Conservative columnist George Will argues that defeating Donald Trump should be the “highest priority” for conservatives.
In his column, Will called Trump a “disagreeable” and “sad figure” whose embrace of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin is fundamentally at odds with the conservative vision of government.
He argued that for decades, the Republican party has been the vehicle for advancing conservatism and this would change if Donald Trump were the nominee.
Will’s column represents a growing sense of anxiety among Republicans and professional conservatives that Trump could emerge as the GOP’s nominee.
“If you look beyond Donald Trump’s comprehensive unpleasantness — is there a disagreeable human trait he does not have? — you might see this: He is a fundamentally sad figure,” Will wrote. “His compulsive boasting is evidence of insecurity. His unassuageable neediness suggests an aching hunger for others’ approval to ratify his self-admiration. His incessant announcements of his self-esteem indicate that he is not self-persuaded. Now, panting with a puppy’s insatiable eagerness to be petted, Trump has reveled in the approval of Vladimir Putin, murderer and war criminal.”
He went on to write that, “Certainly conservatives consider it crucial to deny the Democratic Party a third consecutive term controlling the executive branch. Extending from eight to 12 years its use of unbridled executive power would further emancipate the administrative state from control by either a withering legislative branch or a supine judiciary. But first things first. Conservatives’ highest priority now must be to prevent Trump from winning the Republican nomination in this, the GOP’s third epochal intraparty struggle in 104 years.”
Will noted that William Howard Taft and Barry Goldwater were two examples of the conservative wing wrestling control of the Republican Party. Though Goldwater lost, will notes that the GOP went on to win the next five of seven presidential elections.
“It is possible Trump will not win any primary, and that by the middle of March our long national embarrassment will be over. But this avatar of unfettered government and executive authoritarianism has mesmerized a large portion of Republicans for six months. The larger portion should understand this:
One hundred and four years of history is in the balance. If Trump is the Republican nominee in 2016, there might not be a conservative party in 2020 either.”
