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The Establishments war on Donald Trump Title: Kasich ups ante with Trump over Muslim database Kasich ups ante with Trump over Muslim database By Darrel Rowland Now it’s John Kasich himself who’s taking a shot at Donald Trump. The governor issued a statement this morning about Trump’s proposal to force Muslims in the United States to become part of a national database. Kasich said, “The idea that someone would have to register with the federal government because of their religion strikes against all that we have believed in our nation’s history. It is yet another example of trying to divide people, one against the other. Donald Trump is unable to unite and lead our country.” When Trump was asked by NBC News about the difference between his proposed Muslim requirement and Nazi Germany signing up Jews, he merely responded, “You tell me.” On CNBC, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said, “You talk about internment, you talk about closing mosques, you talk about registering people. That's just wrong. I don't care about campaigns. It's not a question of toughness. It's to manipulate people's angst and their fears.” Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Trump’s plan “shocking rhetoric” that “should be denounced by all seeking to lead this country.” This morning’s dust-up comes on the heels of a dispute Thursday night that ended up with Trump’s top lawyer has threatening to sue Kasich and his super PAC to keep New Day for America from launching a $2.5 million ad campaign questioning Trump’s ability to serve as president. “Please be advised that in the event your ads contain any false, misleading, defamatory or otherwise tortuous statements or representations concerning Mr. Trump’s businesses or his brands, we will not hesitate to take immediate legal action to prevent such distribution and hold you and your organizations jointly and severally liable to the fullest extent of the law for any damages resulting therefrom,” said a letter late last night from Alan Garten, general counsel and executive vice president for the Trump Organization to Kasich and two top strategists from New Day for America. The super PAC was quick to respond. “Mr. Trump’s been successful in suing his way to financial gain. Unfortunately, you can’t sue your way to the Oval Office,” said chief strategist Matt David in a statement. “Trump can hire every trial lawyer in the country, but voters will ultimately decide this election. You can’t sue ISIS away. Suing Vladimir Putin won’t evict Russia from the Ukraine. The role of commander in chief requires leadership, not lawyers.” Open warfare between the two camps broke out four days before Trump’s first campaign visit to Ohio – a rally Monday night at the Greater Columbus Convention Center – when Kasich’s super-PAC rolled out plans for a negative ad campaign for New Hampshire targeting Trump in a bold attempt to end his reign atop the Republican presidential race. The high-risk move could either establish Kasich’s bona fides as a serious national candidate, or seal his demise, the way others attempting to take on Trump have suffered. “Gov. Kasich has shown that he is one of the only folks willing to stand up to Trump and his antics, his empty promises, his bombast,” David told The Dispatch. “Secondly, in talking to voters and listening to our donors, there is a strong push and a consensus that someone has to stand up to Trump in this election. And we feel that Gov. Kasich is the best person to do that, given the fact that he is a sitting governor with a successful record that provides voters with a template of who he would be as president. “And I think if you juxtapose that to Trump, there are a lot of unknowns there. When people think about what Donald Trump as commander in chief means, and that sinks in, I think there’s going to be a sense of buyer’s remorse. And this entire effort is going to accelerate that feeling of buyer’s remorse.” Some of the ads — they will include TV, radio, direct mail and digital — will focus solely on Trump, David said. Others will directly contrast Trump and Kasich, and a few will be positive spots about Kasich. “In presenting the contrast with Trump, we can also position Kasich as having courage and having the guts and the leadership to stand up to Donald Trump,” David said. The new ad series adds about $1.2 million more to the $11.5 million targeted by the super PAC for New Hampshire between July and its Feb. 9 primary, the nation’s first, he noted. When word of the super-PAC’s effort became public on Thursday night, Trump fired off a dozen tweets blasting Kasich. A sampling: “John Kasich should focus his special interest money on building up his failed image, not negative ads on me.” “John Kasich, despite being Governor of Ohio, is losing to me in the Ohio polls. Pathetic!” “I want to do negative ads on John Kasich, but he is so irrelevant to the race that I don’t want to waste my money.” “Watch Kasich squirm — if he is not truthful in his negative ads I will sue him just for fun!” “I loved beating John Kasich in the debates, but it was easy — he came in dead last!” “Doesn’t help Kasich to do negative ads on me because he still has to go through everyone else — he’s almost last.” “John Kasich was managing director of Lehman Brothers when it crashed, bringing down the world and ruining people's lives. A total failure!” “Once John Kasich announced he was running for president, and opened his mouth, people realized he was a complete & total dud!” Although the super PAC and Kasich’s official campaign can’t legally coordinate their actions, Trump’s responses drew return fire from Kasich’s campaign organization as well. Top campaign strategist, John Weaver, tweeted right back at the bellicose billionaire: “Trump can’t beat Hillary. It’s up to Republicans to save our party and country by uniting to stop his divisive campaign.” And then the official campaign let loose on Twitter, with links to video showing Trump saying everything from Hillary Clinton would be the best to negotiate with Iran to wondering, “Why are we knocking ISIS?” in September. Kasich campaign spokesman Rob Nichols said of Trump’s tweets: “This is hilarious to watch. No one loses it that bad unless, for some reason, they’re feeling very insecure.” Nichols said the campaign doesn’t respond to threatened litigation. For months, Kasich had been content to say that Trump was popular because he is hitting a nerve with voters. But in the past few weeks — and the past two GOP debates — he has challenged Trump’s plan to round up and deport the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in America, as well as some of his factually dubious statements. The latest ad from the super PAC compares Trump and Dr. Ben Carson to Barack Obama, saying all lacked the requisite experience to become president. “On–the-job training for president does not work,” the TV spot says. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 16.
#16. To: nolu chan (#0)
The latest poll has Trump at 38 percent with Carson around half of that; and Ran Paul and Jeb around 5 percent.
#28. To: Don (#16)
And the GOPe party PTB read the polls and freaked out.
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