USA Trump Moves Republican Party tp the Left

[Josiah]

Trump - whose political views have always been very much in flux - has used his influence to move the official Party Platform significantly to the left.

Gone is any mention of a balanced budget.
Gone is all mention of reducing the national debt.
Gone is all mention of tax reform and tax reduction.
Gone is "the unborn child has a fundamental right to life."
Gone is all mention of a federal ban or constitutional amendment or restriction on abortion.
Gone is the emphasis that "the traditional marriage consists of one man and one woman."



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[Lamb]

I have noticed this too lately and it's concerning. Maybe it's time for new political groups.

 

[Albion]

Trump - whose political views have always been very much in flux - has used his influence to move the official Party Platform significantly to the left.

Gone is any mention of a balanced budget.
Gone is all mention of reducing the national debt.
Gone is all mention of tax reform and tax reduction.
Gone is "the unborn child has a fundamental right to life."
Gone is all mention of a federal ban or constitutional amendment or restriction on abortion.
Gone is the emphasis that "the traditional marriage consists of one man and one woman."

Does the new platform, which has been praised for its simplicity, endorse any of the above acts or issues? That is to say, does it actually advocate deficit spending and a steadily mounting national debt, and keeping taxes high, and does it assert that unborn children have no right to life?

I think the answer is "no." Therefore, the reason for the alterations in the platform is clear. It's to deal with the well-known fact that few people read what is in the platform, but they surely are going to be deluged with the twisted interpretations of the document put out by the other political party and the media.

But what about voters needing to know where the candidate and his party stand on critical issues? Well, the candidate has stated his positions and proposals many times over and will continue to do so for the next several months. This is what persuades voters, not the platform adopted by the delegates to the national Convention.

 

[NewCreation435]

Trump is not really conservative. He plays one on television sometimes. When it suits his purposes

 

[Josiah]

Does the new platform, which has been praised for its simplicity, endorse any of the above acts or issues?

No. It removes previous endorsements.... And clearly, obviously, these deletions are altogether on purpose.

A lot of Christians moved to the Republican Party in the late 1970's through the Reagan years precisely because of those conservative stands, those new endorsements, as the Republican Party purposely (and boldly) moved away from the social libertarianism that had dominated the party, and embraced what we now call "social conservationism." "The Religious Right" soon embraced all this and became a dominate factor in the Republican Party. Trump is now removing that, eliminating the very things that brought Christians into that party.

And of course, fiscal issues too. Gone is the Republican emphasis on balanced budget, low taxes, etc.




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[Forgiven1]

He has always leaned left, just played to the right to get elected.

 

[Albion]

A lot of Christians moved to the Republican Party in the late 1970's through the Reagan years precisely because of those conservative stands, those new endorsements, as the Republican Party purposely (and boldly) moved away from the social libertarianism that had dominated the party, and embraced what we now call "social conservationism." "The Religious Right" soon embraced all this and became a dominate factor in the Republican Party. Trump is now removing that, eliminating the very things that brought Christians into that party.

Yes, but those principles have not been renounced. The platform, a temporary thing always, merely omits mention of them--as you noted. Moreover, the values of the majority of Republicans haven't softened recently, platform or no platform.

It's the stance of the candidate that wins over voters or fails to do so. Almost never is it the platform of the Party, drafted at the national convention because that's what has always been done. Plenty of candidates before the current one have taken pains to distance themselves from certain parts of the platform.

 

[Albion]

He has always leaned left, just played to the right to get elected.

In his case, though, we have four years of a Trump administration to look at before deciding what to believe about the candidates promises.

How do you rate such developments during Trump's first four years in the presidency with keeping us out of war, restraining Iran and North Korea, appointing Constitutionalists to the Supreme Court, fostering a strong economy without inflation, negotiating favorable trade agreements, cutting income taxes, making the USA a net energy-exporting country for the first time in 70 years, etc. etc.

If that was nothing but playacting, he nevertheless did what most conservatives wanted done and would do themselves if they were in the White House.

 

[Albion]

All things considered, I still feel that it's a mistake to label the following statement, which is taken from the platform, as something that would "move the official Party Platform significantly to the left."

"To make clear our commitment, we offer to the American people the 2024 GOP Platform to Make America Great Again! It is a forward-looking Agenda that begins with the following twenty promises that we will accomplish very quickly when we win the White House and Republican Majorities in the House and Senate.

1. SEAL THE BORDER, AND STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION
2. CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY
3. END INFLATION, AND MAKE AMERICA AFFORDABLE AGAIN
4. MAKE AMERICA THE DOMINANT ENERGY PRODUCER IN THE WORLD, BY FAR!
5. STOP OUTSOURCING, AND TURN THE UNITED STATES INTO A MANUFACTURING SUPERPOWER
6. LARGE TAX CUTS FOR WORKERS, AND NO TAX ON TIPS!
7. DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR BILL OF RIGHTS, AND OUR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS, INCLUDING FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, AND THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS
8. PREVENT WORLD WAR THREE, RESTORE PEACE IN EUROPE AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND BUILD A GREAT IRON DOME MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD OVER OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY -- ALL MADE IN AMERICA
9. END THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
10. STOP THE MIGRANT CRIME EPIDEMIC, DEMOLISH THE FOREIGN DRUG CARTELS, CRUSH GANG VIOLENCE, AND LOCK UP VIOLENT OFFENDERS 5
11. REBUILD OUR CITIES, INCLUDING WASHINGTON DC, MAKING THEM SAFE, CLEAN, AND BEAUTIFUL AGAIN.
12. STRENGTHEN AND MODERNIZE OUR MILITARY, MAKING IT, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE STRONGEST AND MOST POWERFUL IN THE WORLD
13. KEEP THE U.S. DOLLAR AS THE WORLD’S RESERVE CURRENCY
14. FIGHT FOR AND PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WITH NO CUTS, INCLUDING NO CHANGES TO THE RETIREMENT AGE
15. CANCEL THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE AND CUT COSTLY AND BURDENSOME REGULATIONS
16. CUT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ANY SCHOOL PUSHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY, RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY, AND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE RACIAL, SEXUAL, OR POLITICAL CONTENT ON OUR CHILDREN
17. KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS
18. DEPORT PRO-HAMAS RADICALS AND MAKE OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES SAFE AND PATRIOTIC AGAIN
19. SECURE OUR ELECTIONS, INCLUDING SAME DAY VOTING, VOTER IDENTIFICATION, PAPER BALLOTS, AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
20. UNITE OUR COUNTRY BY BRINGING IT TO NEW AND RECORD LEVELS OF SUCCESS"

 

[Josiah]

The platform omits mention of them--as you noted.

... at the insistence of Trump. ELIMINATED, DROPPED is...

any mention of a balanced budget.
any mention of reducing the national debt.
any mention of tax reform and tax reduction.
any mention of "the unborn child has a fundamental right to life."
any mention of a federal ban or constitutional amendment or restriction on abortion.
any mention that "the traditional marriage consists of one man and one woman."

Trump got these things DROPPED, ELIMINATED from the platform... fiscal conservatism, social conservatism.

Christians flocked to the Republican Party in the late '70's and the 80's because of the social conservatism - the pro-life stance (now stripped), the call for a pro-life constitutional amendment and legislation (now stripped), the insistence on traditional marriage (now stripped). And of course, many others came over to the Republican Party because of the call for tax cuts and a balanced budget but now Trump has eliminated that, too.

I disagree that Trump eliminating these huge issues just to save printing ink. I think its very much intentional, very much a move to the left on these issues, very much to eliminate the fiscal and social conservatism of the party. It's his insistence on changing the party, moving it to the left, changing the very things that caused so many Christians to join it.



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[Albion]

... at the insistence of Trump. ELIMINATED, DROPPED is...

Yes. Dropped. I didn't think there was any question about that.

So then, the question is about the effects. As I said, to describe this more timely and concise platform as a "significant move to the left" seems to me to be an exaggeration, as is "very much to eliminate the fiscal and social conservatism of the party."

In addition, the platform's changes do not mean that the GOP itself and its people have changed their beliefs. Still, it bears watching in order to see if I'm right to think that the new platform wording is simply a feature of the coming campaign and will not realign the party or, if on the other hand, this is indeed one of the early signs of a bigger shift.

 

[Josiah]

Yes. Dropped. I didn't think there was any question about that.

He wanted these positions eliminated.

As I said, to describe this more timely and concise platform

The new platform is not concise, it just abandons some really big, important things...

Gone is any mention of a balanced budget.
Gone is all mention of reducing the national debt.
Gone is all mention of tax reform and tax reduction.
Gone is "the unborn child has a fundamental right to life."
Gone is all mention of a federal ban or constitutional amendment or restriction on abortion.
Gone is the emphasis that "the traditional marriage consists of one man and one woman."

All at the insistence of Trump.




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[Albion]

He wanted these positions eliminated.

As you said..."dropped." These two words are referring to the same thing.

Reportedly, it was Trump himself who wanted the platform to focus on the many policies that so sharply differentiate his intentions from Biden's policies. And also that it all be put in unmistakable terms.

That's probably a good idea. The platform and the platform committee itself do not usually do much to advance the candidacy of the party's presidential nominee, although the language can be seized upon by the other party in order to misrepresent and condemn their adversary.

However, and after I've seen what some people who are closer to the goings-on than me have pointed out, there may be a valid concern over a steadily increasing infiltration of the RNC by compromisers and "go along to get along" types. That may be right, but I wonder if it's not too soon to know.

 

[Josiah]

On July 7, just 8 days ago, Senator Vance of Ohio (now Trump's VP pick) changed his position on abortion.

PREVIOUS to 8 days ago, he was one of the loudest, strongest pro-life voices in the Republican Party, traveling around supporting laws to outlaw all abortions except to save the physical life of the mother and arguing for a federal law to protect the unborn from conception. But in his speech on July 7, he made a 180. Now he insists this is entirely up to each state.... perfectly fine to allow abortion during all 9 months for any or no reason - if that's what California or New York wants to allow.

I suspect Trump needed a VP who would move sharply to the left with him. I doubt those before mentioned as "on the short list" were so willing.



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