Why haven't Trump's opponents portrayed him as a RINO?

[hopper]

Ask Rand Paul how questioning Trump's conservatism worked out for him.

Yeah Paul had a bad night that night for sure.

[hopper]

Ask Rand Paul how questioning Trump's conservatism worked out for him.

This.

They tried. They failed. Trump doesn't care if he's accused of being a RINOceros, and neither do his supporters.

It seems like every time Trump has a confrontation with somebody in the media his poll numbers go up. I wonder if part of the reason people like him because he confronts the media which Republicans don't like at all (the media.) The other reason people like him is he gives good talking but with an "Angry Populism" tone.

[hopper]

They've tried.  The thing is, every attack bounces of Trump.  There's another reason why it wouldn't work.

In 2014, Arkansas voted unanimously to raise the minimum wage in the state, during a year where they won in landslides in the Senate and Governor's races.  There are a lot of Republicans who support some Democratic economic policies, its just that the Democrats have completely alienated these people with their multi-multiculturalism and social liberalism.

The problem with the Dems is they play the race, and gender card too much. I mean for the past few years that's all they do and it really gets old after awhile.

[hopper]

Because with the exception of Cruz, they are all RINOs.

Cruz is too conservative for me to vote for. The guy is just the Republican Version of Obama. If he were President we would have a Government Shutdown 4-5 times a year. I think Cruz would be badly damaged by the media not to mention Univision and Telemundo they would absolutely roast him.

[hopper]

Trump is probably the only man that could hold liberal positions (on healthcare,taxes, and drugs) and still be the GOP frontrunner.

If any other candidate held liberal positions on these issues, the base would call him/her a RINO, and they'd have no chance of winning the nomination.

Trump is so persuasive and has such a likable personality to the point where he can get away with having liberal positions. Trump is truly an amazing politician, isn't he?

Healthcare- Well he used to be liberal on health care now he is conservative.
Taxes-Yes he is for taxing the rich-true again.
Drugs-He is liberal there too.

Trump-I used to like him until he made that comment about illegal immigrants and than the whole Megyn Kelly charade.

Yes Trump is an amazing politician(funny.)

In a General Election Latino Voters would vote against him in droves though so there goes the amazing politician part though. His unfavorables with Latino Voters are at -51 in Gallup.

[hopper]

They've tried.  The thing is, every attack bounces of Trump.  There's another reason why it wouldn't work.

In 2014, Arkansas voted unanimously to raise the minimum wage in the state, during a year where they won in landslides in the Senate and Governor's races.  There are a lot of Republicans who support some Democratic economic policies, its just that the Democrats have completely alienated these people with their multi-multiculturalism and social liberalism.

This is why I believe an anti free trade, anti illegal immigration, anti H1B visa GOP candidate would carry PA, WI and MI. Pro private sector unions, anti public sector unions and pro minimum wage, anti social security privatization. One GOP candidate who recognizes that globalization is threatening the middle class economic security. Stop listening to Larry Kudlow, CFG and the CofC.

H1BI visas aren't a big deal in the "Rust Belt" are they? They are a big deal in California in Silicon Valley I know that.

[hopper]

Trump flipped parties and ideas more often then he changed hairstyles....why a third of the party supports him is shocking to me.

I thought that was funny when Hillary took a jab at Trump's hair.

[hopper]

Donald Trump has taken Mitt Romney's 2012 Debate #1 strategy (simply pretending he never said or believed anything people say he'd did) and formed an entire campaign off of it...and it's just as effective so far.

At least Mitt Romney wasn't acting stupidly when he campaigned in 2012 like Trump is now. Yeah ok Mitt said "self-deport" but he never said Mexicans here illegally are all mostly committing crimes or are mostly in the illegal drug cartel/trade.

[hopper]

They've tried.  The thing is, every attack bounces of Trump.  There's another reason why it wouldn't work.

In 2014, Arkansas voted unanimously to raise the minimum wage in the state, during a year where they won in landslides in the Senate and Governor's races.  There are a lot of Republicans who support some Democratic economic policies, its just that the Democrats have completely alienated these people with their multi-multiculturalism and social liberalism.

This is true, and it very much describes me.  I am a registered Republican who used to be a registered Democrat, but votes independently, and find myself in agreement with many of Trump's issue positions (moreso than with the standard Republican or Democrat).

People won't call him a RINO because Trump is filling a void in the GOP; the void left by the Perot voters becoming ambivalent about being Republicans.  Trump is where he is because the GOP had become SO narrow a tent that it was freezing out a whole lot of Republicans who were big on the Republican issues Trump pushes, but not on the whole range of issues that makes one a "conservative" today.

More importantly, Trump oozes leadership.  If his leadership is a bit misdirected at times, he still projects a highly decisive management style; if he's wrong, being decisive gives him time to reverse field and make corrections.  People want that.  People want a President who has a sense of certainty in the rightness in his decisions.  I recognize that self-assuredness can morph into egomania, but I also recognize that these qualities preferable to electing President Casper Milquetoast.
 

You have expressed that you feel I personally dislike you. That is not the case, I have no issue with you personally and if we met in person, I'm sure I'd have a friendly conversation with you. But, sorry, I don't believe you are really a Republican. I have seen you express socially conservative views, but when you talk about foreign policy and the economy, I feel as if I'm debating with liberals.

The real reason most of the candidates aren't calling Trump a "RINO" is because they are scared of him. Rand Paul has articulated quite effectively that Donald Trump is a "fake conservative." Trump represents people who are tired of Washington D.C., but are also scared of immigrants and blame their personal problems on globalization. I'm tired of Washington D.C., but I am not a bigot and I don't blame the stagnant economy on globalization, I blame it on a federal bureaucracy that is inept and clueless about how to create an environment where jobs can be created. We need more free markets, not less and that means lower taxes, fewer regulations, less corporate welfare, an end to this loose monetary policy, energy deregulation, more free trade, Obamacare repeal, and legal reform.

Finally, Donald Trump is not a leader. A leader doesn't take to Twitter at 3 a.m. to bash an accomplished television personality in a sexist manner. A leader doesn't attack veterans, immigrants, and people smarter than himself/herself. A leader doesn't lie to people. A leader certainly doesn't change positions in an attempt to curry favor with different groups.

I'm listed as an independent, and that's what I am.  I am, however, a REGISTERED Republican, which means that I VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY in Florida.  Whether I'm a RINO or not, I'm a GOP voter, so deal with it.

I voted for Bush 43 in 2000, Kerry in 2004, McCain in 2008, and Obama in 2012, and I'm leaning Republican in this year's Presidential election, although I will not vote for Christie, Walker, or Jeb, period.  When I voted Democratic for President, I voted GOP for Congress on the theory that neither side could do a lot of harm that way.  I'm pro-life, anti-war, pro-single payor healthcare, pro-union, anti-free trade, anti-SSM, anti-Common Core, pro-law enforcement . . . well, let's just say that I don't fit into a niche in either party.  You say you don't feel I'm really a Republican. I'm a socially conservative, economic moderate-liberal, and generally skeptical of our military interventions as being in our real national interest, but very big on maintaining a strong military for actual NATIONAL defense (and not Empire Maintenance/Nation Building).  Would any of our Democratic friends here think I was really a Democrat reading my posts?

The point here is that (A) there is no litmus test for registering as a member of a political party (which is requires for primary voting in the state where I live) and (B) I'm not going to disenfranchise myself in voting in local elections by registering Democrat or Independent in a heavily Republican county.  Like it or not, I'm part of the FL GOP electorate, and my vote counts as much as a vote for any lifelong Movement Conservative in the GOP electorate.  Think about the political implications of that.

As for switching issue positions:  George H. W. Bush blatantly switched from pro-choice to pro-life to run with Reagan.  After being voted out of office, he publicly renounced that position (Barbara Bush has always been pro-choice.)  Bush 41 called Reagan's economic plan "Voodoo Economics", but became a cheerleader for the campaign.  Let's get real here; how much has Trump switched issue positions compared to Bush 41?

Anyway, I'm a registered Republican, and I'm going to vote in the Republican primary.  Donald Trump's issue positions are closer to mine than many, and the Club for Growth types are the folks who've turned the GOP blatantly into the party of Corporate America, period.  That's why the GOP is at an Electoral Vote disadvantage these days; they no longer represent the hopes of people who want to get into and stay in the middle class.  Donald Trump's candidacy is, IMO, a possible remedy to this sorry condition the GOP has found itself in.

You sound like a  "Moderate Liberal Populist" but lean more  towards the "Populist Box" of the idealogical spectrum than say the "Liberal Box" like on the "Nolan Chart" for example.

[hopper]

They've tried.  The thing is, every attack bounces of Trump.  There's another reason why it wouldn't work.

In 2014, Arkansas voted unanimously to raise the minimum wage in the state, during a year where they won in landslides in the Senate and Governor's races.  There are a lot of Republicans who support some Democratic economic policies, its just that the Democrats have completely alienated these people with their multi-multiculturalism and social liberalism.

This is true, and it very much describes me.  I am a registered Republican who used to be a registered Democrat, but votes independently, and find myself in agreement with many of Trump's issue positions (moreso than with the standard Republican or Democrat).

People won't call him a RINO because Trump is filling a void in the GOP; the void left by the Perot voters becoming ambivalent about being Republicans.  Trump is where he is because the GOP had become SO narrow a tent that it was freezing out a whole lot of Republicans who were big on the Republican issues Trump pushes, but not on the whole range of issues that makes one a "conservative" today.

More importantly, Trump oozes leadership.  If his leadership is a bit misdirected at times, he still projects a highly decisive management style; if he's wrong, being decisive gives him time to reverse field and make corrections.  People want that.  People want a President who has a sense of certainty in the rightness in his decisions.  I recognize that self-assuredness can morph into egomania, but I also recognize that these qualities preferable to electing President Casper Milquetoast.
 

You have expressed that you feel I personally dislike you. That is not the case, I have no issue with you personally and if we met in person, I'm sure I'd have a friendly conversation with you. But, sorry, I don't believe you are really a Republican. I have seen you express socially conservative views, but when you talk about foreign policy and the economy, I feel as if I'm debating with liberals.

The real reason most of the candidates aren't calling Trump a "RINO" is because they are scared of him. Rand Paul has articulated quite effectively that Donald Trump is a "fake conservative." Trump represents people who are tired of Washington D.C., but are also scared of immigrants and blame their personal problems on globalization. I'm tired of Washington D.C., but I am not a bigot and I don't blame the stagnant economy on globalization, I blame it on a federal bureaucracy that is inept and clueless about how to create an environment where jobs can be created. We need more free markets, not less and that means lower taxes, fewer regulations, less corporate welfare, an end to this loose monetary policy, energy deregulation, more free trade, Obamacare repeal, and legal reform.

Finally, Donald Trump is not a leader. A leader doesn't take to Twitter at 3 a.m. to bash an accomplished television personality in a sexist manner. A leader doesn't attack veterans, immigrants, and people smarter than himself/herself. A leader doesn't lie to people. A leader certainly doesn't change positions in an attempt to curry favor with different groups.

I'm listed as an independent, and that's what I am.  I am, however, a REGISTERED Republican, which means that I VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY in Florida.  Whether I'm a RINO or not, I'm a GOP voter, so deal with it.

I voted for Bush 43 in 2000, Kerry in 2004, McCain in 2008, and Obama in 2012, and I'm leaning Republican in this year's Presidential election, although I will not vote for Christie, Walker, or Jeb, period.  When I voted Democratic for President, I voted GOP for Congress on the theory that neither side could do a lot of harm that way.  I'm pro-life, anti-war, pro-single payor healthcare, pro-union, anti-free trade, anti-SSM, anti-Common Core, pro-law enforcement . . . well, let's just say that I don't fit into a niche in either party.  You say you don't feel I'm really a Republican. I'm a socially conservative, economic moderate-liberal, and generally skeptical of our military interventions as being in our real national interest, but very big on maintaining a strong military for actual NATIONAL defense (and not Empire Maintenance/Nation Building).  Would any of our Democratic friends here think I was really a Democrat reading my posts?

The point here is that (A) there is no litmus test for registering as a member of a political party (which is requires for primary voting in the state where I live) and (B) I'm not going to disenfranchise myself in voting in local elections by registering Democrat or Independent in a heavily Republican county.  Like it or not, I'm part of the FL GOP electorate, and my vote counts as much as a vote for any lifelong Movement Conservative in the GOP electorate.  Think about the political implications of that.

As for switching issue positions:  George H. W. Bush blatantly switched from pro-choice to pro-life to run with Reagan.  After being voted out of office, he publicly renounced that position (Barbara Bush has always been pro-choice.)  Bush 41 called Reagan's economic plan "Voodoo Economics", but became a cheerleader for the campaign.  Let's get real here; how much has Trump switched issue positions compared to Bush 41?

Anyway, I'm a registered Republican, and I'm going to vote in the Republican primary.  Donald Trump's issue positions are closer to mine than many, and the Club for Growth types are the folks who've turned the GOP blatantly into the party of Corporate America, period.  That's why the GOP is at an Electoral Vote disadvantage these days; they no longer represent the hopes of people who want to get into and stay in the middle class.  Donald Trump's candidacy is, IMO, a possible remedy to this sorry condition the GOP has found itself in.

Okay, that is fair. You are an independent voter, fine. I respect that. It would be more honest of you to not register Republican, but that is your right as an American and I wouldn't question that.

Here is where we differ though, I registered Republican once I turned 18. I have voted for probably 10-15 Republican candidates, I've only supported a Democrat once because the GOP nominee was soft on national security and it was a special election where I'd have the chance to support a real conservative the following year.

On the issues you mentioned, only on being pro-life and against common core do a majority of Republicans agree with you. My views are in line with Republicans. I am for tax cuts, spending restraint, Paul Ryan's reforms to entitlements, pro-life, for state's rights, against gun control, against Obamacare, I'm okay with same-sex marriage but it's a state issue, for free trade, against federal involvement in education, for Jeb Bush's immigration position, for ending the Federal Reserve, for ending the Federal Department of Education, for ending all corporate welfare, for a balanced budget amendment, and for the kind of foreign policy advocated by George W. Bush and Condi Rice.

I get that on immigration and same-sex marriage, my views are moderate.

About George Bush, he isn't running for President this year and he really didn't change on economics if you think about it. He believed Reagan's tax cuts would be too large and he was focused more on deficit reduction, he actually raised taxes to reduce the deficit when he was President.

Trump was pandering to the far left in 2000, now he's pandering to the far right. George Bush switched positions on one issue, abortion. Both his son's have become known as public officials who are not willing to pander for votes.

The GOP is at an electoral college disadvantage today because the party has stopped appealing to minorities and women. Groups like the Club for Growth that advance economic freedom stay clear of the kind of anti-immigrant rhetoric that has hurt Republicans. Additionally, some Republicans don't have sound economic arguments, the Club for Growth and believers in free markets like me are trying to get the party to focus on issues that impact everyday Americans.

Most jobs are created in small and medium-sized businesses, but large corporations still employ millions of Americans. I think it's about time we stop demonizing job creators in this country, it's about time we come together as a country. The class warfare rhetoric of the left has not created any jobs.  

Wouldn't it make more sense to support Rick Santorum than Donald Trump? He's right there with Trump on free trade and immigration, but he is a social conservative who has been married to the same woman for years and has a happy family.

Yeah Republicans got killed with Latina and Black Women Voters the last 2 elections. Black Women over the age of 45 really delivered Obama Ohio and I think Virginia too in 2012.

[hopper]

Okay, that is fair. You are an independent voter, fine. I respect that. It would be more honest of you to not register Republican, but that is your right as an American and I wouldn't question that.

Here is where we differ though, I registered Republican once I turned 18. I have voted for probably 10-15 Republican candidates, I've only supported a Democrat once because the GOP nominee was soft on national security and it was a special election where I'd have the chance to support a real conservative the following year.

On the issues you mentioned, only on being pro-life and against common core do a majority of Republicans agree with you. My views are in line with Republicans. I am for tax cuts, spending restraint, Paul Ryan's reforms to entitlements, pro-life, for state's rights, against gun control, against Obamacare, I'm okay with same-sex marriage but it's a state issue, for free trade, against federal involvement in education, for Jeb Bush's immigration position, for ending the Federal Reserve, for ending the Federal Department of Education, for ending all corporate welfare, for a balanced budget amendment, and for the kind of foreign policy advocated by George W. Bush and Condi Rice.

I get that on immigration and same-sex marriage, my views are moderate.

About George Bush, he isn't running for President this year and he really didn't change on economics if you think about it. He believed Reagan's tax cuts would be too large and he was focused more on deficit reduction, he actually raised taxes to reduce the deficit when he was President.

Trump was pandering to the far left in 2000, now he's pandering to the far right. George Bush switched positions on one issue, abortion. Both his son's have become known as public officials who are not willing to pander for votes.

The GOP is at an electoral college disadvantage today because the party has stopped appealing to minorities and women. Groups like the Club for Growth that advance economic freedom stay clear of the kind of anti-immigrant rhetoric that has hurt Republicans. Additionally, some Republicans don't have sound economic arguments, the Club for Growth and believers in free markets like me are trying to get the party to focus on issues that impact everyday Americans.

Most jobs are created in small and medium-sized businesses, but large corporations still employ millions of Americans. I think it's about time we stop demonizing job creators in this country, it's about time we come together as a country. The class warfare rhetoric of the left has not created any jobs.  

Wouldn't it make more sense to support Rick Santorum than Donald Trump? He's right there with Trump on free trade and immigration, but he is a social conservative who has been married to the same woman for years and has a happy family.

Why would it be "more honest" of me to register as an Independent?  Doing so would deny me the right to vote in Republican Primaries for state and local offices, which are partisan, and where the GOP primary is tantamount to victory.  I didn't make those rules, and I wasn't given a litmus test when voting, so why is it more "honest"?  Really, that suggestion is made in the spirit of Voter ID laws; you'd like me to self-exclude so that your GOP can be "pure".  Florida registers voters by party, and non-Republicans can only vote in Republican primaries if the winner of the GOP primary for an office has no General Election opponent, but that is gotten around by GOP hacks filing to run as "write-in" candidates for the general election, which makes the primary (which will actually elect a Sheriff, County Commissioner, etc.) a GOP-only affair.  

I voted for Santorum in the 2012 primary, but he's not going to win.  I'm not going to throw my vote away.  Donald Trump has brought a degree of accountability to the GOP primary process that is refreshing, and his overall stances on issues mirror mine closer than most.  I'm not guaranteeing I'll vote for Trump in the primary, but if the primary was tomorrow, I definitely would.  Trump's presence in the race has shown the lot of GOP candidates to be cowards or incompetents.  The only ones of the lot that appear better for the wear are Kasich, Fiorina, and, oddly enough, Rick Perry, who actually showed some principle in his reaction to Trump.  Trump has revealed Scott Walker, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, and (sadly) Rand Paul to be not ready for prime time (although the Establishment has propped up Jeb to where he's still the Establishment front-runner).  

Yeah but Jeb has stepped his attacks on Trump the past few days though. I thought Christie won the first debate in my opinion.

[hopper]

Donald Trump has taken Mitt Romney's 2012 Debate #1 strategy (simply pretending he never said or believed anything people say he'd did) and formed an entire campaign off of it...and it's just as effective so far.

At least Mitt Romney wasn't acting stupidly when he campaigned in 2012 like Trump is now. Yeah ok Mitt said "self-deport" but he never said Mexicans here illegally are all mostly committing crimes or are mostly in the illegal drug cartel/trade.

By definition, every person who has entered the United States of America illegally is a criminal.

Well they should have been sent back to start with. Now they are here with kids and jobs. What do you do send them back to Mexico after they are living here for 10-15 years? I blame both Congressional Republicans and Dems for our illegal immigration problems and both Clinton and Bush W. when they were our President. 8 million illegal immigrants came combined during both of their Presidencies to the US and both Presidents did nothing.