C-SPAN received at least four calls Thursday night from people claiming to be Democrats who said they were crossing party lines to vote for Donald Trump, after airing its Donald Trump debate night event.
“I recently, I guess you could say, I switched sides to Republican. I used to be a very progressive Democrat liberal,” said Christopher on the Democratic line, who said he voted “straight Democrat” in the last election.
C-SPAN has Democrat and Republican lines for callers to use, but no way of verifying if the callers are actually in the party they’re claiming.
“What I have noticed is that the special interest groups, the lobbyists, they seem to control a lot of the candidates and what they say and do,” Christopher continued. “And with Trump, he doesn’t have any of that, and it is nice to have someone who is honest, he speaks his mind, even if I don’t agree with everything. You know there is no hidden agenda with him and it is all straightforward. It is great.”
Holly from Massachusetts said next, “Hi, I’m a Democrat no longer. I’m a Trump fan. I’ve admired his brilliance for years. He’s just incredible. He’s the real deal. And I appreciate the fact that he didn’t stand on the stage with the rest of those other people. Same old, same old, same old. He’s fresh, he’s got great ideas, and I just really hope he is our next president.”
Trump’s event was about raising money for veterans and highlighting their service. Critics have argued that Trump is was exploiting veterans.
But George from Idaho didn’t agree with the critics. “No I don’t, he didn’t use this for any political purpose,” he said. “What he said was from his heart. He respects as for the job that we did.”
Carl from Virginia was also impressed with Trump.
“I am a disabled Army veteran and you know, I voted Democrat all my life and I have seen some great things going on with Donald,” Carl said. “[Trump’s event] makes me know that there’s somebody out there who cares about we do for our country, for our nation.”
“I just think he is a wonderful man. I will be voting for Donald Trump. I hope that he wins, and this country is great again,” said another caller named Susan. “I am changing my party to Republican and want Donald Trump to make this country great again because I just really think he will do just a fantastic job.”
