# Donald Trump's 2016 General Election Campaign
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [May 4, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901 "2016-05-04T02:37:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 306
### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6103 "2016-09-08T21:40:13Z")
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> Oh, they were actual public statements. One in an Esquire article and the other on a Fox News interview. The problem is that the former was from after the war started and the latter does not actually include a stance against the invasion.
> [http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/videos/a47684/trump-iraq-war/](http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/videos/a47684/trump-iraq-war/)
That dishonest media, refusing to report what Trump actually meant, and instead reporting on what he said. Also, dishonestly refusing to back-date his statements, as requested. Sad!
---
### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6104 "2016-09-08T21:50:27Z")
“This is the operative statement. The others are inoperative.”
- Ron Ziegler, Nixon Press Whore, 1973
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### Author:  [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6105 "2016-09-08T22:21:39Z")
> [@jsc1953](#):
>
> Apparently Trump is so radioactive that his mere presence in a foreign country causes governments to fall.
Actually he tweeted
> [@Donald Trump](#):
>
> Mexico has lost a brilliant finance minister and wonderful man who I know is highly respected by President Peña Nieto.
and
> [@Donald Trump](#):
>
> With Luis, Mexico and the United States would have made wonderful deals together - where both Mexico and the US would have benefitted.
so… I don’t understand very well whether he’s proud to have caused his downfall or Sad!™
---
### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6106 "2016-09-08T22:23:39Z")
AIUI those guys got fired for \*inviting \*Trump to Mexico.
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### Author:  [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6107 "2016-09-08T22:31:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> AIUI those guys got fired for \*inviting \*Trump to Mexico.
Right. And what makes the whole thing a bit more confusing is this quote:
> [@Donald Trump](#):
>
> We’ve been badly hurt and if you look at the aftermath today, the people who arranged the trip in Mexico have been forced out of government(…)That’s how well we did, and that’s how well we have to do.
[from yesterday’s security forum](http://thehill.com/latino/294921-trump-mexico-visit-a-success-because-an-official-got-fired). And it makes me believe that Videgaray (the ex-minister’s name) complained directly to Trump about the latter statement… just a hunch mind you.
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### Author:  [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6108 "2016-09-08T22:36:44Z")
Business Insider has tracked down Trump’s statements against the war in Iraq.
> **[Trump spends 7 minutes of major education speech defending false assertion he...](https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-false-iraq-war-2016-9)**
>
> The subject came back to the center of discussion after Trump brought it up in Wednesday night's Commander-in-Chief Forum on NBC.
As Trump said, before we invaded, he vigorously denounced the invasion on Neil Cavuto’s show. If you have children in the room, you might want to make them leave, because this gets really explicit:
"Well, he has either got to do something or not do something, perhaps, because perhaps shouldn’t be doing it yet and perhaps we should be waiting for the United Nations, you know. He’s under a lot of pressure. I think he’s doing a very good job. But, of course, if you look at the polls, a lot of people are getting a little tired. I think the Iraqi situation is a problem. And I think the economy is a much bigger problem as far as the president is concerned.
"Well, I’m starting to think that people are much more focused now on the economy. They are getting a little bit tired of hearing we’re going in, we’re not going in, the — you know, whatever happened to the days of the Douglas MacArthur? He would go and attack. He wouldn’t talk.
“We have to — you know, it’s sort like either do it or don’t do it.”
That’s what I call straight talk.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6109 "2016-09-08T22:43:23Z")
“Well, its like that French guy with the eyes that could look three ways at the same time said, you either are or you aren’t! Now, if you are, you can do stuff, but if you aren’t, then nothing is all you _can_ do!. You can’t do anything about something that doesn’t exist!”
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### Author:  [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6110 "2016-09-08T22:44:07Z")
I just re-found this nugget of… policy in Trump’s official positions posted [on his site](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform)
> [@Trump official position on immigration](#):
>
> End birthright citizenship. This remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration. By a 2:1 margin, voters say it’s the wrong policy, including Harry Reid who said “no sane country” would give automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.
1. Wouldn’t that require a constitutional amendment?
2. Why oh why doesn’t ANYONE question him about this and other official positions, readily available on his OFFICIAL website?
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### Author:  [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6111 "2016-09-08T22:53:21Z")
> [@DiggitCamara](#):
>
> I just re-found this nugget of… policy in Trump’s official positions posted [on his site](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform)
>
> 1. Wouldn’t that require a constitutional amendment?
> 2. Why oh why doesn’t ANYONE question him about this and other official positions, readily available on his OFFICIAL website?
He has been questioned about it. Even Bill O’friggin’Reilly called him on it. His answer is a lot of big smart lawyers have mentioned to him that maybe everybody is wrong about what the Constitution says about birthright citizenship.
> **[Bill O'Reilly confronts Donald Trump: You can't 'deport people who have...](https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-oreilly-donald-trump-immigration-deport-birthright-2015-8)**
>
> "If you're born here, you're an American — period! Period!"
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6112 "2016-09-08T22:56:32Z")
[Trump expounds on Iraq:](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-inadvertently-proves-clinton-right-national-security)
> [@](#):
>
> [W]e also happened to have given them Iraq. Because, you know, I always say, Iraq and Iran were very similar militarily, and they’d fight, fight, fight, and then they’d rest. They’d fight, fight, fight, and then Saddam Hussein would do the gas, and somebody else would do something else, and they’d rest.
Profound.
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### Author:  [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6113 "2016-09-08T23:04:21Z")
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> He has been questioned about it. Even Bill O’friggin’Reilly called him on it. His answer is a lot of big smart lawyers have mentioned to him that maybe everybody is wrong about what the Constitution says about birthright citizenship.
> [Bill O'Reilly Confronts Donald Trump on Immigration - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-oreilly-donald-trump-immigration-deport-birthright-2015-8)
I guess my point is that instead of listening to whatever claptrap the voices in his head tell him to say, he should be grilled on his “official” positions, in particular those which are listed on his friggin’ site.
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### Author:  [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6114 "2016-09-08T23:17:38Z")
> [@DiggitCamara](#):
>
> I guess my point is that instead of listening to whatever claptrap the voices in his head tell him to say, he should be grilled on his “official” positions, in particular those which are listed on his friggin’ site.
And my point is that he was grilled on it. From my linked article:
> [@](#):
>
> “Bill, I think you’re wrong about the 14th Amendment,” Trump said. “And frankly, the whole thing with ‘anchor babies’ and the concept of ‘anchor babies’ - I don’t think you’re right about that.”
>
> O’Reilly was incredulous.
>
> “I can quote it!” O’Reilly exclaimed. “You want me to quote you the amendment? If you’re born here, you’re an American - period! Period!”
>
> The Fox host later added: “You are not going to be able to deport people who have American citizenship now. And the federal courts will never allow mass deportations without due process for each and every one. And do you envision federal police kicking in the doors in barrios around the country, dragging families out?”
Do you have some other ecample of his official policy you feel he hasn’t been questioned on? I am just saying that is a bad example.
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### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6115 "2016-09-08T23:22:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#):
>
> I don’t even understand what “take the oil” means.
And what do we do with the cannoli?
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6116 "2016-09-08T23:26:05Z")
> [@adaher](#):
>
> Self-delusion is again, a credibility issue…
Well, I will admit you’re incredible!
You’re also posting a lot! Will you reach a thousand words a day soon?
You did this in 2012 as the election drew near and you were desperately predicting skewed surveys and a landslide for Romney.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6117 "2016-09-08T23:32:04Z")
> [@digs](#):
>
> You did this in 2012 as the election drew near and you were desperately predicting skewed surveys and a landslide for Romney.
Ah, good times, good times. I do fondly remember the “skewed polls”. Always gave me a laugh, they did.
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### Author:  [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6118 "2016-09-08T23:32:07Z")
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> And my point is that he was grilled on it. From my linked article:
>
> Do you have some other ecample of his official policy you feel he hasn’t been questioned on? I am just saying that is a bad example.
Well, there are plenty of stupid ideas on his policies that should be mentioned over and over again. For instance the bit about the J-1 Visas (no “illegals” there, by the way):
> [@Donald J Trump policy](#):
>
> Jobs program for inner city youth. The J-1 visa jobs program for foreign youth will be terminated and replaced with a resume bank for inner city youth provided to all corporate subscribers to the J-1 visa program.
which is… weird, since the [J-1 Visa site](http://j1visa.state.gov/basics/) says
> [@J-1 Visa](#):
>
> The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs. Participants are integral to the success of the program. Here you can learn more about obtaining the J-1 Visa and other relevant visas.
However, the reason I also believe that there is a significant difference between questioning a candidate about something they said during a speech or an interview or whatever and something they publish in a more “official” manner, like a website. And instead of focusing on the former, anything weird or downright dangerous that is in the list of their official statements should be mentioned time and time again. Not in a “catch and release” manner, if you will.
Which is why, even though your mention of O’Reilly’s interview is appreciated, it is by far not enough (in my mind).
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### Author:  [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6119 "2016-09-08T23:34:52Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I think the sense he’s trying to give is that he’ll prosecute the war with ISIS much more aggressively than BHO has.
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> HOW will he do this? Using his secret plan that the US military does not know about? …
I’m astonished that no one is asking Trump these very reasonable questions:
> [@](#):
>
> US troops are facing danger now, _today_, from ISIS. If you have a plan that will stop ISIS, how can you, in good conscience, justify keeping it a secret? When you could take that plan to the current Administration and thereby _save American lives_?
>
> How could anyone with a plan who would save American lives now, hold that plan back? How many will die because you chose to keep your plan a secret, instead of sharing it with those who could put it into action?
---
### Author:  [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6120 "2016-09-08T23:41:32Z")
Re: J-1 visas
[At Chicago hotel and elsewhere, Trump used foreign student labor he vows to ban](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-donald-trump-student-visa-20160314-story.html)
But you know , in MSM’s defence, when a guy has a million crazy ideas it’s hard to choose what to focus on.
---
### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6121 "2016-09-08T23:49:30Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#):
>
> I’m astonished that no one is asking Trump these very reasonable questions:
[June 4](http://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-white-house-clowns-havent-asked-for-my-foolproof-anti-isis-plan-2/)
> [@](#):
>
> Trump recently told Fox’s Greta Van Susteran that “[he knows] what to do” to bring balance to the Middle East, and now he’s upset that no one has asked for his secret plan.
>
> Trump told WHO Radio’s Simon Conway that he has run his idea with “two or three” high ranking officials, and they, of course, “love it.” Trump compared his plan to the invention of the paper clip, saying that it was “unbelievable” that the solution was “so simple, so surgical,” yet he has not had any word from the Obama administration.
>
> “You would think somebody from the administration would at least call me and say, ‘Hey, could you tell us what it is,'” Trump said. He then admitted his reluctance to share his genius ideas with “a bunch of clowns.”
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6122 "2016-09-08T23:49:35Z")
As others noted Trump did lie about him being against the Iraq invasion before it took place.
I also did notice (on the radio just a few hours back) that even NPR did not bother to tell their listeners that his doubling down on that lie was indeed a huge lie. :smack:
[http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/295059-esquire-magazine-trumps-lying-on-iraq-war](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/295059-esquire-magazine-trumps-lying-on-iraq-war)
> [@](#):
>
> Esquire Magazine is attaching an editor’s note to a 12-year-old story to refute Donald Trump’s claim that he opposed the Iraq War at the time.
>
> Trump has repeatedly cited an an August 2004 interview with Esquire as proof that he opposed the war when it started.
>
> The magazine on Thursday republished the article, topped by an editor’s note addressing his frequent claim:
>
> “During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed to have been against the Iraq War from the beginning, and he has cited this story as proof. The Iraq War began in March 2003, more than a year before this story ran, thus nullifying Trump’s timeline.”
>
> Esquire’s note links to an article it published last month debunking Trump’s claims about opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
>
> Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, on Thursday cited the Iraq War as one of the defining issues of the presidential campaign.
>
> “Iraq is one of the biggest differences in this race,” he told listeners during a rally in Cleveland.
>
> “I opposed going in, and I did oppose it, despite the media saying no, yes, no. I opposed going in, and I opposed the reckless way Hillary Clinton took us out, along with President Obama, letting ISIS fill that big terrible void. But I was opposed to the war from the beginning.”
If you think this will not be an issue, I do think that by now it is clear that Trump will make policy based not only on faulty intelligence, but also on faulty memory or what he will conveniently believe that other leaders will tell him, or will make up himself to think he understood when it will lead to disaster. And he will believe that he is correct, even after it all falls down on him and all of us.
Samson would be proud.
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