Attacking Trump’s Conservative Credentials Won’t Work

Josh Kraushaar: “There’s good reason why Trump has run on a non-traditional Republican platform, one that is skeptical of military intervention, hostile to illegal immigration, and opposed to free trade deals. Last week, he even attacked former President George W. Bush for not anticipating the 9/11 attacks. Trump has been advocating hiking taxes on wealthy corporations and individuals. His past support of abortion rights, and admission that he hasn’t sought forgiveness from God, don’t endear him to evangelicals. But those positions match the ideological profile of his supporters. Trump is no dummy; he’s running a campaign geared towards voters that many Republican candidates, with their emphases on tax cuts, free trade, and immigration reform, have perennially ignored.”

Byron York: “The short version of the problem could be this: An attack ad says Trump is not a conservative. Trump supporters — and other possible GOP voters, as well — say, that’s OK, we’re not conservatives, either… It could mean that the strategy currently on the drawing board won’t work, and might instead backfire on the conservatives who want to push Trump out of the race.”