First, the particulars: the group in question is the fundraising organization associated with the Club for Growth, a venerable Washington-based anti-tax lobby.
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The 30-second spots, produced and paid for by Club for Growth Action, the group’s super PAC, are slated for broadcast, cable, satellite TV and digital platforms in Iowa beginning later this week.
In one ad, the group cites his past support for universal health care and tax hikes for the wealthy, featuring the real estate mogul’s 2004 statement that “In many cases, I probably identify more as a Democrat”.
The ads accuse Trump of trying to con Republican voters and say he really is for higher taxes, national health care and the Wall Street bailout. “It’s Donald Trump”.
“We told them no, and immediately thereafter, he came after Trump“. “But he has a record, and it’s very liberal”.
A second ad chastises Trump for his support of a Supreme Court decision regarding eminent domain, which the Club for Growth says “gave government massive new power to take private property and give it to corporations”.
Holding a sign reading, “What did you do in the war?”, protester Greg Wilson said Trump’s veterans endorsement rings hollow. They can’t (or won’t) say or do the things Trump will and, therefore, always wind up on the short end of feuds with The Donald.
Although billed as a major policy speech, he kept it broad with Trumpisms like: “We’re gonna make our military so big and so strong and so great and it will be so powerful that no one’s going to ever have to use it”. A club spokesman told RealClearPolitics in July that McIntosh had met with Trump before he had announced his presidential bid and that he was treated as a potential donor to club efforts to support Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate.
When Club for Growth didn’t bite, Trump tweeted out a copy of the letter himself. “They are disgusted with the people giving our nation away”.
The spat marks another chapter in the running feud between the group and the candidate.
On his official Twitter account, Trump responded Tuesday: “Little respected Club For Growth asked me for $1,000,000 – I said “NO”. Trump, then as now, claimed that the group was angry with him for refusing to donate.
Much of Trump’s rise has been attributed to his being outside the traditional political world.
So far that money is helping the candidates define themselves rather than tear down Trump.
It was just a taste of what he is expected to throw at rivals Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, and Carly Fiorina in a prime time debate Wednesday. Several GOP candidates indicated they plan to press Trump on policy specifics.
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Trump’s comments prompted a backlash from a slew of stars, with celebrities including Eva Longoria, Ricky Martin, Pitbull and George Lopez all speaking out to chastise the outspoken Republican.
