2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhen will Trump release copies of checks he wrote to the Clintons?
I'm betting during his acceptance speech at the Republican convention if he wins their nomination and it tuns out that Hillary is his opponent in the General Election. That is exactly Trump's style. Of course a typical Republican politician would want to bury any evidence of prior donations he made either to a Clinton campaign fund or to the Clinton Foundation, but that's just not The Donald.
Some of his Republican opponents have tried to make an issue out of Trump's prior support for Hillary, but he turned it to his own advantage. He made it part of his stump speech about how America's professional political class is owned by big business donors, people like himself who invest in politicians on both sides of the aisle in order to curry political favors. Except, Trump is always quick to add, now he is working for the American people and he owes no favors to anyone: He is self funded, doesn't need more money, and only wants to make America great again.
Whereas most political figures who raise large sums of money on Wall Street, Hillary included, can argue that their votes were never for sale on any issue, Trump is in a position to make that argument ring hollow. He simply explains how it works, how it always has worked for him; spread enough money around and your needs will generally be accommodated. No specific promises need be asked for, no quid per pro demanded. As a successful businessman who has long invested in politicians, Trump can state that he usually gets his money's worth by doing so.
Hillary Clinton was a United States Senator from New York, and Donald Trump was a major real estate developer in New York while she served in the U.S. Senate. Frankly I believe that Hillary Clinton is too smart a politician, but of more importance too good a public servant, to have ever changed her position on an issue that she cared about in return for specific campaign contributions, Foundation donations, or corporate speaking fees. But someone like Donald Trump doesn't have to prove that she ever did. All he has to say is that at the end of the day, from a business perspective, he was satisfied that he made good investments when he wrote checks to politicians like Hillary. and he knows that he's not the only businessman who feels that way.
How can that be countered?
FarPoint
(12,335 posts)I certainly find it a boring inquiry.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)He has also given to many Democratic leaning charities. This does not excuse his current behavior.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)But it would have to compete with the alternate narrative that he would be spinning, and which he no doubt has some evidence for. Trump, it seems, was willing to spend money on both sides of the aisle.
That type of counter attack would be more effective in regards to stances Trump once took on issues in support of Democratic priorities. There he can be made to seem like the flip flopper that he is.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)If he does, he won't have to answer too many questions, just peel off votes from Rubio or Cruz.
firebrand80
(2,760 posts)Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)I've had these concerns for awhile but they are specific to Trump only. None of the other Republican candidates can pull something like that off. Now Trump has won primaries in two very different States by large margins - so yeah my concern level is rising in regards to this issue.