OPINION:
The thing that frustrates so many establishment Republicans is the fact that Donald Trump isn’t one.
It sounds so obvious, but it’s true. And it’s a bit unfair – he doesn’t have to play by their rules and can get away with it.
Immigration is the perfect example. Mr. Trump stood out in the Republican primary for his tough stance regarding illegal immigration. He said he’d build a wall along the U.S. Mexican border — which Mexico would pay for — and sparred with others, like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, when it came to amnesty – or rather supporting legislation that allowed a pathway to citizenship.
He told crowds he supported a “deportation force,” that would uproot the 11 million or so living in this country without documentation. Even Dr. Ben Carson said that measure would be untenable during the primaries.
But Mr. Trump’s tough talk excited the crowds – who were looking for a plain-spoken leader. Because of his outsider status, his supporters forgave him on policy specifics – and still do. Many of Mr. Trump’s voters knew all along the day would come where he would have to educate himself on the actual policy behind his rhetoric, and are okay if that shifts a bit.
Of course, a traditional politician could never get away with as much. Mr. Rubio, along with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had a record in the Senate they couldn’t run away from – and promising such bold ideas as building a wall that Mexico will pay for – well, they couldn’t make such outlandish promises.
But Mr. Trump can, and does. It’s almost an understood character trait of his — he calls it “truthful hyperbole,” a mix of reality and exaggeration, and most of his supporters get it.
To be clear: Mr. Trump hasn’t backed down from building his wall (and to get Mexico to foot the bill) and deporting illegal criminals, but he may be shifting, ever so slightly, on the deportation force after meeting with some Hispanic leaders this past weekend.
It’s a pivot toward the center that many traditional politicians make after winning the primary – widening their message to a broader audience. After Hillary Clinton won her race she started to court Republican neocons after-all.
And Mr. Trump’s shift doesn’t appear to be negatively affecting any of his core supporters.
“Trump appears to be heeding allies’ longstanding advice to soften his stance on deportations, which they worry is toxic to Hispanic voters, now that he faces Democrat Hillary Clinton—and troubling poll numbers–in a general election fewer than 80 days away,” Bloomberg News reported. “His move raised the hackles of some conservatives who see it as a step toward amnesty, but it’s not clear his bid to broaden support will cost him many core supporters.”
The online news organization then detailed several interviews with Trump supporters, saying they didn’t mind the shift.
“During a Trump campaign swing in Ohio on Monday, residents said it would be understandable if he shifts his stance away from full deportation,” Bloomberg reported. “Jim Fitsko, president of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Marion County, Ohio, said if he were advising Trump, he’d suggest giving immigrants in the U.S. illegally ’a way to make it right,’ except for criminals.”
Others concurred – meaning, Mr. Trump may not lose any of his core supporters because of his softened stance, and in the process, may gain a few.
The Wall Street Journal, in an editorial on Monday, welcomed Mr. Trump’s shift.
“Go for it, Mr. Trump. The Clinton campaign will cry ’flip-flop,’ but most voters would welcome the change as a sign of political progress and tolerance,” the Journal wrote. “Mass deportation is a political and economic loser.”
Of course, Mr. Trump’s apparent reversal angered some GOP operatives – most notably Rick Tyler, the former communications director for Mr. Cruz’s presidential run.
“Trump’s stated position in the last 24 hours is utterly mind boggling,” he said on Fox News Tuesday. “If he gets tagged with the amnesty label, it’s over. He’s going to lose a huge portion of what has up until now been his core support.”
That, Mr. Tyler, may just be your anger talking. It was a messy primary where Mr. Trump went to the right of your candidate on immigration and won. But Mr. Trump’s victory was not solely because of it. Mr. Trump simply connected with more Americans, appeared more ready and willing to shake up the status quo, and to take on political corruption. No matter how hard you wanted to distance him from it, Mr. Cruz was and is a part of that system.
Mr. Trump’s core supporters may be more forgiving – and more to the center politically – than you want to believe.
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