O-SenseNow it is Idaho’s turn.
Next Tuesday, on March 8, Idaho Republican voters have a chance to cast a vote for U.S. president in the Idaho Republican presidential primary.
A key decision is whether or not Idaho GOP voters will back Donald Trump like voters in some other states.
Here are my top six reasons justifying a vote for someone else.
First, Trump claims to be a successful businessman. Yet, his record consists of four significant bankruptcies (learn more here) and, according to a New York Times story that ran 2/23, he has a history of not paying contractors. One Saudi prince, who cleaned up his financial mess with the New York City’s Plaza hotel, didn’t mince words calling his approach to business a “disgrace to the United States.” As Ted Cruz pointed out at the Houston debate, Trump in July will be participating in a fraud trial over Trump University. And, none of this factors in Mitt Romney’s warning that Trump’s yet-unreleased tax returns could contain a “bombshell”.
Second, on immigration, he is a hypocrite. Since 2010, the New York Times reported (check out the story here) that Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, has hired 500 foreign nationals on visas while only hiring 17 Americans out of 300 who have applied in the same time period. This past summer I saw the new Trump hotel (the Old Post Office) in downtown Washington, D.C. The Washington Post reports many of the construction workers are illegal aliens (view the story here). This is the guy people want to trust on immigration?
Third, Trump is remarkably ignorant of public policy issues even though he has been running since last summer. A few weeks ago he didn’t know what the U.S. nuclear triad of bombers, land based missiles and submarines meant. And, last week, as Marco Rubio so ably demonstrated in the Houston debate, he didn’t have any real details behind his “great” health care plan.
Fourth, I’m surprised concerning his lack of understanding of the basic system of government under the U.S. Constitution. In the Houston debate, he said over and over that judges sign bills. That is just silly. Judges decide lawsuits, not legislation. Did Trump ever attend a high school government class?
Fifth, there are his well-documented flip-flops on abortion, on healthcare, Hillary Clinton, President Obama, taxes, etc. For an amusing two-minute clip, go here. Whatever positions you may support of his, can you truly count on him to maintain those stands?
Sixth, his character is of questionable worth. One of the most disturbing statements made by him was when he blasted Sen. John McCain: “He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured." But, less well known, Trump gave an interview to Howard Stern bragging about his sexual exploits during the era of HIV/AIDS, claiming, “I felt like a great and very brave soldier” The rather graphic interview can be heard here. To compare that with the service of our soldiers in Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan is beyond the pale.
Those are all good reasons to cast a vote for someone else. But, there is another very practical reason to boost another candidate.
President Obama, since 2009, has implemented his agenda of growing government spending, redefining and expanding federalized health care, and weakening our military and undermining our relations with our key allies like Israel. We need a president who will go another direction – and that is not Hillary Clinton.
Donald Trump struggles when matched up with Clinton. According to Real Clear Politics (view here), he has trailed her nationally since last September. But, the results are far worse state by state and among key demographic groups. If nominated as the Republican choice, he will likely lose by a substantial margin, turning the U.S. Senate over to followers of Sen. Harry Reid and putting the U.S. House at risk of seating Speaker Nancy Pelosi again. If you want to win and avoid that outcome, you want to choose someone besides Trump.
Idaho’s chance to have a say in the GOP contest is now. Choose wisely.
Steve Taggart is an Idaho Falls attorney specializing in bankruptcy (www.MaynesTaggart.com). He has an extensive background in politics and public policy. He can be reached atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
