Donald Trump is too problematic to be an effective Republican presidential candidate and, in fact, might run better as a Democrat, says David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth, a conservative political advocacy group.
"Our view of Donald Trump is he is a great entertainer, he's been a good developer, but he's not a serious candidate for president," McIntosh, a former Republican congressman from Indiana, said Friday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
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"Some of the things he says … touch a nerve with Americans frustrated with a Washington that puts itself first and hasn't thought about how do we create jobs and grow the economy."
"But when you start looking at the ideas he's for, starting a trade war around the world, favoring a Hillary-type Obamacare, really he'd be a better figure in the Democratic debates than with the Republicans."
He added that the billionaire developer's solutions depend on "growing government and having more of the things that have created problems for us."
McIntosh also weighed in on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — and he says the jury is still out.
"We looked at what'd he do on taxes, spending, and structural reform in government — to set it up so you're shrinking, not growing government. He did very well as governor," he told Steve Malzberg.
"If he were to run on that record, he'd be a good pro-growth candidate for president, but he hasn't done that as he's come onto the federal stage."
"A few of his issues indicate maybe he likes more federal government rather than less and he hasn't really unveiled what he'd do on taxes or spending. We're waiting to see what he does with what he wants to run on."
McIntosh also said he was impressed by Sen. Rand Paul's plan for a 14.5 percent flat tax if he's elected president.
"A flat tax is a great idea. It will unleash a lot of economic growth.... It eliminates a lot of the loopholes and deductions, which is by itself a really good pro-growth policy," he said.
"Because if companies have to spend their money coming to Washington to get a tax break, they're not investing their money out there creating jobs. So we're trying to get rid of that type of cronyism in the spending and in the tax side of the equation here.
"Three cheers for Sen. Paul with that type of tax plan. It'll hopefully spur everybody else to give us some more details about what they want to do on taxes as candidates."
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