head, but vote.


208 posted on 04/01/2016 8:45:47 AM PDT by Rustybucket
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To: Kaslin
Oh yeah....."Conservatism" defined and as a formulaic movement subject to groupthink.

I will define my own "conservatism", thank you very much.

209 posted on 04/01/2016 9:21:31 AM PDT by Thumper1960 (Trump-2016)
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To: G Larry
I am a hardcore/hardline Pro-Lifer and Trump said exactly what I would have said.

Furthermore, I am not a weak "conservative" who sticks his finger in the air to determine which ways the winds may blow or watch my tongue so as not to offend murderers and butchers. I don't give a damn if some liberal has their feelings hurt or if some woman who has had an "abortion" is hurt by my properly labeling her an accessory to murder. Face it, baby, you murdered your baby because it was either inconvenient or would be too much of a burden. God made you a vessel to carry life, deal with it. God made each of us with an intended and defined purpose. Deal with it.

So-called "conservatives" who worry about being offensive are useless tools of the opposition. You either stand for something and are strong about it or you are a liability.

210 posted on 04/01/2016 9:30:32 AM PDT by Thumper1960 (Trump-2016)
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To: Kaslin

If you ask me, the real news here is that the mainstream pro-life movement supports women having a license to abort with impunity even after a ban is in place. Strange.


211 posted on 04/01/2016 6:21:55 PM PDT by BearArms
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To: tophat9000
boy when’s the last time you ever heard someone being called NOT conservative because they were TOO restrictive on abortions?

Tell me about it, this election cycle has been complete BizarroLand.

We're finding out "real conservatives" support women having the right to abort with impunity, regardless of whether it's legal or not. The Republican Party is on course to nominate a reality TV star who just recently warmed to conservatism, has been a donor to major Dems for years, and is close friends with Howard Freaking Stern (a radio jock whose favorite on-air subjects are anal sex and lesbian twins). The main Holy Roller candidate this year, Cruz, is possibly in the process of being exposed as a serial adulterer who's into "sapiosexuals." The Repup establishment is desperately trying to find a way to steal the nomination from the guy who got the most delegates and votes in the primaries, even as the party's base electorate is in near full revolt.

I mean, should I go on? Interesting times.

212 posted on 04/01/2016 7:10:21 PM PDT by BearArms
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To: Trumpinator
What the Cruz side is really saying is they use abortion to suck money out of pro life people but have no intentions of really making it illegal. Trump ruined their scam. Sadly, Trump has no choice but to tow the GOP official line on abortion because banning abortion is as popular as eating anthrax to the American electorate = it pains me to say it as a pro lifer but it is true.

I think you may have nailed it.

What we're finding out right now is that, essentially, the pro-life/conservative establishment is, and has been, functionally pro-choice.

213 posted on 04/01/2016 7:30:24 PM PDT by BearArms
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To: BearArms

What the Cruz side is really saying is they use abortion to suck money out of pro life people but have no intentions of really making it illegal. Trump ruined their scam. Sadly, Trump has no choice but to tow the GOP official line on abortion because banning abortion is as popular as eating anthrax to the American electorate = it pains me to say it as a pro lifer but it is true.
I think you may have nailed it.

What we’re finding out right now is that, essentially, the pro-life/conservative establishment is, and has been, functionally pro-choice.


The GOP uses pro life people the way the Dems use blacks. They promise a lot — get the votes and then ignore them. I say this as a pro life person myself.


214 posted on 04/01/2016 8:54:17 PM PDT by Trumpinator ("Are you Batman?" the boy asked. "I am Batman," Trump said.)
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To: BearArms
What we're finding out right now is that, essentially, the pro-life/conservative establishment is, and has been, functionally pro-choice.

You know, your statement might be deeper than you may think.

That brought to my mind $harpton and Jack$on. Do they really want racism (real or perceived) to go away?

The same thing just might be evident here.

Jesus Christ: You can't impeach Him and He ain't gonna resign.



215 posted on 04/01/2016 11:52:36 PM PDT by rdb3 (You know, I've never seen a hearse with a U-Hall trailer hitched to it. . .)
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