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The real issues in the Republican Party

Reader comment on item: Ted Cruz for President
in response to reader comment: View from Germany

Submitted by Michael S (United States), May 10, 2016 at 19:05

Hello, Kaarsten

I don't believe there are many "birthers" left here (in the US), in the Republican Party or elsewhere. President Obama repeatedly inflamed the issue, by never producing a certificate of live birth to say he had actually been born in Hawaii and not in Kenya. Since then, after many failed attempts, the issue has been settled in the courts. In Mr. Obama's case, the issue of birth overseas was complicated by the other issues; because not only was his mother going back and forth to Africa in those days, and hard to pin down, Obama was reported to have received a university scholarship as an "overseas student". His keeping his academic records secret as well, added to the aura of conspiriacy.

The pertinent fact in the case of Mr. Obama, of Ted Cruz, of Mitt Romney and of John McCain, all of which had questions raised about whether or not they were "Natural Born" US citizens, is that in every case, one of the parents was a natural-born US citizen; and barring unusual factors to the contrary, the natural-born child of a US citizen is a US citizen, no matter where he or she was born. These are laws peculiar to the US; other countries have entirely different rules on the matter.

I don't see any hypocrisy involved here. Mr. Trump consistently questioned the constitutionality of both Obama and Cruz, and seems to be satisfied with the latest court decisions.

You will have to be more clear, when talking about a "large segment of the Republican Party". The most pertinent division of the Republican Party today is between those who will support the Party's nominee in November, and those who are having "hissy fits" about the matter.

In the "Hissy Fit" category, are prominent names from YESTERYEAR: former Presidents George HW Bush, George W Bush -- along with "W"'s brother Jeb -- and losing Presidential Candidates John McCain and Romney.

In the "Support the Nominee" category are 2016 candidates Ben Carson, Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee, former V\P Candidate Sarah Palin, former Vice President Dick Cheney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- all of them favorites of the "Tea Party", Conservative wing of the party, along with former Speaker of the House John Boehner and former Presidential candidate Bob Dole.

Current House Speaker and former VP Candidate Paul Ryan is sitting on the fence, along with defeated Republican Presidential Candidates Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Ted Cruz.

There are others, such as our own Daniel Pipes, who are struggling with the idea of even being Republicans. I would not put Daniel in any of the above categories. He has never been a "birther", has worn with pride the "neocon" label, and has probably been attacked by pundits more than Trump, Bush and Obama combined. Even I often disagree with him; but I support him because he is an honest man who supports Israel and the Jewish people.

Among the filthy Rich, Jeff Bezos and Michael Bloomberg oppose Nominee Trump; Larry Ellison and the Koch brothers are ambivalent, Carl Icahn supports the nominee. The other "big boys" are mostly Democrats -- and "big girls" too, like Alice Walton.

You should be able to see by this, that the "Birther" issue is not very important in this campaign; and neither, for that matter, is Ted Cruz. The more important issue appears to be whether or not the Bushes and the well-funded Establishment will continue to dominate the Republican Party. If Trump wins, it will be a real changing of the guard.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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Reader comments (82) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Race and Politics in America [372 words]Raul MarksMay 15, 2016 15:50229474
Separate reality from Campignese [171 words]Michael SMay 16, 2016 03:51229474
Iran Deal [5 words]JakeMay 11, 2016 14:17229407
1I'm voting for Trump, and am fed up with the others [620 words]Michael SMay 13, 2016 11:17229407
Trump can't be trusted on Israel [193 words]Raul MarksMay 20, 2016 19:54229407
Reading a closed book [56 words]Michael SMay 23, 2016 11:07229407
1Ted Cruz duplicity [59 words]JakeMay 11, 2016 14:09229406
WV, NE primaries and general polls [282 words]Anne JulienneMay 11, 2016 00:34229403
President Sanders [147 words]Michael SMay 13, 2016 02:59229403
I have a different view of God .. [109 words]Anne JulienneMay 16, 2016 02:48229403
Wrestling with God [811 words]Michael SMay 20, 2016 12:50229403
wrestling is not compatible with absolute confidence [70 words]Anne JulienneMay 22, 2016 19:41229403
To whom shall we go? [420 words]Michael SMay 23, 2016 02:38229403
Absolute Confidence Defeats the Need to Wrestle with the Sovereign Almighty [128 words]M ToveyMay 24, 2016 18:57229403
1OMG [28 words]Anne JulienneMay 26, 2016 02:03229403
to you your certainty, to me my wrestling [11 words]Anne JulienneMay 26, 2016 05:56229403
Your're Right- Its Not My Will That is Being Exercised Over the Destiny Of Israel [87 words]M ToveyMay 26, 2016 10:11229403
Michael Row the Boat Ashore; A waste of time [716 words]Michael SMay 30, 2016 22:26229403
respectful disagreement with Dr. Pipes [293 words]Charles MartelMay 10, 2016 23:05229402
Daniel raises an important issue [132 words]Michael SMay 13, 2016 03:33229402
View from Germany [125 words]Kaarsten BraaschMay 9, 2016 01:18229357
sure, the birthers are jerks [245 words]Anne JulienneMay 9, 2016 07:21229357
The real issues in the Republican Party [592 words]Michael SMay 10, 2016 19:05229357
Ted Cruz for President [129 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Ron BearmanMay 7, 2016 16:11229338
Why did Trump rise? [34 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Raul MarksMay 7, 2016 01:32229323
Presidential qualities [134 words]Susan H SomervilleMay 5, 2016 16:50229293
Response to Susan [196 words]AnonMay 7, 2016 05:11229293
Retort to "Anon" (India) [230 words]Susan H SomervilleMay 25, 2016 03:06229293
Trump [152 words]Frank LukeMay 4, 2016 18:51229285
1Hoping Pipes stays with the GOP [209 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Stu FaginMay 4, 2016 11:05229282
1I pity the conservatives [17 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Richard PreschelMay 4, 2016 03:00229273
1What Now? [84 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Gary SackMay 3, 2016 23:02229271
Tme to pause and consider [167 words]Michael SMay 4, 2016 03:37229271
thank you for the Peter Wehner article [252 words]Anne JulienneMay 5, 2016 00:40229271
A major distinction, important to consider [642 words]Michael SMay 6, 2016 09:51229271
war crimes ok with you then? [90 words]Anne JulienneMay 7, 2016 18:40229271
this is history, not prophecy [265 words]Anne JulienneMay 7, 2016 19:07229271
100% hyperboly [413 words]Michael SMay 9, 2016 03:58229271
You're talking about war. This is the way it's actually fought. [11 words]Michael SMay 9, 2016 04:01229271
talking about war [182 words]Anne JulienneMay 13, 2016 04:12229271
A spade is a spade [119 words]Michael SMay 16, 2016 03:24229271
an issue that runs very deep ... [432 words]Anne JulienneMay 20, 2016 04:11229271
War, the Bible and Ted Cruz [611 words]Michael SMay 23, 2016 12:34229271
going nowhere ... [10 words]Anne JulienneMay 26, 2016 05:55229271
still praying for "a surprise" [385 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Anne JulienneMay 3, 2016 20:53229268
Lucifer to Messy Bobby, over and out. [140 words]Michael SMay 4, 2016 04:12229268
I am voting for Trump in November. [85 words]PrashantMay 6, 2016 22:06229268
Character & Principles [24 words]Gary ClarkeMay 3, 2016 17:59229267
Cruz? [63 words]JudyMay 3, 2016 16:31229263
unfortunate choices [166 words]lippyMay 3, 2016 13:03229261
Anti-Semitism and Ted Cruz [103 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Mike ShapiroMay 3, 2016 10:44229258
RELAX! [99 words]Joe FalkMay 5, 2016 10:59229258
There is much more on the table than personalities [872 words]Michael SMay 5, 2016 19:27229258
Who will win in November presidential elections [10 words]romanMay 6, 2016 22:57229258
Ted Cruz for President [87 words]Michael ArtwichMay 3, 2016 03:39229257
Dignity, Shmignity. How about a President who is willing to walk determindly and swing a big stick? [121 words]EdwardMay 3, 2016 03:33229256
Roll-On TRUMP TRAIN [30 words]Pat PatriotMay 3, 2016 02:02229255
Ted Cruz for President. [235 words]Anne USAMay 2, 2016 21:15229250
Trump v/s Cruz [106 words]Frank LukeMay 2, 2016 20:55229249
If Trump Becomes President [21 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
SamMay 2, 2016 19:50229246
Why some support Trump. [132 words]Michael SMay 2, 2016 19:20229245
we do all need someone "serious" in charge [339 words]Anne JulienneMay 2, 2016 19:03229244
4A Polite Traitor [970 words]UNCLE VLADDIMay 2, 2016 18:42229243
Looking forward to November [59 words]Michael SMay 2, 2016 17:05229239
why now? [90 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Timothy HadleyMay 2, 2016 16:25229237
Response to Hadley [57 words]AnonMay 5, 2016 21:01229237
It looks bad [124 words]Kepha HorMay 2, 2016 16:22229236
1Surprise of surprises [198 words]Regan HuffmanMay 2, 2016 16:20229235
Cruz or Nothing [163 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Martin SchaffelMay 2, 2016 16:16229234
Why does Trump get votes? [228 words]Doug MayfieldMay 2, 2016 16:02229233
3A vote for Cruz will put Hillary in the White House -- Only Trump can defeat her. [144 words]Haile StresserMay 2, 2016 15:17229229
Cruz Is A Religious Extremist [82 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Bill ONeillMay 2, 2016 14:15229227
Response to Bill ONeill [35 words]AnonMay 5, 2016 21:07229227
Dear Daniel ... [156 words]Les LevitanMay 6, 2016 18:46229227
"Ted Cruz is at least a Christian Extremist or perhaps a Christian Zealot", Really? [104 words]RoyMay 20, 2016 21:36229227
No Votes for Republicans [10 words]Samuel TenenbaumMay 2, 2016 13:10229225
Response [85 words]David G. Cannon, Ph.D.May 2, 2016 12:58229224
1Cruz is a loser [34 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
albertoMay 2, 2016 11:59229223
Here's The Bottom Line Question [158 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Gary SackMay 2, 2016 10:40229221
Yes, But People Like Populist Appeals [90 words]DaveMay 1, 2016 21:47229213
Iran deal, Obamacare etc [238 words]AnonMay 1, 2016 21:01229211
Keep on piping up! [78 words]GumBoochoMay 1, 2016 20:29229210

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