# The Trump Campaign Promise Walk-Back Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 12, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556 "2016-11-12T00:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/161 "2016-11-19T17:12:40Z")
Regardless, it’s kind of silly to count this as a broken campaign promise. It has nothing to do with his role as president. Frankly, it would be worse if he didn’t try to quickly settle these lawsuits, earlier bravado notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/162 "2016-11-19T17:54:08Z")
Something to add to the list to track. [Trump promises vets that he will personally respond to VA hospital complaints through White House hotline](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/trump-promises-vets-answer-personal-va-complaint-hotline-article-1.2726560) > [@](#): > > The newly minted Republican nominee promised a room full of vets at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Charlotte, N.C., that he would sacrifice time spent on social media in order to tend to a personal hotline for all grievances against the military health care system. > > “I will create a private White House hotline. This could keep me very busy at night, folks. This will take the place of Twitter,” he said Tuesday morning. > > The GOP nominee went on to explain his improbable plan, saying that he would tell his staff to flag unaddressed “valid complaints” and that he will “pick up the phone personally and get it completed.” ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/163 "2016-11-19T17:55:37Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > As I understand it, the settlement will have no admission of guilt. Do you have a cite that shows otherwise? I’d love to see it. What do you personally assume after any legal settlement? That the defendant paid up because he is a charitable kind of guy? The rest of the population assume the defendant paid up because he did the acts he was being sued for. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/164 "2016-11-19T18:06:42Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > What do you personally assume after any legal settlement? That the defendant paid up because he is a charitable kind of guy? The rest of the population assume the defendant paid up because he did the acts he was being sued for. I know that many people assume that but it’s not valid to assume guilt. There’s often other good reasons to settle and the most obvious one in this situation is that he doesn’t want an ongoing lawsuit when he gets sworn in. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/165 "2016-11-19T18:13:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I know that many people assume that but it’s not valid to assume guilt. There’s often other good reasons to settle and the most obvious one in this situation is that he doesn’t want an ongoing lawsuit when he gets sworn in. He’s had 3 and 6 years to settle or take to trial. He was obviously following his usual strategy of dragging things out until the other side couldn’t afford to continue. If he was so sure he was innocent, you’d think he would want that determined in court. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/166 "2016-11-19T18:13:39Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Regardless, it’s kind of silly to count this as a broken campaign promise. It has nothing to do with his role as president. Frankly, it would be worse if he didn’t try to quickly settle these lawsuits, earlier bravado notwithstanding. It was a vow he made while campaigning, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/167 "2016-11-19T18:23:40Z")
Not really. It was just him minimizing the issue. “I could easily settle but I haven’t out of principle because the lawsuit is total BS”. It’s not a “campaign promise” by the usual meaning of the term. Frankly, I don’t remember a vow at all. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/168 "2016-11-19T18:47:22Z")
“Vow” is pretty strong. Maybe he hinted. ---
**Author:** ![OriginalGangster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea5d25/32.png) [@OriginalGangster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OriginalGangster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/169 "2016-11-19T18:51:04Z")
That may be an indication there’s more in store. I’ve been trying not to cross over into conspiracy realm, but it’s simply very difficult not to. Shouldn’t a president-elect feel honored to live in the white house?? Isn’t that what most would say. Combine that with the popular/electoral split, maybe this entire thing really is just pro wrestling. And we’ll see someone else emerge as WWE champ soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/170 "2016-11-21T00:00:59Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Haha! There’s no disputing that British/Canadian spellings are sexier. 😉 I think what you are trying to say is “the rest of the world except the USA and that one weird third world country”. “Tonne” isn’t just an English spelling, it’s the internationally accepted word for 1000kg. > [@running\_coach](#): > > He’s had 3 and 6 years to settle or take to trial. He was obviously following his usual strategy of dragging things out until the other side couldn’t afford to continue. > If he was so sure he was innocent, you’d think he would want that determined in court. As someone who has organised a lot of settlements, it just doesn’t work that way reliably. If one thinks that a defendant has agreed a settlement because the defendant doesn’t like their chances in court, one would be right a substantial portion of the time. But one would be wrong a fair proportion of the time also. People settle because they’ve hit a procedural hitch, or because they think for one reason or another they won’t get a fair hearing or because they don’t think the risk is worth the reward even though they think they are right, or, or, or… ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/171 "2016-11-21T14:50:18Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I think what you are trying to say is “the rest of the world except the USA and that one weird third world country”. “Tonne” isn’t just an English spelling, it’s the internationally accepted word for 1000kg. > > As someone who has organised a lot of settlements, it just doesn’t work that way reliably. If one thinks that a defendant has agreed a settlement because the defendant doesn’t like their chances in court, one would be right a substantial portion of the time. But one would be wrong a fair proportion of the time also. People settle because they’ve hit a procedural hitch, or because they think for one reason or another they won’t get a fair hearing or because they don’t think the risk is worth the reward even though they think they are right, or, or, or… Get out of here with that fair-minded crap. I choose to think that Trump settled because he’s guilty as sin and was willing to write a check to make it go away, and I won’t hear of anything to the contrary. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/172 "2016-11-21T18:30:13Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Not really. It was just him minimizing the issue. “I could easily settle but I haven’t out of principle because the lawsuit is total BS”. It’s not a “campaign promise” by the usual meaning of the term. Frankly, I don’t remember a vow at all. [ > [@Donald Trump](#): > > Trump University has a 98% approval rating. I could have settled but won’t out of principle! ]([x.com](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/704438057202819072))That’s a declarative statement, made during his campaign. That’s a vow. He backed out of that and settled. Would you like me to find other declarations he made about this lawsuit, or will you concede that he said he was going to do something and has now decided not to do it? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/173 "2016-11-21T18:35:49Z")
Campaign promises are about what positions and policies you’ll advocate or enact once in office. It’s simply inane to call this a broken campaign promise. That’s what I concede. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/174 "2016-11-21T18:39:39Z")
Yes, but no. He didn’t say “I’ll try, I will work for”. He said “First day in office…” I think those are different, you think what you want. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/175 "2016-11-21T18:52:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Yes, but no. He didn’t say “I’ll try, I will work for”. He said “First day in office…” I think those are different, you think what you want. What on earth are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/176 "2016-11-21T19:03:46Z")
You seem to have this problem with me fairly frequently. Perhaps it would be best if you didn’t trouble yourself with trying? I’ll get over it. No problem. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/177 "2016-11-21T19:08:44Z")
Or you could just say what you’re talking about. I have a hard time believing anyone knows what it is. I mean he said “my first day in office” about the deportation stuff but that’s not where the conversation is right now so it’s pretty out of the blue if that’s what you’re talking about. And as a hint, don’t compose a masterpiece of wit, just say what the subject matter is that you’re referencing. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/178 "2016-11-21T19:21:54Z")
Just as I said, why worry about it? I sure won’t, why should you? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/179 "2016-11-21T19:32:18Z")
Oy vey ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/180 "2016-11-21T21:08:34Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Who’s going to babysit the kids, run the hair/nail salons, pump gas, drive the schoolbuses, repair the cars, computers, air conditioners, and clean the swimming pools, own the liquor and gun shops? Once they’re impoverished, they can become prostitutes and cannon fodder. Win win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556.md?page=10)