Category: Politics

Trump Inexplicably Endorses GOP Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Despite Jan. 6 Resignation Plot

Posted on by Deborah Francisco

President Donald Trump endorsed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as “an outstanding Representative” and a “strong and fearless Leader” in a Truth Social post Saturday, despite revelations of McCarthy’s plot to ask Trump to resign after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

McCarthy, widely considered to become the Speaker of the House if Republicans win the midterm elections in November, represents California’s 23rd Congressional District.

“In Congress, Kevin is a tireless advocate for the people of Bakersfield and the Central Valley,” Trump said. “He is working incredibly hard to Stop Inflation, Deliver Water Solutions, and hold Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi Accountable for their catastrophic failures and dereliction of duty.”

Trump made this endorsement despite McCarthy’s resignation comments that came to light in April. 

RELATED: Tucker Rips GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy As Democrat ‘Puppet’ After Audio Surfaces of McCarthy Ripping Trump Supporters

McCarthy’s Plot to Remove Trump

McCarthy was caught on a recording with Republican leaders discussing a plan to ask President Trump to resign following the political fallout of the January 6 riot.

In the conversation, Never Trump Republican and January 6th Committee member Liz Cheney asked if McCarthy has discussed resignation with Trump. McCarthy replied that he had not asked the President yet, but he planned to do so.

“Again, the only discussion I would have with him is that, I think this will pass [Congress]” McCarhty said. “And it will be my recommendation [Trump] should resign. I mean, that would be my take. But I don’t think he would take it. But I don’t know.”

The item before Congress appears to be what would become the second impeachment case against Trump.

The comments were first reported by two New York Times reporters, Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin, in their book “This Will Not Pass.” 

Despite the recording, McCarthy vehemently denied making any comments about asking Trump to resign in a statement he posted to Twitter.

“The New York Time’s reporting on me is totally false and wrong,” McCarthy tweeted. “It comes as no surprise that the corporate media is obsessed with doing everything it can to further a liberal agenda. This promotional book tour is no different. If the reporters were interested in truth why would they ask for comment after the book was printed?”

“The past year and a half have proven that our country was better off when President Trump was in the White House…”

Whatever was discussed on the Jan. 10 phone call with Representative Cheney never came to fruition.

RELATED: GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy Caught On Audio Discussing Removing Trump From Office, Blaming Him For Capitol Riot

Trump Likes to Pick Winners

Trump’s base of MAGA voters was clearly miffed by the McCarthy endorsement, especially considering his resignation plot. Following Trump’s endorsement of the Congressman, his supporters booed the mention of McCarthy’s name at a rally over the weekend.

Twitter mentions of McCarthy’s endorsement refer to him as a RINO who lets Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) take advantage of him. 

So, what could explain Trump’s endorsement of McCarthy? Trump’s endorsements range an assortment of candidates.

They are not all the same brand of MAGA Republicans as Trump himself, but Trump likes to pick winners and there is no other Republican running in McCarthy’s race who could beat him. It may be as simple as that.

Trump explained his reasons for backing McCarthy in his own statement on Truth Social, where he listed a number of areas where McCarthy is leading Republicans in Congress. 

“As Leader, Kevin is building a commitment to Americas platform to grow our economy, fight big tech censorship, secure the border, strengthen our military, defend the Second Amendment, improve our health care, restore American energy independence, support our brave veterans, and uphold the Rule of Law and American values.”

He concludes the endorsement saying, “Kevin McCarthy has my Complete and Total Endorsement for California’s 23rd Congressional District!”

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Paul Ryan Campaigns For GOP Rep. Who ‘Had the Guts’ To Impeach Trump

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan campaigned for Representative Tom Rice on Wednesday, suggesting the South Carolina Republican’s vote to impeach Donald Trump was a gutsy call and railing against GOP “celebrities” trying to aid the former President’s “vengeance.”

The comments marked the first serious public rebuke of Trump by the former Speaker of the House, once considered the future of the GOP, in some time.

Rice was one of only 10 Republican lawmakers who voted in favor of impeaching Trump over his alleged role in inciting the January 6 riot at the Capitol.

Ryan praised his actions.

“There were a lot of people who wanted to vote like Tom but who just didn’t have the guts to do it,” Ryan said.

RELATED: Republicans Who Voted To Impeach Trump Are Already Facing Primary Challenges

Paul Ryan Rips Trump, GOP

Paul Ryan continued to attack the Republican Party during his campaign speech to aid embattled Representative Tom Rice, calling out lawmakers who dare to support Trump.

Ryan embraced Rice as a “man of conviction” whose vote to impeach was a “vote for the Constitution.”

“This is just such a crystal clear case where you have a hard-working, effective, senior member of Congress who deserves reelection vs. people who are just trying to be celebrities who may be trying to help Trump with his vengeance,” he added.

“That’s not who voters want, voters want people focused on their solutions, not on Trump’s vengeance and that to me is a really clear-cut case here,” said Ryan.

RELATED: ‘Never Trumpers’ Paul Ryan, John Boehner, And Adam Kinzinger Supporting Liz Cheney’s Reelection Bid

Pro-Impeachment Tom Rice is Struggling

It’s unclear if Paul Ryan’s campaign efforts for Tom Rice will yield results, as the incumbent is currently trailing in polls to Russell Fry, the South Carolina Legislature’s majority whip, who earned Trump’s endorsement.

Fry, in an interview with Breitbart News, said the former President’s endorsement had been a boon for his campaign.

“The energy’s incredible, you know. Prior to the Trump endorsement, we were tracking well, we were very firmly in a one versus one kind of race,” Fry said.

“There’s several people in the race, but the endorsement has been, like lights out. I mean, it’s just been incredible. The energy is real.”

An internal poll from Fry’s campaign shows Rice trails the Trump-endorsed candidate by double digits in their primary race.

Ryan meanwhile, has also hitched his wagon to another struggling horse in Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney.

Cheney is also one of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, and one who has made it a personal crusade to embellish the events at the Capitol over a year ago.

The Political Insider reported in September that Ryan had been donating money and support to Cheney’s re-election bid in the hopes that he could help in “exciting her own voters.”

Cheney, like Rice according to a new poll, is struggling, which is pretty exciting. She trails her primary opponent, Harriet Hageman, a Wyoming attorney who has the backing of Trump, by a whopping 30 percentage points.

Trump has referred to Ryan as a “curse to the Republican Party” after the former Speaker advised the GOP to steer clear of the “populist appeal of one personality.”

Paul Ryan also overdramatized the events of January 6th and Trump’s role, saying he found it “horrifying to see a presidency come to such a dishonorable and disgraceful end.”

“He has no clue as to what needs to be done for our Country, was a weak and ineffective leader, and spends all of his time fighting Republicans as opposed to Democrats who are destroying our Country,” Trump fired back.

The former President has said Tom Rice is a “coward who abandoned his constituents by caving to Nancy Pelosi and the Radical Left.”

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Report: Trump Considering GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik As Potential 2024 Running Mate

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Reports have surfaced indicating Donald Trump is considering Representative Elise Stefanik as a potential running mate in 2024.

Sources told CNN that the former President likes the New York congresswoman whom they describe as a “moderate-turned-MAGA star.”

“Conversations about adding Stefanik to a future Trump ticket have gained steam in recent weeks at Mar-a-Lago and in other Republican circles,” the media outlet is reporting.

Sources close to Trump reportedly point out Stefanik has become “a fierce and loyal attack dog,” and that the ticket “would benefit from tapping a woman for vice president” should he run again in 2024.

RELATED: GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy Endorses Elise Stefanik To Replace Liz Cheney

Elise Stefanik Replaced Liz Cheney With Trump’s Endorsement

Elise Stefanik was tapped to replace Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) as the number three Republican in the House after the former neglected her party principles and focused exclusively on denigrating Donald Trump.

Stefanik became conference chair in May of 2021 thanks in part to Trump’s endorsement.

The former President offered his “complete and total endorsement for GOP Conference Chair,” adding that she is “a tough and smart communicator.”

After being named Cheney’s replacement, Stefanik thanked Trump.

“I believe that voters determine the leader of the Republican Party and President Trump is the leader that they look to,” she praised at the time.

RELATED: Divorce: Trump Takes Aim At VP Mike Pence After Split In 2022 Endorsements

A Curious Choice

Elise Stefanik first caught the eye of President Trump during his first impeachment hearings where she vehemently defended him from the specious claims being made by Democrats.

She earned personal praise from the former President and record-breaking fundraising for her reelection based on those efforts.

Still, her choice as running mate seems curious. She’s far less of a conservative based on her record than Mike Pence, and we saw how that relationship went.

Trump recently blasted Pence for exhibiting insufficient loyalty, calling him a “disappointment.”

Stefanik has a more liberal voting record than even Cheney, according to a Fox News analysis.

“According to a tool on the FiveThirtyEight website on ‘Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump,’ Cheney voted with Trump 92.9% of the time compared to 77.7% for Stefanik.”

That could be more a function of having to represent a district in liberal New York where one sometimes has to pick their battles.

More recently, she voted in favor of $40 billion in aid to Ukraine even as Americans are currently struggling. It is a bill Trump called “a national disgrace.”

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That said, Stefanik has been a vocal supporter of Trump throughout his administration and was also key in recruiting more GOP women to run in 2020.

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Nearly 70% Of Republicans Want Biden Impeached After 2022 Midterm Elections

Posted on by Becky Noble

As the November midterm elections inch closer, Americans’ struggle everyday with inflation and increasing gas and food prices with no end in sight.

Needless to say, that doesn’t bode well for those who are in charge – but it also has the effect of energizing the opposition.

A new UMass Amherst/YouGov poll shows that should Republicans retake Congress this fall after the midterm election, 68% of Republicans want President Joe Biden impeached.

And if the nation’s economic woes continue, that number is likely to climb.

RELATED: Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Manager Drops Bombshell Admission That She Personally Approved Press Leak Of Trump-Russia Allegation

Poll Highlights

Of those polled, over two-thirds of Republicans want Biden charged with “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” 

As many would guess, the issue that’s by far top-of-mind for most voters is the economy. (Though for Democrat voters, while the economy takes top billing at 22%, the next ‘most important issue’ is ‘climate change’ at 20%.) 

Immigration takes second billing, followed by abortion and health care. 

Broken down by party, the top issues for Republican voters are the economy, immigration, and abortion. 

For Democrats, it’s the economy, climate change, and abortion. 

For independents: the economy, health care, and immigration.

RELATED: EPA Spent $5.3M In COVID Aid On ‘Environmental Justice’ Programming

‘Multiple Grounds’ 

The way the Republicans see it, there are plenty of reasons to bring charges of impeachment against Joe Biden, and it has been talked about for a while.

Back in January on his podcast, Texas Senator Ted Cruz gave one of the strongest arguments for a Biden impeachment:

“Probably the most compelling is the utter lawlessness of President Biden’s refusal to enforce the border. His decision to just defy federal immigration laws and allow 2 million people to come here unimpeded in direct contravention of his obligation under Article 2 of the Constitution to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. That is probably the strongest grounds right now for impeachment, but there may be others.”

Even as far back as fall of 2021, a group of Republicans did file articles of impeachment after the disastrous pullout of American forces from Afghanistan. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) tweeted at the time,

“I filed articles of impeachment against @POTUS based on what I believe to be clear violations of his duties. There are dynamics in Congress preventing this from being debated. But I could not stand by while Biden commits flagrant & deliberate violations of his oath of office.”

Several other items that could trigger impeachment proceedings are possible hearings looking into the foreign business dealings of Biden’s son Hunter, and what if any involvement the President had in those deals.

POLL: Should President Biden be impeached?

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RELATED: If You Expected Bitcoin To Mimic Gold, You Haven’t A Clue About Gold

Other Biden Worries

Joe Biden and the Democrats have plenty to worry about way before any impeachment proceedings. A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Research poll shows Biden’s approval ratings at a dismal 39%.

When broken down by issues, the numbers are still as bad. On things like the economy and the Russian-Ukraine conflict, more Americans disapprove of Biden’s job performance than approve.

Joe Biden is also rapidly losing a previously reliable Democrat demographic. Approval among Hispanics has dropped to 26%, while a whopping 60% disapprove. 

Rep. Bob Good of Virginia may have given the best insight into what Republicans plans might be if they win big in 2022. He stated,

“I believe Joe Biden has intentionally done more to harm the country than any president in American history with the border situation. He deserves to be impeached for that alone, let alone anything else.”

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GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy Caught On Audio Discussing Removing Trump From Office, Blaming Him For Capitol Riot

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is heard on newly-released audiotapes describing Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6th riot at the Capitol as “atrocious” and suggesting that invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office would take “too long.”

The news comes courtesy of a call recorded by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for a new book titled, “This Will Not Pass.”

“Look, what the president did is atrocious and totally wrong,” McCarthy said of Trump in what is described as a “House Republican expanded leadership call” recorded on January 8th.

The California Republican indicated he would reach out to Joe Biden and express opposition to the impeachment process noting that the President-elect at the time would be stymied in his Cabinet selections if some candidates were engaging in a trial.

He also noted impeachment would likely divide the nation.

“I do think the impeachment divides the nation further and continues to divide it even greater,” McCarthy says. “That’s why I want to reach out to Biden.”

In the same book, it was reported that McCarthy had planned to tell Trump to resign, though McCarthy denied it.

RELATED: Mitch McConnell Was ‘Exhilarated’ That Trump ‘Committed Political Suicide’ On January 6

McCarthy Discussed 25th Amendment

Kevin McCarthy is also heard on the audio recording discussing the 25th Amendment, but noting it would take “too long” to implement.

The 25th Amendment is a constitutional provision allowing for the removal of the President should he be deemed medically, or as some were suggesting at the time, mentally unfit.

During the phone conversation, a GOP staff member noted Democrats were undecided politically on how to deal with the fallout of the Capitol riot, adding that the amendment was a possibility.

“That takes too long too,” McCarthy lamented. “It could go back to the House, right?”

RELATED: Tucker Rips GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy As Democrat ‘Puppet’ After Audio Surfaces of McCarthy Ripping Trump Supporters

McCarthy’s Private Conversations on Capitol Riot Differ From His Public Comments

The book and subsequent audio recordings from the New York Times reporters haven’t reflected very well on McCarthy, who seemed to project one persona in private conversations while eventually publicly defending former President Trump over the Capitol riot.

Weeks ago McCarthy denied reports that he had a conversation with other GOP leaders about encouraging Trump to resign over the events surrounding January 6th, prompting Martin and Burns to release audio to the contrary.

In other recordings, the Minority Leader claimed that conservative lawmakers referring to other Republicans who weren’t going to fight the election results as “anti-Trump” was escalating matters, and their comments were “serious stuff” that “has to stop.”

“Can’t they take their Twitter accounts away, too?” he asked.

McCarthy’s comments prompted Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson to eviscerate the GOP leader, calling him a “puppet of the Democratic Party” and suggesting he “sounds like an MSNBC contributor.”

Carlson warned that the midterms could result in that Democrat “puppet” being House Speaker come January.

POLL: Do you trust Republican leader Kevin McCarthy?

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Excerpts from the book titled “This Will Not Pass” also reveal Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell admitting he was “exhilarated” that  Trump had “totally discredited himself” with his actions surrounding the Capitol riot.

He also took joy that Trump seemingly had ‘committed political suicide.’

“I feel exhilarated by the fact that this fellow finally, totally discredited himself,” McConnell said. “He put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

A column by Burns and Martin in April in the New York Times also indicates the level of glee McConnell was taking in the political fallout for Trump as he celebrated the idea of impeachment.

“The Democrats are going to take care of the son of a bitch for us,” McConnell reportedly said.

It will be interesting to hear the audio of those remarks when they eventually come out.

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Tucker Rips GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy As Democrat ‘Puppet’ After Audio Surfaces of McCarthy Ripping Trump Supporters

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson eviscerated Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as a “puppet of the Democratic Party” after audio surfaced of the House Minority Leader criticizing former President Trump and some of his staunchest allies in Congress.

McCarthy initially denied reports that he had a conversation with other GOP leaders about encouraging former President Donald Trump to resign over the Capitol riot, prompting two reporters for the New York Times to release audio to the contrary.

“The only discussion I would have with him is that, I think this will pass,” he told Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY), referencing the Senate impeachment trial. “And it will be my recommendation you should resign.”

The reporters followed that up by releasing subsequent clips of McCarthy speaking with House Minority Whip Steve Scalise regarding concern over fellow Republicans – particularly America First Representatives Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), and Mo Brooks (R-AL) – ‘putting other lawmakers at risk’ with their comments about the 2020 election.

“Well, he’s putting people in jeopardy, and he doesn’t need to be doing this,” McCarthy said of Gaetz. “We saw what people would do in the Capitol, you know?”

McCarthy claimed that America First Reps. referring to other Republicans who weren’t going to fight the election results as “anti-Trump” was “serious stuff” that “has to stop.”

“Can’t they take their Twitter accounts away, too?” the California Republican would later ask.

RELATED: DeSantis Signs Bill To Create Election Police Force In Florida To Investigate Voter Fraud

Tucker Carlson Slams McCarthy as Democrat Puppet

Tucker Carlson, in commentary on his Tuesday show, took Kevin McCarthy to task over the suggestion that big tech censorship was the way to go in dealing with fiery Trump supporters.

“Donald Trump, the sitting president, had already been silenced by those companies. But McCarthy wanted the tech oligarchs to do more, to force disobedient lawmakers off the internet,” a seething Carlson told viewers.

“Quote, ‘Can’t they take their Twitter accounts away too?’ Those are the tape-recorded words of Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a man who in private, turns out, sounds like an MSNBC contributor.”

Carlson went on to warn that unless something changes, McCarthy may very well be the House Speaker following the midterm elections. And how would that be any different than what we’re seeing now, he wondered?

“That would mean you would have a Republican Congress led by a puppet of the Democratic Party,” he contends.

“So, you wouldn’t know any of this list unless it was leaked. And you can start to see why the people in charge oppose transparency and fervently support censorship on both sides.”

RELATED: Mitch McConnell Was ‘Exhilarated’ That Trump ‘Committed Political Suicide’ On January 6

Gaetz Slams McCarthy as Weak, More Concerned About Protecting Liz Cheney

Gaetz also slammed Kevin McCarthy and Scalise regarding the conversation, describing them as “weak men” more concerned with protecting Never Trump Republicans Cheney and Representative Adam Kinzinger from criticism.

“Rep McCarthy and Rep. Scalise held views about President Trump and me that they shared on sniveling calls with Liz Cheney, not us,” Gaetz hammered. “This is the behavior of weak men, not leaders.”

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“While I was protecting President Trump from impeachment,” he continued, “they were protecting Liz Cheney from criticism.”

Gaetz referenced McCarthy’s objection to calling people who are anti-Trump ‘anti-Trump.’

“They deemed it incendiary or illegal to call Cheney and Kinzinger ‘Anti-Trump,’ a label both proudly advertise today,” he pointed out.

McCarthy’s call for Big Tech to rain down hellfire on Trump supporters stands in stark contrast to comments he made in May of 2021 when he vowed action against these social media platforms specifically referencing Facebook’s ban of Trump.

“If they can ban President Trump, all conservative voices could be next,” he said at the time. “A House Republican majority will rein in big tech power over our speech.”

Just maybe not the Trump supporters, especially when the heat gets turned up by the media.

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Report: Mitch McConnell Was ‘Exhilarated’ That Trump ‘Committed Political Suicide’ On January 6

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Mitch McConnell reportedly said he was “exhilarated” that Donald Trump had “totally discredited himself” just hours after the Capitol riot on January 6th.

This, according to excerpts from a new book titled, “This Will Not Pass,” obtained by the Washington Post.

“I feel exhilarated by the fact that this fellow finally, totally discredited himself,” the anti-Trump Republican Minority Leader McConnell told New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin, one of the book’s authors.

“He put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger,” the Senate Minority Leader allegedly said at the time. “Couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

RELATED: Report: Mitch McConnell Wants A Truce With Donald Trump

Mitch McConnell ‘Exhilarated’ After Capitol Riot

Mitch McConnell’s reaction to the Capitol riot seems counter to everything we’ve been told about how serious the attack was.

How could somebody be ‘exhilarated’ on the worst day in American history since the Civil War? On the day AOC was literally almost murdered? A day that moved the ever-stoic Adam Kinzinger to tears?

McConnell was celebrating the political fallout? That’s simply reprehensible and something you’d expect from the Democrat Party.

Speaking of Democrats who never let a crisis go to waste …

McConnell, according to the same Washington Post report, was considering a joint statement with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) warning the former President to stay away from Joe Biden’s inauguration.

It gets worse.

McConnell reportedly was “eager” to obtain information from Martin on the prospect of Cabinet members and then-Vice President Mike Pence invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

“What do you hear about the Twenty-Fifth Amendment?” he asked.

RELATED: Mitch McConnell At Odds With Trump: Opposes Pardons For January 6 Rioters

McConnell Wanted to Rid GOP of Trump

The Political Insider wrote one week after the January 6 riot that Mitch McConnell had been “pleased” about Democrats drafting articles of impeachment.

Multiple sources had observed McConnell claiming he was “done” and “furious” with Trump.

The Kentucky Republican “told associates that impeachment will help rid the Republican Party of Trump and his movement.”

Trump’s “movement” being a record number of voters for a Republican president.

McConnell, along with a majority of Republicans, later voted that the impeachment trial of Donald Trump was unconstitutional.

Trump ravaged the GOP leader about a month afterward, issuing a statement saying McConnell is “a dour, sullen and unsmiling political hack.”

By the end of February, McConnell said he would “absolutely” support Trump if he were the Republican nominee for president in 2024.

Despite that ‘absolute’ support, McConnell and Trump have continued to be at odds over the severity of what happened during the Capitol riot.

Trump has indicated he would consider pardons for January 6 rioters should he run for and win the presidential election in 2024.

“If I run, and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6 fairly. We will treat them fairly,” he vowed. “If that requires pardons, we will give them pardons, because they are being treated so unfairly.”

The Senate Minority Leader vociferously objected to that plan.

“My view is, I would not be in favor of shortening any of the sentences for any of the people who pleaded guilty to crimes,” McConnell said.

The Washington Post goes on to note that McConnell had been gearing up for a fight with Trump and his supporters following the Capitol riot.

They claim he told staff members that the former President is a “despicable person” and that he would “take him on politically.”

POLL: Should the GOP be more like Trump or McConnell?

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“We crushed the sons of b****es,” McConnell said of conservative candidates in the 2014 midterms. “And that’s what we’re going to do in the primary in ’22.”

Trump slammed McConnell in a statement saying he no longer represents the Republican Party.

“Mitch McConnell does not speak for the Republican Party and does not represent the views of the vast majority of its voters,” he wrote.

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After Getting Trump Endorsement, Message Surfaces Showing J.D. Vance In 2016 Worrying Trump Was ‘America’s Hitler’

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

After scoring an endorsement earlier this week from the former president, a text message has surfaced showing Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance worrying in 2016 that Trump was either “a cynical asshole” or “America’s Hitler.”

The news demonstrates just how important it is to vet people for their endorsement and how Donald Trump seemingly hasn’t learned that lesson.

“In the Great State of Ohio, the candidate most qualified and ready to win in November is J.D. Vance,” Trump said in a statement released Friday. “We cannot play games. It is all about winning!”

He also acknowledges that Vance has made some disparaging comments about him in the past.

“Like some others, J.D. Vance may have said some not-so-great things about me in the past, but he gets it now, and I have seen that in spades,” Trump beamed.

RELATED: I’m Just Going To Say This: Trump’s Endorsement Of Dr. Oz Is The Wrong Move

J.D. Vance Worried Trump Was ‘America’s Hitler’

We’re all for people finally seeing the light on President Trump’s potential and desire to make America great again, but certain comments seem a bit too far gone.

GOP officials in Ohio urged Trump not to back Vance or any candidate in the Senate race.

“We know there are many qualified candidates in this race who have stood up for the ‘America First’ agenda over the years and have carried the Trump mantle over the years, again with the notable exception of JD Vance,” party leaders said in a letter to Trump.

Vance, a current populist firebrand and author of the memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” threatened to back Hillary Clinton in 2016 and called Trump “another opioid.”

“Like a lot of people, I criticized Trump back in 2016,” Vance he told Fox News last year. “And I ask folks not to judge me based on what I said in 2016, because I’ve been very open that I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy.”

RELATED: Candidate Trump Endorsed To Replace Liz Cheney Called Him ‘Racist And Xenophobic’

Trump’s Endorsements Gone Wrong

How wrong was Vance ‘about the guy’? Try, unhinged liberal lunatic-level wrong.

Georgia Representative Josh McLaurin, a Democrat who claims to have been Vance’s roommate at Yale University, shared a 2016 text message contending to be from the Ohio Senate candidate.

In the message, Vance laments the fact that Trump had become the face of the Republican party.

“We are, whether we like it or not, the party of lower-income, lower-education white people, and I have been saying for a long time that we need to offer those people SOMETHING (and hell, maybe even expand our appeal to working-class black people in the process) or a demagogue would,” he allegedly wrote. “We are now at the point.”

The message continued: “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a****** like Nixon who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he’s America’s Hitler. How’s that for discouraging?”

No Denial

Vance’s campaign didn’t deny the message came from him.

“It’s laughable that the media treats JD not liking Trump 6 years ago as some sort of breaking news, when they’ve already covered it to death since this race began,” his campaign manager told Newsweek.

Vance’s campaign manager added that Trump obviously views him as “a genuine convert.”

Last week, The Political Insider reported that Trump had endorsed Mehmet Oz – better known as Dr. Oz – in the Pennsylvania GOP primary for the U.S. Senate.

This, despite a history of decidedly non-conservative viewpoints on abortion, fracking, and gun control.

Trump Supports Hageman

Trump has also thrown his support in Wyoming to Harriet Hageman, the attorney running against Liz Cheney in an upcoming primary.

Hageman vociferously supported Cheney during her 2016 congressional campaign, and strongly opposed President Trump at the time.

In fact, she tried to stop Trump from getting the Republican nomination in 2016, and called him “racist and xenophobic.”

Backing Winners

Each time he makes one of these questionable endorsements, Trump indicates it’s all about backing a winner.

“This is all about winning elections in order to stop the Radical Left maniacs from destroying our country,” Trump said in his endorsement of Oz.

We’re skeptical he wouldn’t start looking for someone better if somebody like Mitt Romney was the best chance of stopping a Democrat in his Senate race. 

Maybe we’re wrong. He did, after all, endorse Romney in 2018. Romney has done nothing but stab him in the back since, voting to convict Trump in his impeachment trial over the former President’s alleged role in the Capitol riot.

Will these other candidates do the same – bend the knee for an endorsement only to drive a knife in the back of conservatives when the fate of the country is on the line?

The post After Getting Trump Endorsement, Message Surfaces Showing J.D. Vance In 2016 Worrying Trump Was ‘America’s Hitler’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Trump Sends Easter Message Of ‘Peace And Prosperity’ – Slams Democrats Trying To ‘Destroy Our Country’

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Former President Donald Trump issued multiple Easter messages on Sunday, starting innocently enough with a positive message of “peace and prosperity” before moving on to skewer Democrats.

At 9:45 on Easter Sunday, a statement from Trump sent out by the ’45 Office’ was released.

“Happy Easter to all,” the message read. “May there be great peace and prosperity throughout the World!”

Simple. Disciplined. In line with the spirit of the holiday.

But it didn’t take long for Trump to pivot to the feisty fighter we all know and appreciate.

 

RELATED: Trump Celebrates Retirement of Latest Republican Who Voted For His Impeachment

Trump’s Brutal Easter Message For Democrats

To be perfectly honest, Trump’s initial message stood out for its simplicity and unwillingness to veer off on a tangent.

And this must have bothered the former President, because less than one hour later another Easter message was released, this time from the ‘Save America PAC’ account.

“Happy Easter to all including the Radical Left Maniacs who are doing everything possible to destroy our Country,” he said. “May they not succeed, but let them, nevertheless, be happy, healthy, wealthy, and well!”

Just an incredible display of brilliance, to be honest.

Though, one has to note that the only way to get to the “peace and prosperity” in Trump’s first Easter message is to make sure Democrats never again succeed in electing a man hell-bent on trying to “destroy our country” like President Biden.

RELATED: Critics Say Biden Rewrite Of Trump-Era Rule Will Raise Energy Prices, Bog Down Development

Trump Sends Another Brutal Message

Less than 40 minutes after sending that gem, Donald Trump sent another message targeting a particular Democrat – New York Attorney General Letitia James.

“Happy Easter to failed gubernatorial candidate and racist Attorney General Letitia James,” he wrote.

“May she remain healthy despite the fact that she will continue to drive business out of New York while at the same time keeping crime, death, and destruction in New York!”

He could have just bought her a ham or some Cadbury Creme Eggs.

Instead, Trump is offering James some tough love this Easter season.

James and the Manhattan district attorney’s office have been investigating whether Trump lowered property values on his tax forms but raised them in paperwork for lenders.

She has tried to have the former President and his adult children sit for depositions and requested that a judge hold Trump in contempt and fine him $10,000/day for not turning over documents.

Trump has responded to the inquiry by filing a federal lawsuit asking for an injunction against the probe.

The post Trump Sends Easter Message Of ‘Peace And Prosperity’ – Slams Democrats Trying To ‘Destroy Our Country’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

I’m Just Going To Say This: Trump’s Endorsement Of Dr. Oz Is The Wrong Move

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Former President Trump has issued a full-throated endorsement of Mehmet Oz – better known as Dr. Oz – in the Pennsylvania GOP primary for the U.S. Senate.

Trump issued a statement late last week which uncharacteristically did not simply contain the usual soundbites we’ve become accustomed to in his endorsements.

Rather, it’s a long-winded effort, seemingly designed to convince GOP voters of why they should support Oz even if he isn’t the perfect candidate.

“This is all about winning elections in order to stop the Radical Left maniacs from destroying our country,” Trump said.

“The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tremendous opportunity to Save America by electing the brilliant and well-known Dr. Mehmet Oz for the United States Senate.”

RELATED: Candidate Trump Endorsed To Replace Liz Cheney Called Him ‘Racist And Xenophobic’

Trump Endorsement of Oz is a Bad Move

But this isn’t just about winning elections. It’s about winning elections with candidates that aren’t useless RINOs like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, and are, in fact, conservative, America-first politicians.

Here are just a few of Oz’s views that should have made Trump skeptical enough to never endorse the good doctor.

Oz’s comments on abortion alone are alarming. In a 2008 interview with the National Review of Medicine, Oz actually argued that his politics would be similar to that of Oprah Winfrey in many aspects.

“I’m not socially conservative,” he added. “I don’t believe that we should be intruding into the private lives of homosexuals and we should not be creating obstacles during the difficult time that women have when trying to terminate a pregnancy.”

In a 2019 interview on the Breakfast Club radio show, he noted that he dislikes abortion on a “personal level” but suggested he would not want to “interfere with everyone else’s stuff” because “it’s hard enough to get into life as it is.”

Dr. Oz On Abortion

Trump’s endorsement states that Oz is “pro-life,” something the Daily Beast claims is a “shameless flip-flop.”

“Not only was Oz supportive of abortion rights, he seemed puzzled that people would spend time fighting abortion rights—going so far as to say that, as a physician, he was ‘really worried’ about the anti-abortion movement and that eliminating Roe would have negative effects on women’s health,” they wrote.

RELATED: Report: Biden’s Brother James, Son Hunter Received 150+ ‘Concerning’ Payments

Dr. Oz On Guns

Trump, aside from lauding Dr. Oz for being pro-life, also claims the Pennsylvania Republican “will always fight for and support our under-siege Second Amendment.”

But will he?

Oz’s campaign site seems to confirm: “He opposes anti-gun measures like red flag laws and liberal gun grabs. Dr. Oz knows we cannot compromise our ability to protect ourselves.”

Interesting thing, those red flag laws. Here he is in a 2019 interview stating such laws “help protect you and your family” and have been shown to prevent mass shootings.

Go ahead and look at that clip again. In the same segment, Dr. Oz goes on to suggest he’d like to see an anonymous call-in system for people to report concerns over others’ social media posts.

“Part of the hope I gather is that we’ll make a system so that I can call in and say there’s evidence besides my testimony that this person is dangerous,” he states. “Look at their Facebook feed or social media postings or comments they’ve made to other co-workers.”

Government surveillance and infringing on God-given rights based on social media posts doesn’t seem like a warrior for conservatism.

Dr. Oz On Obamacare

Oz was a strong advocate during the Obama years of health insurance mandates and even bragged that he helped get Obamacare passed by serving on President Obama’s council.

CNN reports that while he doesn’t fully support Obamacare, “Many of Oz’s statements on health care align with some of the key tenets of the Affordable Care Act.”

Dr. Oz On Fracking

Oz, who is running in a state where fracking is of tantamount importance, often raised concerns about the practice in the past.

In multiple columns Oz co-authored with Dr. Mike Roizen, former chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, the two raised concerns about health risks involved in the practice.

Inside Climate News writes that “the two physicians cited the environmental and health risks associated with fracking on several occasions and, in one column, warned expecting mothers who live near natural gas wells against drinking the water and counseled them to keep three kilometers away from fracking fields.”

Now, he’s fracking’s number one fan.

We live in a time where too many Republicans try selling their conservative wares just to get elected only to start functioning like barely-disguised left-of-center RINOs once they get into office.

Trump should know better.

Trump Endorsements All Over Map

Trump has also thrown his support in Wyoming to Harriet Hageman, the attorney running against Liz Cheney in an upcoming primary.

Hageman vociferously supported Cheney during her 2016 congressional campaign, and strongly opposed President Trump at the time.

In fact, she tried to stop Trump from getting the Republican nomination in 2016, and called him “racist and xenophobic.”

The GOP Needs True Conservatives

Mr. Trump, to quote comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, “What are you doing?”

There’s little doubt one of the greatest failures of the Trump presidency was his inability to clear out the deep state riffraff within his own administration.

Too many faux conservatives kneecapped his presidency and continue to destroy his legacy to this day. Winning elections isn’t everything. Winning them with actual conservatives is. And the two don’t need to be mutually exclusive.

If Trump wins in 2024, what exactly will change if he continues to hire and support people that actively want to destroy him and conservative values along the way?

It’ll be the same stalled agenda. The same impeachment proceedings. The same effort to destroy America just so Democrats can get power back in 2028.

The post I’m Just Going To Say This: Trump’s Endorsement Of Dr. Oz Is The Wrong Move appeared first on The Political Insider.