EXCLUSIVE: Trump will sign GOP loyalty pledge
Source: Politico
A close associate tells POLITICO that Donald Trump plans to sign a loyalty pledge Thursday that would bind him to endorse the Republican nominee, and would preclude a third-party run. Trump made the stunning decision, which he has long resisted, to avoid complications in getting listed on primary ballots, and to take away an attack line in the next debate, the associate said.
Trump, who has led the GOP field in poll after poll, has long viewed the threat of a third-party candidacy as priceless leverage and even used that word when he refused to take such a pledge in the first debate, on Aug. 6.
So his decision to give it up is a sign that he increasingly wants to show his campaign is real and not a stunt. The colorful magnate is also trying to make that point by adding staff in key states, issuing position papers, and pursuing access to primary ballots throughout the country.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/trump-will-sign-gop-loyalty-pledge-213302
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)Gothmog
(145,635 posts)Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)global1
(25,278 posts)I'm thinking that a lot of his support came from people that liked that he stood up to the Repug Party and wouldn't let them intimidate him. Now that he will succumb to their pledge - I think many of his supporters will feel let down.
This could be a bad move for Trump as one of the things that he had going for him was his independence. Now he's just like all the other candidates.
Couldn't he see that the only reason the RNC put this pledge together was to target him? I guess he's not as smart as he says he is.
LibDemAlways
(15,139 posts)If at some point he's feeling unduly squeezed by TPTB, he'll declare that he wanted to live up to the agreement but he's being treated unfairly, all bets are off, he's his own man, and he's bolting anyway.
mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)He gets out of contracts all the time. They think this "pledge" binds him!
beac
(9,992 posts)Unless the GOP makes this "loyalty oath" a legal, notarized contract with severe financial consequences for breaking it, Trump will happily shred it on live television while he announces his independent candidacy (because of "the YOUGE outcry" from trueblue 'Mericans that he do so.)
Sanity Claws
(21,857 posts)He will claim that the RNC breached its obligations under the agreement in some way, such as sabotaging him in his run, changing its platform, or some other conveniently created excuse.
He and the RNC deserve each other.
BlueMTexpat
(15,374 posts)He'll be every bit as cavalier about this oath as he has been about his marriage oaths.
malthaussen
(17,217 posts)... but hell, I disapprove of the Pledge of Allegiance.
-- Mal
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,352 posts)They've pressured Trump to give in, and he has.
They think they're ridding themselves of a potential problem.
He knows he's at the front of the pack with the wind at his back.
Only Jeb has the resources to trash him, and it would be a damaging
battle to both.
The GOP may be stuck with Trump.
He's not going away, the stature of the others won't improve.
There are no others waiting in the wings.
sadoldgirl
(3,431 posts)has a problem in both ways:He HATES losers.
If he sticks with the party, he will lose eventually.
If he goes out side, he will lose as well, but can
always blame the GOP for its "unfair" behavior.
On the other side, if his object was to seriously
damage Jeb, he may just get out of the run
in November. It depends on a) his true intentions,
b)his belief that he is so great that he will have
to win.
dawnie51
(959 posts)especially to Donald Trump. It's a piece of paper; not legal, not binding. He can and will do as he pleases, as usual. These republicans crack me up. "We'll make him sign the pledge, that'll fix him!" Trump will be the death knell of this party. And TPTB are powerless to stop him. Some of these idiots who sign Grover Norquists pledges should take note. Loyalty oaths are for chumps. Try doing some thinking on your own for a change.
NCjack
(10,279 posts)to the loyalty oath that they sign. Could be a donnybrook.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)with no enforcement umph to it is worthless. So is Donald's word.
Maeve
(42,295 posts)Wash. state Desk Jet
(3,426 posts)Donald here:
As you know this has to do with the business of politics . And as you also know, it is all staged and just but a part of the great entertainment I promised . The show must go on !
http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Fo11oUCuv1SCfcrfu5wjlw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9Mzc3O2lsPXBsYW5lO3B4b2ZmPTUwO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT03NTt3PTY3MA--/
penndragon69
(788 posts)The repubLIEcons had better be ready for him to jump
ship anyway !
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)you might wander down to the bankruptcy court and speak to many of his former investors.
Wash. state Desk Jet
(3,426 posts)It just goes to show you they can't win for losing. Let me ask you, did I join them or did they join me, you be the judges.