Proving that ego trumps money every time, former Massachusetts Gov. and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney played spoiler against 2016 GOP front-runner Donald Trump. Romney’s ego got bruised listening to Trump tell voters Mitt was a failed candidate losing to President Barack Obama in 2012, 51.1% to 47.2%, but, more importantly, 332 electoral votes to 206. Romney was dogged by failing to release his own tax returns until Sept. 27, 2012 and a secret recordings of him telling donors that 47% of voters back Obama because they’re dependent of government largess. Now it’s Mitt’s turn to sabotage Trump’s insurgent campaign that has taken the GOP by storm, putting him today on the threshold of wrapping up the nomination. Last week, Mitt said there was a “bombshell” in Trump’s taxes, suggesting he’s not a rich as advertised or he donates less to charities.
Romney’s charges were picked up by the GOP establishment and mainstream media doing their utmost to upend Trump before Super Tuesday. All indications point to Romney’s attempts backfiring with more voters shifting to Trump. With recent endorsements by former GOP candidate New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the Senate’s conservative soul Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Al.), Romney’s opposition research team dredges up a new “bombshell,” about an off-the-record recording of Trump telling the New York Times that he’d didn’t really know if all his immigration plans could be achieved. To Romney, who lives daily with his sour grapes over his 2012 loss, his vindictiveness knows know bounds. Badly flawed GOP candidates Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) welcomed Romney’s “bombshells,” running over 20% behind Trump in most states.
GOP officials and mainstream media also welcomed any dirt against the GOP front-runner. “Apparently there is a secret tape that the New York Times editorial board has of Donald Trump saying that he doesn’t believe what he’s saying on immigration . . “ Cruz told reporters gleefully, hoping to get any traction on his sinking campaign. Cruz knows that since winning Iowa Feb. 1 by only 4% under questionable circumstances, he’s won nothing, fining third, behind his chief rival Rubio. Whatever appears on the tape, Trump could easily explain as nothing more than speculating about what actually could be done with immigration, not, as Romney, Cruz and Rubio imply, Trump willfully deceived voters. No one voting for Trump really believes he’s going to deport anyone, let alone 11 million illegal immigrants. What voters like is that at least someone relates to their frustrations and dreams.
Facing another losing day at the polls, Rubio also ripped Trump hoping to shore up his failing campaign. Despite insisting he’s going to win the nomination, Rubio hasn’t won one caucus or primary, promising the same outcome today. “It sounds like what he [Donald] told [the New York Times] is different from what he is telling you [voters],” said Rubio. Trump’s backers aren’t under the illusion that the real estate tycoon can deliver on all campaign promises. What they like is that he’s promising a change from Washington’s breakdown, leaving both parties at loggerheads. Cruz likes to rip Planned Parenthood for performing abortions, contrasting himself with Trump who sees some of the group’s positive work. Cruz uses the Planned Parenthood issue as proof that Trump’s really pro-abortion. Cruz is too obsessed with the pro-life issue to realize it’s not winning him any votes.
Endorsed by Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell Jr., Trump outmaneuvered Cruz for the evangelical vote, blowing him out in the Feb. 20 South Carolina. Fixated on evangelicals, Cruz doesn’t have the common sense to know he’s been badly outflanked by Trump heading into the Bible Belt states. Recent polls show evangelicals going for Trump, knowing everything about his past support of abortion or current pro-life change-of-heart. Falwell tried to tell other candidates that evangelicals aren’t one-issue voters, concerned more in 2016 about saving the country than stopping abortion. When CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Trump Feb. 28 about backing of David Duke and other white supremacist groups, the mainstream media and GOP establishment thought they had their gotcha moment. Trump clarified his position, Tweeting opposition to any hate groups, past, present or future.
Finding anything to sabotage Trump’s candidacy, the mainstream media and GOP establishment latch on to anything that looks controversial. Trump’s backers know he doesn’t condone hate groups. What they’ve come to expect at all the televised debates, town halls and interviews, is that the media seeks any chance to upend his campaign. Trump’s backers see how the Party establishment and media have gang-mobbed Trump, hoping to upend his front-runner status. “If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican Party, there must be no evasion and no games,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan. “They must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry,” said Ryan, stating the obvious, since Trump already agreed. GOP officials won’t stop ripping Trump until he’s the Party’s eventual nominee, tasked with beating Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton.
