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The boomlet for Donald Trump as a Republican nominee for President of the United States ought to be a wake-up call for Republican candidates and Republican Party leaders alike.
Why has Trump surged ahead of other Republican candidates and potential candidates in the polls? It is not likely that his resurrection of the issue of Barack Obama's birth certificate has aroused all this support.
The birth certificate issue does more political damage to Obama's critics than to the president himself, because it enables the media to paint those critics as kooks. Nor are Donald Trump's political positions such as to create a stampede to his cause.
Radio talk show host Mark Levin has rebroadcast Trump's varied and mutually contradictory statements on political issues and personalities over the years. It was a devastating revelation of Trump's "versatility of convictions," to use a phrase coined long ago by Thorstein Veblen.
What then is Donald Trump's appeal-- and why should it concern Republican leaders in general?
What Trump has that so many other Republicans are so painfully lacking is the ability and the willingness to articulate his positions clearly, forcefully and in plain English. Too many Republicans talk like the actor of whom a critic once said, "he played the king like he was afraid that someone else was going to play the ace."
What electrified so many Republicans about Sarah Palin in the 2008 election campaign was that she was such a contrast to the usual mealy-mouth talk that was more common among other Republican candidates, including Senator John McCain. Whether you agreed or disagreed with her position on the issues, you didn't have to wave your hand in front of her eyes to see if she was awake.
Donald Trump is dangerous in at least two senses. If, by some tragic miracle, he should become the Republicans' candidate for president in 2012, that would be the closest thing to an iron-clad guarantee of a second term in the White House for Barack Obama.
That would be a huge setback for the Republicans-- and, far more important-- a historic catastrophe for this country.
What seems more likely is that Donald Trump as a candidate for the Republican nomination would use his superior articulation skills-- not to mention brash irresponsibility-- to trash all the other Republican candidates for that nomination, leaving them damaged goods in the eyes of the public, and therefore less able to gather the votes needed to prevent the reelection of Obama.
Why Republicans seem not to understand the crucial importance of putting the same time and attention into articulating their positions as the Democrats do is one of the enduring mysteries of American politics.
It was obvious that the Democrats coordinated their talking points and catch-phrases-- "social justice," "tax cuts for the rich," etc.-- even before the overheard and recorded statements of Senator Chuck Schumer about Democrats' plans to repeatedly use the word "extreme" to characterize Republicans.
But how many Republican catch-phrases can you remember? Republican rhetoric tends to range from low key to no key.
Nor is there much evidence that Republicans have asked themselves how the left-wing of the Democratic Party gained such ascendancy in recent years, in a country where millions more people identify themselves as conservative than identify themselves as liberals.
In short, there is little or no evidence that most Republicans see any need to fundamentally change their approach to the public. But if they think that they can rely on Obama's declining popularity to win the 2012 election, they may be in for a rude shock. Worse yet, the whole future of this country and of western civilization will be in jeopardy, in a world where the likes of Iran and North Korea become nuclear powers, while we engage in empty talk at the U.N.
Barack Obama's declining support in public opinion polls make some conservatives feel that his reelection hopes are doomed. But Donald Trump can be Barack Obama's secret weapon in his fight to remain in the White House. The Donald can be his Trump card.
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Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His Web site is www.tsowell.com.
COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM
April 26, 2011 @ 8:41 am
All the Republican candidates need do is start using the Catch Phrase “Truth in Politics”, and let the truth lead them to wherever it goes, no matter who it offends or how ugly it gets. Debating the Liberal Democrat Progressive and winning is not Rocket Science. Just tell the truth and watch the politically correct lies in their positions destroy them and their arguments. We are really making this whole thing a lot more complicated than it should be. Trump understand this, i.e. that the American people are just fed up with being deceived and lied to and are mad as hell because of it and are not going to take it anymore.
By the way, if I have to pay $5.00/gallon for a gas until November 2012 to defeat Obama, I’d rather pay a little more now than a lot more later.
April 26, 2011 @ 10:27 am
You are exactly correct. The only thing we hear out of the elite ruling class Republicans is: silence. They are afraid of their own shadows. A few will actually speak out and then are branded as wackos and ill-informed.
Well, we have no other choice now for our country. Just give me one “real” conservative running for president who is not afraid to speak his/her mind and tell the truth about the libs/socialists/Dems………and I will vote for that person!
Actually, Elmer Fudd would be a better choice than Obama or Trump!
April 26, 2011 @ 10:48 pm
Another good catch phrase is, Obama’s “Legacy of Failure.”
April 26, 2011 @ 9:12 am
The republican party has been anemic for a long time. If not for the Tea Party they would be on life support. They have gorged themselves on power and are not willing to stand and fight for the truth. PC has rendered them cowards, afraid of their own shadows. Every Republican Politician should and should have stood up and demanded proof of Obama’s birth place. Their fear is unacceptable and they need to step up or be gone.
IMPEACH OBAMA NOW! ! ! ! !
April 26, 2011 @ 9:14 am
While I certainly don’t want Trump to be the Republican candidate, one cannot deny he’s asking the questions Republicans should have been asking since the 2008 campaign, and he’s getting them asked where those who get all their news from 11 o’clock news readers can hear them. Yes, conservatives get their points raised on Fox, the perfect example of preaching to the choir, but they don’t get them raised where and when the majority of voters can hear them. Maybe the Republicans need to start buying time on American Idol.
April 26, 2011 @ 9:29 am
Mr. Sowell vividly betrays the Establishment Republicans fear that someone as successful and independent as Trump could OUT the internal balderdash inside the party. Ronald Reagan was likewise vilified and feared greatly by the Insider Establishment.
I find it most curious that the sordid, enemy inside the gate, Newt Gingrich is the darling of so many in the Republican Party and yet not much of a overly wordy peep from Sowell and others but not so for Trump.
Trump resonates what the American Sheeple have been told NOT to think about as they graze in their consumer OZ Wonderland. One, is the qualification of Obama to even run for President. Why? We The Sheeple are required to, show our papers, to the numerous Powers that Be to do so many things, but NOT the Chosen, those Elite, those Players in the System. You know, this really upsets many, this outrageous double standard and Trump has dared to take on the issue of Obama’s supposed qualification.
And Trump has taken on the issue of trade here in the late days of The United States. The mantra of the standard Republicans is FREE trade. Well, this FREE trade has assisted in making Red China a Super Power, our Bank Overlords…, profitable for some but NOT for the Republic. We the American Sheeple are tired of this. Trump sees this, has had an epiphany and has openly talked about this. Amazing! Out come hoards of Establishment types to put a stop on this. Why?
Hopefully Trump dares to question our suicidal open borders and the repopulation of the Republic, these ah (58 States according to Obama) with swarms of aliens. If so, he has my vote and more importantly, my support, you Mr. Sowell, do not.
April 26, 2011 @ 2:16 pm
lwesson,
I too, believe that if the Republican party presidential hopefuls don’t grow a set of B**** soon, the party will be history.
That being said, however, The Donald is not the answer to Republican’s prayers. I have been saying all along that Trump is asking the right questions and making statements that people are sitting up and listening to.
You can ask the right questions, and make the right demands, (Obummer’s birth certtificate etc..) but, it’s the ANSWERS those questions that Trump has vowed to provide regarding having private I’s getting the dope on Obummers birth, school and passport records, that is more important than the questions. Talking the talk is easy, walking the walk is what really counts.
According to the blog, Republican Byte, Trump is weaseling out on the birth issue. Trump now says that Obummers birth certificate is “MISSING’ Voila’, Trump gets out of answering his questions, but walks away having risen to first place in the polls by asking questions, that obviously, he had no intention of answering. I have a feeling, Trump knew all along that he wouldn’t be able to answer the birth question, but he made a lot of hay (poll ratings) out of it, while posing the question.
Trump is smart and crafty, but now, public attention will be shifted to looking into why, if he says he is a Republican, over the last couple of years, has he given heavy financal support to leading Democrats, such as Harry Reed, Chuck Shumer, Nancy Pelosi and many more of that ilk.
It seems to me, that like a chameleon, Trump will quickly change his political allegiances when there is money to be made.
Do we want a President who will do the same, given those circumstances.
I think not.
April 26, 2011 @ 3:24 pm
Mr. Iwesson, Thank you for stating what I have been thinking . As they say you hit the nail on the head . All I can say is go Donald Trump and dig deep and don’t let the lame stream media and the left loons stop you . And that includes Mr O’Rielly and his calling people who would pose the question where is your legal birth Certificate Mr Obama as kooks . These people just wont to know that the US Constitution is being upheld . Thank You Again Charles from Baltimore Maryland
April 26, 2011 @ 5:18 pm
Still some time Truthteller. I agree that the Republicans are, well, neutered. Watched the slick Mitt Romney guy last night. Very very polished but his nuance of words slipped around and around til I was dizzy. I kept on thinking that I perhaps had caught a Disney movie. No offense to Walt.
Well, if there is not a cert., that it is missing, humm? If, as he says, he has a crew working on this and all the other items that seems to have disappeared or are magically sealed, he drops the whole thing then that means, just another politico. Lets watch.
Recall Chancy Gardner? Peter Sellers last and most telling movie. “I like to watch.” and then we can call The Donald to task and move on. At this point I am not going to go too far with the Republican outlets, yet for information, as I said, I think they are nervous. They should be nauseous with Newt.
As per donations, someone like Trump is likely to spill donations around. He seems to not want to make for bug eyed enemies. Even talked cordially with Krauthammer after the nasty Al Sharpton remark. Method to his madness perhaps? But you do make a good point.
It should be an interesting election as the titanic ship of state lists deeper into the water. And thank you Charles1712 Cheers!
April 26, 2011 @ 10:40 pm
I second lwesson. Mr. Sowell represents the RINO “establishment republican.” As such his voice is as compromised as the mindless minions of the obama administration. He hasn’t awakened to the fact that “business as usual” is not what the people want.
We threw out Bennett here in Utah because he refused to believe that the people were not going to go along with being told what to think and that he knew best what is good for us; just sit back and he will make all of the decisions as to what we need. This is the “establishment” way.
Well Mr. Sowell, it is a new day and we are telling you, the “establishment republican,” what WE THINK! And that is what we like about what Mr. Trump is saying and we support him for saying what we are thinking. You cannot tell us what we should be thinking about Mr. Trump.
It will be unfortunate that you probably will not wake up until the last vote is counted. And you will find that it is you who needs to start rethinking about how this once great country is going to go about becoming great again.
Hint, hint, our country will not become great by compromising with the socialist/liberal/communist. It will not become great by appeasing the “other” side. It will not recover its financial strength by negotiation.
Our country will only regain the status and stature that made it the most feared and respected country by making hard decisions and then carrying through on them. We need to “man-up” and let the countries around the world know that we mean business. That means drawing the line and not ever crossing over it (or bowing to the leaders of other countries.)
What you are afraid of is that Mr. Trump will do this and never back down. He doesn’t care what China or Cuba or any other two-bit dictator thinks or does. He will restore the country and change the whole political system that has wormed its way into the fabric of this great country and is causing it to fall apart.
You and the rest of the RINO “establishment republicans” will have to find new jobs because what you know and what you can do will no longer be needed. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE AFRAID OF! And that is why you will bad mouth Trump, Bachmann, Paul, West, and any of the other bold and courageous conservatives that will lead us into the new dawn of American politics and life.
So Mr. Sowell, either get on board or get left behind. Either way this train is leaving and heading in the direct of a new day.
April 26, 2011 @ 9:31 am
Hopefully Trump will not get the nomination because I would hate to vote for him. On the other hand I would vote for Donald Duck before I would vote for Obama.
April 26, 2011 @ 11:26 am
Good for you mrbill! There were far too many whining malcontents who stayed home from the last election because they didn’t get the candidate they wanted (whine, whine). Neither did I, but I held my nose and voted for McCain (the spineless wimp) because, after living for over 6 years roughly 150 miles from the political gangster land of Chicago, I was well aware of the thugs and goons who are nurtured in that hideous rat’s nest.
I have no idea who will emerge as the Republican candidate but I am depending on the influence of the TEA Party to give us someone with more substance than the last candidate. When November of 2012 arrives, I will not stay home, neither shall I throw my vote away on a third party candidate (only fools and protesters do that) my favorite candidate at the next Presidential election will be:
ANYBODY BUT OBAMA
April 26, 2011 @ 9:55 am
Ayn Rand, in Atlas Shrugged, presaged a mirror to Obama and his army of thuggish czars. Can Trump perform as John Galt?
Sarah Palin could, but again the Establishment lends her little or no support. Rhere are also others, Allen West, Michelle Bachmann, Christie, etc. Forget your McCains, Gingrich, Buchanan, Boehners. They are all too ‘politically correct’ and wishy-washy. This is a dirty game and we need players that are not afraid of fighting dirty.
April 26, 2011 @ 12:00 pm
Unfortunately when you go to war you are forced to put on the face of the enemy and do things in battlle ( Like Killing in war) that good people would not do under normal circumstances in order to defeat the evil ones. The difference between them and us is that when the battle is over we go back to civilized living. They on the other hand just go into hiding like cockroaches into the woodwork to regroup for another socialist run at our money and power.
April 26, 2011 @ 10:02 am
The Republicans have now become the Rewimpycans. They have stopped hitting the gym long ago and are now just a bunch of wimps trying to stay out of a fight. Until they start hitting the iron put the gloves back on and start getting back into the ring this tub is sunk.
April 26, 2011 @ 10:37 am
Whether Trump runs or not is not the issue. He’s showing all the Republicans how to resonate with the American people by speaking plainly and bluntly and being unafraid to criticize this president.
Conservatives and many other Americans are giddy with delight that someone is taking the mainstream media and this president to the woodshed.
He schooled George Stephenopolous, much to the delight of ordinary Americans tired of his lapdog interviews and cheerleading for this administration.
NEXT QUESTION GEORGE!
Trump probably won’t run for President in the end. And that’s fine. He’ll have a hard time defending his own record against the Conservative candidates who choose to jump into the battle. And I take him at his word that he will do whatever is required to defeat Obama, even if it means him dropping out. Besides, the publicity he is getting from this faux campaign is priceless! And we all know how much he loves the camera.
He may never get to say “YOU’RE FIRED” to Obama but for now it’s wonderful to watch him make the elites squirm!
The Last Jump – A Novel of World War II
http://www.thelastjump.com
Some proceeds donated to charity
April 26, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
John, you are absolutely correct. It doesn’t really matter if Trump is a serious candidate or not. What he is doing is taking the fight to the enemy. The rest of the potential candidates should be sitting up and taking notice. They need to learn from him. His is the way to get the recognition necessary to win. I don’t particularly care for Trump as a candidate, but I like what he is doing. I’m with others who would vote for anyone other than Obama, but we cannot count on there being enough of us with that frame of mind. We need candidates who are plain spoken and up front about their ideas and convictions. We need candidates who will clearly articulate why Conservative ideas are the only road to fixing this country’s problems and bringing America back to greatness.
April 26, 2011 @ 10:38 am
None of the announced candidates are all that good. Newt is ghastly and shows no more respect for the Constitution than the president does. Trump is a joke. Romney loses on Romney care. Huckabee? No thank you. Right today Obama probably gets a second term.
And onewildman, respectfully really, Obama is not going to get impeached even if Republicans get control of both houses. The president who should have been impeached, who showed gross disregard for the Constitution was Bush. Authorizing torture of detainees? That by itself was enough. But there was so much more. Bush was ghastly and conservatives need to quit defending this man. And we need to quit worrying about where Obama was born, and so much else. Forget about impeaching him, let’s try to find a candidate than can actually defeat him next year. And right now it doesn’t look good.
April 26, 2011 @ 11:14 am
I wish people would stop looking at Christie as a great leader! He is doing good when it comes to the financials in N. Jersey but lets not forget, he likes the deathcare bill! He’s for amnesty! He is not the great savior! Col. West is much better as is Michele Bachman and Sarah Palin! Trump says the things that the spineless republicans won’t tackle or bring up! I would have second thoughts about voting for him but I would love to see Trump debate Hussain! Now all we need is a republican with a spine to show up. I will not viote for any amnesty supporter, such as Pawlenty, Barbour, Romney, Gingrich, Rubio and especially Huckabee! That country boy BS does not impress me at all! He acts like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth and he supports Moochelle nobama telling parents that she wil decide what you can feed your kids, you are useless, the govt. will control your kids!
April 26, 2011 @ 12:21 pm
Huckabee is a good Christian man, but not of the warrior class. We need warriors in times of distress. We have suffered the enabling consequences of an over abundance of people who were designed to be the hearts of the body politic ,where now it is the brain and the strong arm of the political body that must gain pre-eminence to do our battles. In our delusions and desire for political correctness, our hearts ruled when our heads should have prevailed. In the name of political correctness, we overeducated those designed to be the Buttholes of the body politic (whose job it is to clean up the mess and keep the excrement of government flowing out of the body) and put them into positions of authority to make the decision intended to be made by those designed to be the brains. All in the name of political correctness, and we wonder why the Do Do keeps backing up in Washington and our Constipated government cannot get anything done. It’s time to flush that cesspool clean and put the buttholes back to work doing what they do best, and the real brains take control. We need a real separation of church and state where the social sphere of mercy is taken from the government for which it was never designed and put back into the arena of the church for which it WAS designed. We need to get the government back into the arena of Justice (No more unearned redistribution of wealth) for which it was designed. When government takes over the arena of mercy we end up with neither justice nor mercy. Enter Obama Pelosi.
April 26, 2011 @ 1:55 pm
I totally agree with you. Christie is a social liberal in every sense of the word. Col. West would make an excellent candidate. Herman Cain is another possibility. Bachman is a person of conviction. The others are a bunch of spineless retreads.
April 26, 2011 @ 11:29 am
Trump scares me. When someone asked him about Soros, his reply was not to worry about him. Really? That speaks volumes about The Donald.
April 26, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
Someone mentioned a double standard, where the elite get passes and the rest of us are told to get lost. Sometimes in flowwering good sounding words. This doube standard, which actually has existed for decades if not centuries, is IMO what is chaffing the soul of America at present. It is now an open festering sore and will not go away without some visable, tangible change in PC DC. I would say both parties have lost credibility since all they offer is the same old same old and the current icing on this bitter cake is what appears to be significant contempt and disdain for the Constitution by our fraudulent president, if he has no birth certificate, and the courts which seem to be trying to create a society of minority rule. And this is not meant to mean race minority, because homosexuals, muslims, etc. are minorities. And they all seem to use rights as their leverage. The CR Act was a license for lawyers to milk the govt with endless lawsuits over percieved rights abuses. It should be rescinded.
Is O a fraud through and through? No BC, no release of his other personal records, his claim of being Christian, now a claim his wedding ring is in for repair, obamacare which has been abandoned by hundreds if not thousands of organizations leaving whom to pay the bill, fraudulent apology in Cairo, starting a war w/o congressional involvement but due to Arab league and the UN request to support the rebels whose real motives are not reported. Czars, too many to count, a secret Wright House which only issues propaganda type releases.
April 26, 2011 @ 12:12 pm
Trump’s goal is to split the vote and get Obama re-elected. If he was a true out spoken consevative we would be hearing how he will be shrinking the size of governement, in order to balance the budget. look up Trump’s rhetoric during the last election. He thought Obama was great. i bet he still does.
April 26, 2011 @ 3:29 pm
I believe the public will be made abundantly aware of Trumps past comments and allegences, now that apparently he’s waffling on the Birth/ school records issue.
Where o’ where, is a good plain spoken Conservative candidate, that sticks by their convictions, when we need one. For all of the declaired Republican candidates I can answer, none of the above.
April 26, 2011 @ 12:39 pm
I disagree that Trump’s nomination would seal Obama’s win in 2012. I also disagree that Trump is trying to split the vote. I believe Trump is serious about running, but for the wrong reasons. I believe he is primarily interested in winning the “game,” much as the only thing Clinton was interested in was being voted “Most Popular Guy in America.”
Trump’s biggest asset is name recognition. Love him or hate him, most people know his name. And name recognition is the single MOST important step in getting elected. If you honestly believe the vast majority of people vote based on issues, you’re kidding yourself.
I don’t care much for Trump. If I could pick the president, I’d pick Hermain Cain or Allen West. But if it comes down to Trump or Obama, I’ll take The Donald in a heartbeat.
April 26, 2011 @ 3:33 pm
I too, would vote for Trump over Obummer any day. Any Republican/Tea Party member is better than the bum in the White House
Pingback: Sowell: The Trump Card | Western Journalism.com
April 26, 2011 @ 7:05 pm
The only two people in the Republican party that can defeat Obummer is Allen West-President and Marco Rubio- Vice president. Capture the conservatives, Blacks, Hispanics, and Independents. Good bye-BHO
April 26, 2011 @ 7:11 pm
Sounds like a plan, Robert, but will they run???
April 26, 2011 @ 11:08 pm
Nice thoughts Robert, But painfully naive. Even if you were to line up all of the minorities you still have to get the message out. That takes hard cash. obama will have $1 billion and more through the unions, teachers, community organizers, etc. He will drum his way into a second term.
The only conservative candidate that will be able to beat obama will be one who can raise $1B. I hate to make this look like a morals vs. money but that is the system that is in place for this election. Change it for the next time but reality is this is what it is NOW!
The only, and he is the only candidate that can put together that kind of money, is Trump. So think what you like, but the only real candidate who can challenge obama on a dollar to dollar bias is Trump. He can write a check for the big bucks and not worry about the campaign finance laws. obama, on the other hand will lie, cheat, steal, and do any and every other despicable thing in the book to get reelected, including break every law that gets in his way.
Think about it. Do you want obama back for another four years? If not then you better think in terms of campaign dollars and not who you like the best. Second best, and one who will still uphold conservative values, and who will get the job done is the way to go.
April 26, 2011 @ 7:21 pm
I believe West and Rubio are true conservatives, that can save the country. They will have to overcome the establishment republicans. Also could we draft them? Anyway you look at it,we have to get rid of BHO.
April 27, 2011 @ 12:13 am
smutah is right, Robert, dollars will elect whomever has more of them. Sad, but true. The Republican establishment will be too busy shooting themselves in the foot, and infighting, to raise the kind of money it will take to outspend the unions, ACORN, and all the Chicago gangsters, not to mention Islamic governments, that will finance Obummers reelection campagin.
I hate to say it, but Trump seems to be the only guy that could outspend the bum in the White house.
O’ for the want of a true patroit candidate.
April 27, 2011 @ 1:57 am
April 27, 2011 @ 12:17 pm
Donald is not the answer, but I will give him his due for what he is doing at the moment. Romney is a RINO in camo. Right now, the GOP has not one single player with any backbone or enough A** to do more than push 1 for English. What America is hungry for is a candidate who stands up and walks the walk.
April 27, 2011 @ 1:00 pm
It seems like as a political strategy the Republicans are trying to reach out to the Imbecile Vote. First Sarah Palin and now Donald Trump. C’mon. Chris Christy is the man.
April 27, 2011 @ 1:54 pm
Christy and Rubio would be a good ticket