(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . GOP Operatives Concede (PRIVATELY) That Trump Indictments Are A Problem For The Party. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-06-15 Now, I understand why Michael Steele was so pissed off on MSNBC yesterday when NBC had this little news item up: Republicans privately acknowledge Trump's legal woes are serious this time Many GOP operatives who spoke with NBC News said the federal indictment is serious — and could cause problems for the party. You don’t say? It’s long been Republican orthodoxy that no matter what Donald Trump does, the GOP base will stick with him. After his last indictment in New York, the party rallied around him. But this time, privately, Republicans aren’t so sure. An operative in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ orbit, who requested anonymity to speak candidly without approval from higher-ups, said that “from an objective standpoint,” the federal charges Trump faces for his post-presidency handling of classified documents are far more serious than the earlier ones around hush money payments before the 2016 election. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in Georgia,” this person said, referring to the investigation into possible election interference by Trump and his allies. “But the man is going to prison. It’s happening. So at this point, where we are is ‘Who’s going to be the nominee?’ … Donald Trump broke the law, and frankly, I’m not a never-Trumper. I’m really not. But this is too much." “This is something that if you were to get George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson and sit them down and explain to them what’s happening … they would disagree with what Donald Trump was doing and would agree that he should be prosecuted,” the person added. Really? The sainted founding fathers might think that a crook like Trump should be prosecuted? Where is the ghost of Originalist Justice Scalia when you need him? Crank up that old seance machine! Back here on Earth 1, Michael Steele was enraged because the time to stop Trump has long since past, and the cowards who run the GOP let this happen. There was that second impeachment that would have barred Trump from running for office, but hey, no one wanted to piss of the Frankenstein Monster that is the Republican base. “Every campaign right now that is not Donald Trump is receiving pressure from donors to go harder against Donald Trump,” an aide to a rival presidential campaign said, adding: “The pressure is there. Is that where the larger Republican [electorate is] as a whole? Look at the comments from these various campaigns. You would see that none of them are taking that advice.” Republicans not taking advice! Oh my stars and heaven! The GOP consternation that they could still end up with a nominee who has been convicted of federal crimes came through on a call Tuesday among roughly 15 seasoned Republican operatives (none of whom are on a presidential campaign currently). The concern was widespread: Trump’s latest indictment could cause further pain for Republicans at the ballot box. The regularly scheduled call, which happens once or twice a month, was supposed to have focused on President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and how Republicans planned to hammer Democrats, a source who was on the call detailed. But the Trump indictment took over, with participants expressing deep concern about backlash and the party’s fracturing beyond repair. “Is it the movement or is it the man, and if the man perishes, what happens to the movement?” this person said. Republicans on the call, this person added, were “fearful that this is going to be the face of what it means to be a Republican.” On one hand, if Trump’s GOP rivals blast him, they risk further alienating his committed GOP supporters. But give too much deference and they might box themselves in in a way that could make it much harder to differentiate from him as the campaign progresses. WHAT TO DO???! I’m sure they will think of something! Many of the Republicans who spoke with NBC News said it would be smart for the GOP candidates to avoid hitting Trump too hard at first — but to be sure to leave room open to hit him later. “That’s the smart play,” said Mick Mulvaney, who was Trump’s acting White House chief of staff. “The politics of this — not the law, but the politics — depends on whether the feds have more on Trump than what the indictment indicates.” TA-DAH! Mulvaney thinks the indictment is no big deal. So what that Trump kept American nuclear secrets in the bathroom? He’s going with the Marco Rubio strategy: the DOJ HAS TO PROVE THAT THE INFORMATION WAS PASSED TO A FOREIGN ENTITY FOR THERE TO BE REAL DAMAGE! That’s not how any of this works, but the great thinkers in the GOP are going with this line. Oh, and you can forget Ron DeSantis EVER throwing this in Trump’s face: “I kind of doubt” DeSantis will attack Trump harder, said Hal Lambert, a DeSantis donor and fundraiser. “I don’t think they would be able to convince him to attack Trump. Most I have talked to are wanting civil policy differences — not name-calling or him attacking Trump personally.” In addition, a DeSantis fundraiser described the “general consensus” among DeSantis insiders as “we don’t need to say anything; we think this is going to be really helpful.” “This makes the case much easier for an alternative to Trump,” this person added. “And the first alternative is DeSantis.” It will be magic! And we want “civil policy difference” and not name-calling! This from the campaign where Trump is already calling DeSantis “Tiny D” and want dick measuring contents. This is beyond “Republican in Disarray.” The only real reason these moral cowards are fretting is because with Trump Democrats will probably win the White House, keep the Senate and take back the House. The loss of power will be agonizing for the GOP. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/15/2175648/-GOP-Operatives-Concede-PRIVATELY-That-Trump-Indictments-Are-A-Problem-For-The-Party Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/