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The Grand Old Party Hates This Republican, But Lee Atwater Would Have Loved Him

Thursday, March 03, 2016

EDITORIAL

Businessman Donald Trump

Let’s see if we can get this straight. The Republican party has a self-funding, businessman candidate that has performed better in the primary cycle to this point than any candidate in decades.

But, the Republican Party -- the "Grand Old Party" -- hates him.

GOP members such as former GOP Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman and GOP Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker are all pledging to never support this new Republican.

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Donald Trump, who has created excitement, driven primary turnout to record level, and may have brought the white, male Ronald Reagan voting Democrats back over to the GOP, is now being characterized by many of the leading members of the GOP as a brute, a racist and a demagogue.

GOP History Lesson

This is same GOP that stood by when Lee Atwater pressed the race button in South Carolina to help Reagan win the primary in 1980. “Atwater was honing his chops that year by leaking a rumor that former Texas Governor John Connally was trying to buy black votes. And that was how the South Carolina Republican primary was born,” according to a recent feature in Esquire magazine.

RESULT: Victory GOP and Reagan

Lee Atwater, Bush Inauguration, 1989, Wikipedia

Again in 1988, Atwater and the GOP was at it again. This time for George H. W. Bush in the presidential race against Michael Dukakis.

“Mr. Dukakis was the target of a campaign advertisement about Willie Horton, a black convicted murderer who escaped from the Massachusetts prison system while on a weekend furlough and raped a white woman and stabbed her husband. The advertisement became a central focus of the 1988 campaign. ‘In 1988, fighting Dukakis, I said that I 'would strip the bark off the little bastard' and 'make Willie Horton his running mate,' Mr. Atwater said in the Life article,” wrote the New York Times in Atwaters’ obituary.

RESULT: Victory GOP and Bush

We should not forget George W. Bush and the GOP using robocalls about challenger John McCain’s adopted daughter from the slums of India in the South Carolina primary in 2000. This time Atwater had been replaced by Karl Rove, but the GOP tactics were the same.

Primary voters were asked, "Would you be more or less likely to vote for John McCain…if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?"

RESULT: Victory GOP and Bush

The GOP of Reagan and the Bush family should not now repudiate Trump. The GOP should embrace this new Republican for learning the lessons faster and more efficiently without Atwater and Rove by his side than his predecessors.

Related Slideshow: Trump in Worcester

Trump fans like this young supporter made signs of their own to show their support for the Donald. They could be seen dotting the line waiting to enter the DCU Center.

For Trump fans that left their gear at home, there was nothing to fear. Vendors took advantage of the passionate crowd, lining up near the entrances and selling buttons, hats and t-shirts like this one.

Star-spangled gear could be seen often outside and inside of the DCU Center. This Trump supporter really worse his love for the Donald on his sleeve.

It wasn't all good cheer for Donald Trump. Protestors lined the streets near the entrance of the DCU Center, and could be hear chanting various anti-Trump sentiments.

This young man's pants left no doubt. He is a big fan of two things—Donald Trump, and the United States of America.

These four Trump fans wore their support proudly on their chest, and they weren't the only ones. Many fans could be seen sporting Trump hats, shirts, buttons and more as they filed into the DCU Center.

These two said they were proud to support Donald Trump in his bid for the Presidency.

You could call this protestor a "one-issue voter." He mixed calls for the return of his favorite discontinued soft drink in with chants criticizing Trump's immigration stance.

For these Trump fans, it was a family affair. The whole bunch turned out to support their favorite candidate.

The cold weather didn't bother this Trump fan. He said he decided to purchase a Donald Trump-branded jacket or sweatshirt inside the DCU Center.

These two Trump fans were "red"-y to see their hero in action!

These clever protestors turned Donald Trump's famous catchphrase around on him.

There were plenty of young fans on hand for Donald Trump's speech in Worcester. These two made their feelings on Trump, and his immigration stance, very clear.

Trump had the chance to see him name up in lights on the DCU Center jumbo-screen. It must have been quite the thrill!

Donald Trump made his entrance at roughly 7:30 PM to nearly deafening applause. He paused for a moment to soak it all in.

Trump walked confidently to the podium after being introduced as the large crowd cheer and chanted his name.

Trump fans inside were loud, and cheered the Donald often. They also made sure to snap their own photos of their favorite candidate while they had the chance.

Trump fans in Massachusetts came from near and far to get a glimpse of Donald Trump live and in person.

Standing room only—the DCU Center was nearly filled with supporters who got on their feet early and stayed there for most of Trump's hour-long speech.

Even inside the DCU Center, Trump could not escape the protestors. These unhappy attendees attracted a lot of attention, but were whisked out of the arena by security after only a few seconds.

Trump said time and time again to the crowd gathered in Worcester that he would "make America great again" through smart immigration and trade policies.

Trump said he was glad to be in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and pleased fans by talking about the greatness of hometown hero Tom Brady.

Trump was all smiles when one of his jokes drew big laughs from the crowd of supporters.

Trump supporters chanted his famous slogan, "make America great again," before, during and after his speech at the DCU Center.

When Donald Trump finally finished his speech, he drew the loudest applause of the night. Fans waved signs, chanted his name and tried desperately to snap one last photo of their departing hero.

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