Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, and Rand Paul have all promised to support Donald Trump if he wins the Republican nomination.
Earlier this year, the RNC announced that “all 17 Republican presidential candidates have pledged to support our eventual nominee.” Even after Trump’s abhorrent and un-American call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, including Muslim Americans who are abroad, the GOP field is standing by the pledge.
When asked about the Muslim ban, Ted Cruz said, “I disagree with that proposal. I like Donald Trump. A lot of our friends here have encouraged me to criticize and attack Donald Trump. I’m not interested in doing so.”
Marco Rubio similarly avoided revoking the pledge, telling Hugh Hewitt, “What [Trump] proposed was not well thought out. It was impulsive. He didn’t think it through. It violates the Constitution. It places a religious test. And it isn’t the best way to do this. It is not the best way to address this threat.”
Ben Carson has gone as far as saying he will leave the party if Republican leaders hold a brokered convention because of Donald Trump.
Over the weekend, Chris Christie said, “I’ve known Donald Trump for 13 years. I can disagree with him and I have. I don’t believe he’s hateful, and I don’t believe he’s a bigot.”
Even if the Republicans on stage attack the demagogue tonight, none of them are willing to take back their pledge to support him as nominee. Trump has taken control of the GOP, and if he doesn’t win the nomination, a whopping 68 percent of his supporters say they would still vote for him if he runs as an independent.
Published: Dec 15, 2015