I have a secret to tell you. The conservative movement has its own “establishment” faction. What conservative movement leaders don’t want you to know is that they too don’t like to be crossed. Tea Party leaders, with some exceptions (NE Tarrant Tea Party – my local favorite), like anointing candidates just like Republican leaders do. This is specifically true for national conservative movement leaders as well. And oh by the way, radio hosts love to anoint candidates too.
Many of the national “Conservative” groups raise millions of dollars only to spend it on high salaries and friendly consultants. I question many of their motives. Is it about pushing a conservative message or is it about power and money? I fear the latter. Nearly every so-called “conservative leader” despises Donald Trump. Why?
I have serious doubts about Trump’s commitment to conservatism, even his real understanding of it. For that reason, I have yet to throw my support behind him. I may disagree with Trump on many issues, but I don’t hate him. The visceral reaction that many conservative higher-ups are having to Trump is bizarre. I believe it’s because Donald Trump is doing it on his own. He doesn’t need the blessing of Republican Party leaders or conservative movement leaders. That makes “the establishment” rulers of both the Republican Party and the Tea Party angry.
Donald Trump is an insurgent candidate like we have never seen before. God Bless his followers. They range from salt of the earth folks to wealthy corporate moguls. They have one common bond: they are tired of being told what to do by a ruling class of politicians and pundits both in Washington and at home. They all truly do “want to make America great again.” Who can fault that?
I believe many Tea Partiers have no idea how much power their Tea Party leaders, or local talk show hosts, hold. Many of them tell me they are surprised that so many “Conservative” leaders simply hate Trump and his candidacy. These Tea Party members, unlike Republican Party volunteers, never knew they were supposed to “follow the leader.” They are getting a lesson in that now. And their leaders aren’t happy that their tried and true conservative followers are actually independent thinkers who do what they want, not what they are told. I’m not telling you to vote for Trump, I’m only warning you to question the motives of your so called “leaders.” Maybe, just maybe, they are actually all part of the establishment we despise.
You can listen to more of my commentary on The Stinchfield Report, Monday through Friday 5-8PM on 570 KLIF.
