Donald Trump is well known. He is no a new in America or the world for that matter. But it wasn’t until he said some rather disparaging things about Mexicans that Republicans took a second look at this man and crowned him their new leader. In some recent polls, Donald Trump is leading all other Republican candidates for the party’s presidential nomination in 2016.
So what has Trump said that’s giving him so much love among Republicans? His most recent statement was to advise Americans to stay away from Mexico, but before that, Trump engaged in a verbal war with Mexico and Mexicans by saying, “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people.”
For that statement, Trump was admired and fell into grace with the Republican voter. A recent Fox News Poll gave Trump 18% support from the Republican voter for his immigration stance on Mexico. That 18% was enough to propel Trump to first place in a crowded field of presidential wannabes, with Scott Walker coming in second with 15%. Jeb Bush, the brother of former president George Bush, came in third among the Republican voters with only 14% support.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Republican presidential field basically tip-toed around Trump’s statement bashing Mexicans as drug dealers, criminals and rapists. These Republicans apparently couldn’t decide whether to agree or disagree with the donald.
But Trump has not stopped there. On Saturday, he said something else that is sure to keep his name in the news for the foreseeable future. Donald Trump decided to take on John McCain.
In a speech before a Conservative Christian leadership conference in Iowa on Saturday, Trump shared this about McCain; “He’s not a war hero,” he said about McCain, who as a pilot in the Vietnam war was shot down and held hostage for five years before being released. “He’s a war hero because he was captured,” Trump continued, “I like people who weren’t captured.” And that statement kicked off a firestorm of criticism as other Republican candidates dumped on Trump in defense of McCain.
“Donald Trump owes every American veteran and in particular John McCain an apology,” said Rick Perry.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that anybody serious about being president would not be disrespectful of prisoners of war, and predicted that the early nominating states would render an unmistakable verdict on Mr. Trump’s candidacy.
“Here’s what I think they’re going to say: ‘Donald Trump, you’re fired,’ ” Mr. Graham said to laughs and applause.
“I unequivocally denounce him,” said Scott Walker. But, who cares. The Republican voters apparently love Donald Trump and all he says and all he represents. They’ve placed him in first place to carry their party’s mantle in the 2016 presidential race. And with this apparent vote of confidence, Trump will continue to be Trump.
