Dem opponents unimpressed with Trump disavowals
Thursday, Aug 11, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* By now, you’ve most certainly read about this…
“Hillary wants to abolish — essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, if she gets to pick, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know,” Trump said.
He added: “But I tell you what, that will be a horrible day, if Hillary gets to put her judges in, right now we’re tied.”
* Congressman Bob Dold has refused to endorse Trump and he had this to say to CBS 2…
“Obviously that’s asking people to incite violence,” said U.S. Rep. Robert Dold. “Obviously, it is something that’s really dangerous and can’t be tolerated.”
* From his opponent’s campaign…
Schneider for Congress campaign manager Magen Ryan today released the following statement:
“Bob Dold let Donald Trump’s dangerous incitement of violence sit for a full day, only commenting timidly after being forced to respond by media questioning. That’s not leadership – it’s cowardice. Dold should have immediately stood up and denounced the nominee of his party’s incendiary rhetoric at the start.”
* US Sen. Mark Kirk also reacted yesterday…
“When you’re running for president, you have to be very careful about what you say. He’s not careful enough. We’ve all seen these gaffes that make him not prepared for the big job.”
* From the Democratic Party of Illinois…
Kirk on Kirk’s Gaffes:
“Levine asked Kirk about a series of controversial statements he has made in recent memory. That includes a reference last year to Chicago’s South Side, when he referred to an unmarried colleague as a ‘bro with no ho.’
‘When you’re in a race like I’m in, everything is taken the wrong way,’ Kirk says.” [CBS Chicago, 7/21/16]
Confused about the difference, Senator? Maybe you should visit www.TrumporKirk.com to get a refresher.
Thoughts?
- John Rawls - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:16 am:
Can’t tell what’s more lackluster - Brad Schneider or his campaign manager’s statement. Snooze.
- Just Observing - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:18 am:
Schneider’s campaign is grasping at straws.
- Rufus - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:19 am:
Yes, one day they may discuss issues of importance: economy, crime, cleaning up State government. I can dream.
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:21 am:
I’m no fan of Representative Dold, but for the Schneider camp to imply that he’s conveniently disavowing the rhetoric of Donald Trump when he’s been anti-Trump from the get-go smacks of desperation.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:22 am:
It was a bad joke- but it was the kind of joke the rest of us wouldn’t get away with. Similar to watching what you say in a TSA line at an airport. Trump needs to remember he has a lot of fans that aren’t entirely sensible. I also thought that the Supreme Court justices might have been less than impressed with it.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:23 am:
Secret Service, although Trump disavows this, seems to have an issue with his statements…
It wasn’t just Trump’s words, it was his body language when he said it- nod, wink, and shoulder shrug. Everyday, he is more out of control.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/10/politics/trump-second-amendment/
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:26 am:
Once you declare that you are not supporting someone, I guess you then still have to quickly denounce everything that person says? OK. “I hereby announce I am not endorsing Mr. Trump and disavow anything and everything he says from now on so don’t ask me again or accuse me of being slow to do it.” Done.
- A guy - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:29 am:
Nothingness. Lots of it. And then commentary that goes on and on.
- Century Club - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:30 am:
Just another way Trump is dragging down the ticket - how much time will Kirk and Dold spend talking about Trump when they really need to be getting their own message out? Opportunity cost is everything here.
- Norseman - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:30 am:
Boys will be boys and politics is politics.
Campaigns will throw a lot of stuff on the wall and see what will stick. (Except Donald, he’s using dump trucks to try and cover the wall.)
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:32 am:
Donald Trump is the standard bearer and head of the U.S. Republican Party. Unless either of these men change their party affiliation they are going to have to wear this jacket this cycle. Them’s just the breaks.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:32 am:
Short of endorsing HRC, there is very little that Republican candidates can do to avoid being linked to their party’s presidential nominee.
Bummer.
– MrJM
- Wensicia - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:35 am:
I’m thankful that Kirk is not running for president.
- Knight of Ni - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:39 am:
Anon221
Didn’t Reuters debunk CNN’s claim?
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:41 am:
To those who think Trump’s comments amount to nothing:
Polls show he is attracting about 37% of the vote. More or less, it doesn’t matter; millions of people support Donald Trump. When that many people support you, at least a handful are bound to be loons. Now, I’m not denigrating Trump supporters (in this post), it is just an inherency that when that many people are gathered, some are crazy. There are crazy Hillary supporters, too.
Now, let’s give Donald the benefit of the doubt and say his comments were misconstrued. Well, we can at least admit that they were easily misconstrued, no? And, if such a large number of people can misconstrue them, it follows that a percentage of his followers misconstrued them, too. And, if any of his mentally incompetent followers misconstrued them, which, based on sheer numbers, is likely, then he created a dangerous situation. Not just for Hillary, for the mentally impaired people who may take action and find themselves arrested or worse.
It was a dumb, dangerous comment to make. Defending it is not the right thing to do.
- DuPage Expat - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:44 am:
“Sit for a day”? Dold long ago said what he needed to say. Responding to every over the top/outrageous/unacceptable Trump word vomit would be a full-time job for him and keep him from discussing his record on opioids, immigration, and other issues that actually matter to the district.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:48 am:
Knight of Ni- Well, when I looked at Google news, CNN’s story was only 6 hours old, while Reuters was 16 hours old. Now there’s this-
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article95005207.html
I guess we’ll all have to stay tuned… but I will not be relying on Trump’s tweets for the truth of the matter.
- Doug Simpson - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:51 am:
Paul Ryan, Republican-Speaker of the House. Currently 3rd in line for the Presidency….thinks its a joke too.
Crickets from the Republican Illinois Governor who has endorsed him.
Ask Jim Bradys family if they think its a joke.
It wasnt a joke. Just like yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre isnt a joke or appropriate.
- Jocko - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:51 am:
Trump should have said, “Will no one rid me of this troublesome opponent?”
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:51 am:
I have no doubt that the thought that he could get Mrs. Clinton killed flittered through his head and out of his mouth and now is gone.
- Knight of Ni - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:52 am:
I don’t rely tweets in general for truthfulness.
- LessAnon? - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 11:57 am:
This crap is why people tune out politics and we end up with candidates/choices like Trump and Hillary.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
Knight of Ni- Tweet but Verify:)
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1312.5297.pdf
BTW- I don’t use the “birdy”. 140 characters is not a conversation.
- Nuke the Whales - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:03 pm:
You’re either voting for Clinton (I’ll even let conservatives cop out with Johnson) or you’re supporting Trump. Writing in protest votes of those not running or not showing up enable a Trump victory. Any action that isn’t a vote for an alternative to Trump is support for Trump.
- DGD - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
** but I will not be relying on Trump’s tweets for the truth of the matter **
To rely on any politician’s statements as a source of truth is extreme naivete, if not outright stupidity.
Very few of Illinois’ milquetoast Republicans will support Trump regardless of what he says.
- Saluki - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
Trump 2nd Amendment comments barely amount to anything worth mentioning.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:09 pm:
When Trump exits in disgrace, he will take with him the moderate Republicans who oppose him.
What a disaster for our country.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
“Trump 2nd Amendment comments barely amount to anything worth mentioning.”
This is a bare conclusion. Please feel free to support that conclusion with an argument.
– MrJM
- Jay Dee - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
“Any action that isn’t a vote for an alternative to Trump is support for Trump.”
A relative of mine used the same argument except replaced Trump with Clinton. How can it be that if I don’t vote for either candidate, I am supporting both?
- Daniel Plainview - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:22 pm:
- Nothingness. -
Yeah, a presidential candidate joking about the assassination of a rival candidate is just run of the mill, light humor.
The real nothingness is what occurs in your head.
- Norseman - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:23 pm:
=== “Any action that isn’t a vote for an alternative to Trump is support for Trump.”
A relative of mine used the same argument except replaced Trump with Clinton. How can it be that if I don’t vote for either candidate, I am supporting both? ===
It depends on the state. For firm blue or red states, third party votes are not expected to change who wins. It’s those in swing states that have to ponder third party impact on the results.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
What Schneider said is just politics–trying to pounce on your opponent.
With Trump saying what seems like an outrageous statement a day, I can’t help thinking of the following:
Bill: Hi Donald. How’s “Operation Inside Job” going?
Donald: Great, terrific. Doing everything I can to help. The fools who support me eat up everything I tell them. I wasn’t kidding when I said they’d support me even if I shot someone.
Bill: Keep it up. Hillary’s swing state polling numbers are looking better.
Donald: You know you and Hillary are great friends of mine. Hillary would be a great president, terrific president. She’s going to be so great you’re not gonna believe it.
Bill: Yeah, ah know.
I’m not into conspiracies, but it almost comes to mind with Trump.
- jdcolombo - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 1:06 pm:
I have little doubt that The Donald wasn’t REALLY asking some of his supporters to off Hillary. He was being his outrageous self, making off-the-cuff remarks that pop into his brain at any time. It’s why he does so well connecting with his audiences at his rallies.
And this is precisely what makes him so dangerous as a potential President. Presidents simply can’t do this. They HAVE to be scripted, because every word they say is parsed by foreign governments, intelligence agencies, friends and enemies. One wrong statement from a U.S. president starts a world war. Anything that comes out of a president’s mouth must be vetted and scripted so that it doesn’t induce Kim Jong-un to fire off a nuke at South Korea; or India and Pakistan to trade missles; or give Putin an opening to reclaim Ukraine in toto. Donald’s mouth would create an international incident a day, and if you don’t think that’s something to worry about, then you haven’t been paying attention to what’s going on in the world. Hillary may not be my ideal candidate, but I am confident she won’t accidentally destroy the world with some off-the-cuff remark. With the Trumpster, it’s 50-50.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 1:08 pm:
=== They HAVE to be scripted, because every word they say is parsed===
It’s not the first time…
During a sound check before the address, Reagan made the following joke to the radio technicians: “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” … ut the Tokyo newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported in October 1984 that the Soviet Far East Army was placed on alert after word of the statement got out and that the alert was not withdrawn until 30 minutes later. An unnamed aide to US Representative Michael Barnes (D-Md.) confirmed that the Pentagon was aware of the alert.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
Somewhat related: Several GOP activists are now openly pushing the RNC to stop spending money to prop up Trump and instead direct resources down ballot.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/republicans-urge-rnc-cut-funds-trump-226918
How would that even work? What a mess.
- Timmeh - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
Good luck with your abundance of free media, Republicans.
- m - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
Because Hillary would never make off the cuff remarks that inflame foreign leaders.
Like saying that the leader of Russia has no soul…
Someone said it earlier, there is nothing in any of this that really matters. This is people latching on to something from either candidate to stir up hate and make people forget that we have two candidates that can’t boast that even half the country likes them.
Economy? Taxes? Any of that in here? Nope, just the exact stuff that makes everyone tune out our government and go watch the kardashians instead of the news.
- Quinnfan - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
DPI helping out in a Congressional race? Did I just wake up from a coma?
- Northsider - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 2:20 pm:
Putin has no soul vs. Maybe the “Second Amendment people” can (nudgenudge) do something about that (winkwink).
Thanks for playing False Equivalency Fail!
Those who still defend and support Trump reveal much more about themselves than I think they realize.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
Trump severely overestimates the brain power of NRA members if he actually expects them to understand complex political issues like Supreme Court picks affecting future 2nd Amendment rulings.
If Illinois is any example, NRA members here can’t figure out why Brandon Phelps allowed the unelected Star Chamber Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board in his 2013 carry bill. Thousands of people are fighting police objections and have been waiting over a year for a ruling to issue their concealed carry licenses. Meanwhile NRA does nothing, but contract lobbyist Todd Vandermyde is pushing legalizing silencers.
- Amalia - Thursday, Aug 11, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
….legalizing silencers…… what the everloving what?!? not good.