While some Republicans have endorsed Donald Trump since the Indiana primary, a number of key conservative Republicans, like Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, have refused to endorse, while others have remained circumspect, seeking a greater commitment from Trump as to what his policies might be and how he might govern. Last week, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he’s not yet already to support Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president, but conversations are underway.
Given Donald Trump’s past support for left-wing policies, his absence of any convictions on critical issues like Supreme Court Justices, his failure to spell out his views on a wide range of critical policies, and his repeated rejection of conservative principles, it’s too soon to endorse without greater confidence in what he would do and how he would govern.
This should come as no surprise to those who are students of Trump’s own notions. Consider the dealmaker’s constant assertion that he wants to “keep all options on the table until he sees the complete package.” No one should be surprised that many thoughtful conservatives want to see “the complete package.” Given Trump’s inconsistent track record — saying one thing and then retracting it — caution is wise.
Unfortunately, many are clearly panicking. It’s striking to see conservatives who have criticized, for example, former House Speaker John Boehner for minor deviations in the past now endorse what they would call a RINO (Republican in Name Only), and to see conservatives who have endorsed Trump use Trump’s insults against those who are holding out for greater clarity, and to see conservatives who have in the past stressed the need for “conviction politicians” now endorse a blank slate — a non-Republican, non-conservative who has, so far, run a personality campaign.
Those conservatives who are frustrated with Republicans have overlooked the significant electoral gains that Republicans have made since 2008. Republicans grew their numbers in the U.S. House and in the Senate between 2010-2012. Finally, in November, 2014, Republicans captured the U.S. House and Senate for the first time since 2006. Across the states, Republicans captured 600 seats in 2010 and another 300 more in 2014 (a total of 910 seats as of January 2015). And these seats were filled, in many cases, by conservatives. These seats were gained by articulating conservative reforms and alternatives to failed policies like Obamacare.
Just last November, a mere six months ago, numerous reports in the New York Times, HotAir, The Observer, Pundifact, and Politifact, highlighted the number of Democratic seats lost in Congress and the States during the Obama era.
Those electoral gains are not canceled out by President Obama’s policies or his executive orders. The electoral gains have undoubtedly prevented more destructive policies and executive orders by the Obama Administration. And there’s no reason to believe that the response to Trump’s personality campaign — a campaign without policy proposals — signals a rejection of the conservative policies on which those electoral gains were based.
Conservatives have not only made electoral gains but have prepared numerous conservative reforms at the state and national level. Perhaps more than anyone else, Paul Ryan, has spent much of the past several years ironing out and explaining numerous proposals for conservative reform. Those policies and principles need to be reaffirmed and repeated for Americans, who will wake up on November 9 and ask “what now?”
So hold strong, Paul Ryan! Hold out for a deal with the vaunted “dealmaker.” Hold out until the Republican Convention, or beyond if need be, and see if Trump is willing to make any commitments to adopt the right policies for the country instead of simply floating along as the personality candidate without convictions and with the wrong impulses.
Conservatives didn’t work so long and so hard to achieve real, substantive reforms on a range of issues only to have them trashed by a RINO who has yet to consider the nuts and bolts of what might truly “make America great again.” Wait for the fine print.
Clarke D. Forsythe is Acting President of Americans United for Life Action (AULA).