Donald Trump has shown no evidence of a true conservative transformation as he claims, says Michael Reagan in an opinion column published in today’s New Hampshire Union-Leader.
Reagan writes that Trump has tried to compare himself to his father, President Ronald Reagan, but the comparison doesn't ring true.
“Mr Trump, I knew Ronald Reagan. And you’re no Ronald Reagan,” the son of the 40th President begins his op-ed in New Hampshire’s biggest and most
influential newspaper.
Reagan notes that his father was indeed a Hollywood liberal who evolved into an icon of conservatism, but the switch took place over two decades.
Reagan also established himself as a conservative in his 1964 "Time for Choosing” speech for Barry Goldwater's campaign then spent the next 16 years preaching conservatism, and spent two terms as California governor.
Trump, meanwhile, has praised liberal Democrats and criticized conservative positions as recently as 2012.
And, Reagan writes, “when dad ran in 1980, Trump donated the maximum amount to Carter.’’
Reagan also notes Trump’s close relationship with former Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
Trump, questioned about his donations to Democrats, has said he did so for business reasons. He admits to having been a Democrat but has said he always admired President Reagan.
Reagan says that one of his father’s most important lessons to him was how to uncover a phony.
"As President, Dad used this 'trust but verify' principle on the Soviets and it worked," Reagan writes. "Voters today should apply Reagan’s 'verify' principle on Trump."
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