The Trump-Khan fight might not be good for Republicans. But it could be good for one Republican.
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After the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, decided that a speech given by the father of fallen soldier Capt. Humayun Khan amounted to a “vicious” attack, and after Trump described the delivery of this speech as possible evidence of the oppression of Muslim women; after a surrogate claimed that Khan’s father is an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood (an Islamist political and social movement); and after Trump claimed that the dispute was not about the Khans but “radical Islam,” Trump got the equivalent of a tsk-tsk from many a Republican official.
That’s an unseemly attack on a Gold Star family, more than a few said. But my support for the Republican nominee — well, that’s unwavering, they seemed to also say.
This is a cycle, by now familiar. Very few Republicans stand to emerge entirely unscathed. But it’s starting to look like at least one 2020 contender may emerge ahead: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.).
Here’s how the Trump controversy cycle plays out.
First, Trump says something — sometimes by his own initiative, sometimes in what he considers necessary pushback — that heretofore has been considered out of bounds, an endorsement of some form of bigotry or an idea that is anti-democratic. Then, after a great and collective clutching of pearls, Trump and his surrogates defend those comments, sometimes expand on them.
Finally, Republican party officials and elected office-holders indicate that while the comments were out of bounds and not representative of the party, they will, however, support Trump, the party’s presidential nominee.
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After each of those incidents, prominent Republicans stepped forward to express their disappointment but continued support. Sometimes that support was directed at a Republican nominee they did not mention by name but whom they committed to nonetheless. Some declined to show up to the party’s convention but have made no public comments about their voting plans. One tried to split the difference and “attended” the convention via videotaped address.
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If so, McCain is not alone. Few prominent Republicans have gone as far as Cruz and showed up at the GOP convention and said afterward in a televised speech that he could not support Trump’s presidential bid. Cruz pretty much stands alone as a Republican who came to Cleveland, and within the same week said that the nominee’s regular turn to personal and group aspersions, references to conspiracy theories and actual untrue non-facts make Trump a man whom he cannot and will not endorse or defend.
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Still, a look just at the ranks of Trump’s one-time competition in the 2016 Republican primary race reveals this: Cruz stands almost alone as a once and future presidential hopeful in his clear rejection of Trump. And it’s a rejection that came just before Trump laid into Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of a solider killed in action, for behavior beyond the pale of acceptable politics.
Yes, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) declined to attend the party’s July convention, even though the event was held in his state. He has said he is unlikely to vote for Trump. And sure, former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R) did not attend said convention and has said that he will not vote for Trump, and issued a tweet describing Trump’s statements about the Khans as “incredibly disrespectful.” Neither of them ventured onto the convention floor.
Meanwhile, Ben Carson has described Trump as a candidate he supports but who needs to work on his outreach to minority voters. Carson went to the convention and joined New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) in delivering a speech condemning Trump’s rival, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, in terms the two men seemed to hope would remain with voters longer than anything Trump has said. According to Carson, Clinton may have a close personal relationship with Lucifer. And according to Christie, she is guilty of many crimes and near-crimes.
Sen. Lindsey Graham also stayed away from the convention and has said he won’t vote for Trump or Clinton — but seems unlikely to mount a repeat presidential bid. Former Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee have said they will back Trump, and have been critical of Republicans who won’t.
Gov. Rick Perry is in this camp, too, despite having been one of the first 2016 candidates to describe Trump and his commentary as not befitting a president.
That’s not exactly a collective profile in 2016 candidate courage.
Beyond those who ran for president this year, there are possible 2020 contenders, such as House Majority Leader Paul D. Ryan, who has often led the “Trump does not speak for our party” clean-up crew. He has condemned Trump’s comments on several occasions, then followed with general expressions of support for the Republican nominee. A number of current and former members of Congress, party operatives and advisers have done basically the same. The Atlantic.com made a list.
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Translation: When books about the 2016 race are written, Cruz — not Ryan or Sen. Marco Rubio — is shaping up as the one most likely to emerge looking like something of the hero. The man many a GOP critic described as a self-serving malcontent last month may be just that. But with time and space, Cruz won’t just be a man who delivered a speech that put him in the camp of those who would not back Trump. He will be the man who showed up in Cleveland and stood his ground in front of Trump himself. This week, there may be a few fellow Republicans wishing they’d done the same.
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"Cruz will be the man who showed up in Cleveland and stood his ground in front of Trump himself." – @JanellRoss https://t.co/zaqCzNeNdS
— David Shor (@IshYimini) August 2, 2016
In 4 years the idiots who rejected Cruz for Trump will be begging for Cruz. Maybe sooner. Looks like the buyer’s remorse has already set in. The Republican Party hierarchy is already regretting nominating Trump. Only they won’t admit it. The Trump Train is about to derail with them on it and they can’t or won’t do anything to stop it.
When books about the 2016 race are written, Ted Cruz – not Ryan or Rubio – is shaping up as the hero. https://t.co/zZ7cCSkTKh
— Chris Wilson (@WilsonWPA) August 2, 2016
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