NEW YORK – There are many things that can be said about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but there's one thing both his critics and his supporters agree upon: the man says what he thinks, and thinks what he says.
Or does he?
Thursday morning in an interview on the Today Show, co-host Savannah Guthrie asked Trump,
"The Republican platform every four years has a provision that states that 'the right of the unborn shall not be infringed,' and it makes no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. Would you want to change the Republican platform to include the exceptions that you have?"
"Yes, I would … absolutely … yes, I would…for the three exceptions … I would," Trump said.
"Would you have an exception for the health of the mother?" she asked.
"I would leave it at the life of the mother but I would absolutely have the three exceptions," Trump said.
(The video is HERE.)
But wasn't the fact that Donald Trump promised Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly he would not change the Republican Platform the key reason why she endorsed Trump, a move that sent havoc into the Eagle Forum ranks nationwide?
“I asked Donald Trump to support the Republican platform because this is the best and most conservative platform we’ve ever had. I gave him one of my copies of the 2012 platform. He endorses it and I believe he will stand by it," Schlafly said in a press statement on March 13.
Since the endorsement was issued, Eagle Forum has been through an ugly divisive shakeup, as members of the Eagle Forum Board of Directors met over the phone, and in a 6 to 5 vote, the majority of the board voted to oust Eagle Forum President Ed Martin and replace him with Schlafly's youngest daughter Anne Cori. Schlafly released a video stating she was "still in charge" of the organization, despite the board voting to make longtime Alabama Eagle Forum leader Eunie Smith interim board chairman.
Late Thursday afternoon, after Trump's comments on the Today Show conveying his willingness to amend the GOP platform, eyes turned to Schlafly for her response to what sounded like a betrayal. A statement issued by Republicans for Life, which Schlafly also founded, defended Trump, and criticized the Today Show host for trying to "trick" Trump.
"The reporter on the 'Today' show misrepresented the abortion plank in an effort to trick Donald Trump into disagreeing with other Republicans," the statement said. "Trump’s position on abortion is the same as every previous Republican nominee who ran on the current platform language."
And, anyway, the statement said, presidential candidates have little to do with the Platform.
"The Republican Platform was written by the grassroots and adopted by the 2012 Republican National Convention. Presidential candidates have no role in writing or adopting the Platform," the statement said.
The back and forth raised to a new level conservatives' concerns about Trump's views on abortion and his stated support for "the good" Planned Parenthood has done and why it should continue to be taxpayer-funded, just as supporters began referring to Trump as the "presumptive" GOP presidential nominee.
I don’t know what the source of this article was, but it must be corrected. This is what was sent out by Phyllis Schlafly last night. I’m surprised IL Review didn’t receive this information:
News alert from Republican National Coalition for Life & Phyllis Schlafly.
View this email in your browser
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 21, 2016
CONTACT: ED MARTIN
C 314.606.6462 / [email protected]
STATEMENT BY PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY
St. Louis, MO: Phyllis Schlafly, founder of Eagle Forum and Chairman of Republican National Coalition for Life, issued the following reaction to Donald Trump’s interview comment about the pro-life plank of the Republican platform:
“The Republican Platform was written by the grassroots and adopted by the 2012 Republican National Convention. Presidential candidates have no role in writing or adopting the Platform.
“The reporter on the ‘Today’ show misrepresented the abortion plank in an effort to trick Donald Trump into disagreeing with other Republicans. Trump’s position on abortion is the same as every previous Republican nominee who ran on the current platform language.”
###
Also, Phyllis was interviewed on the Sean Hannity radio show this afternoon. It was an excellent interview which explained why she is supporting Trump. Phyllis is still a sharp and articulate individual even at the age of 91. As soon as I’ve sent the link to the Phyllis Schlafly interview on the Sean Hannity show, I’ll post for all to hear.
One clown claiming to be a republican destroyed the conservative movement and conservative media. Thanks trump supporters with anger instead of brains. The dems are all laughing while they support a criminal and a communist.
Who knows if Phyllis really issued this statement or Ed Martin, but it is stupid lying no matter who did it. Presidential candidates have big power to influence the platform committee that will recommend changes to the convention. Between the Trump people who seem not to care a lick about social issues and the rest of the Rinos, there is a big chance a lot of changes could be made in the platform and approved at the convention. 40 years of work by Phyllis and so many others would be down the drain.
In the same interview, Trump said he wanted to raise taxes on the rich (contradicting his own tax plan) and condemns North Carolina for trying to stop men going into women’s bathrooms. The pattern is clear. The real untrustworthy liar in this race is Trump. He is still the same old liberal from New York whose promises are like his marriage vows, made to be broken.
Trump is only in this race to lose to his good friend Hillary, which is why he has spent no money trying to win the caucus states (he will do the same in the fall campaign, demanding everyone he insulted give him money). That’s why he spends all his time attacking Cruz as a worse liar than Hillary, a Canadian who shouldn’t be a Senator and a cheat simply for spending money and time to win delegates that Trump can’t be bothered with. He is not the slightest bit interested in unifying the party to win. By endorsing him, Phyllis Schlafly and all the rest of the “conservative” leaders have destroyed their legacy forever.
Cruz or lose, Republicans. Trump will not only lose to Hillary, he will wreck us down ballot everywhere. He might get some crossover Democrats but they will also vote Democrat down ballot. Social conservatives would be totally deenergized and so will many women who might be inclined to vote Republican in normal years. That is particularly worrisome in Illinois, where Rauner’s veto is hanging by a thread.
Published on Apr 20, 2016 –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj-l_eynaY0
Alex Jones talks to Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum about the dirty tricks used by the Cruz campaign against the Eagle Forum after Schlafly backed Donald Trump.
Phyllis speaks about the coup attempt to take her out by some state leaders, about what her daughter Ann was attempting to do, and why Trump is her choice. After all, Reagan also had his faults, said Phyllis, and yet Phyllis supported him.
The rumor was spread that Phyllis was senile, home-ridden, and had cancer. None of this was true, as you can observe.
The statement clearly says where the information came from. The press release above is the same statement.
Late Thursday afternoon, after Trump’s comments on the Today Show conveying his willingness to amend the GOP platform, eyes turned to Schlafly for her response to what sounded like a betrayal. A statement issued by Republicans for Life, which Schlafly also founded, defended Trump, and criticized the Today Show host for trying to “trick” Trump.
“The reporter on the ‘Today’ show misrepresented the abortion plank in an effort to trick Donald Trump into disagreeing with other Republicans,” the statement said. “Trump’s position on abortion is the same as every previous Republican nominee who ran on the current platform language.”
And, anyway, the statement said, presidential candidates have little to do with the Platform.
“The Republican Platform was written by the grassroots and adopted by the 2012 Republican National Convention. Presidential candidates have no role in writing or adopting the Platform,” the statement said.
Hey Nancy – Are you defending this ridiculous comment that Trump made? Do you think he is stupid enough to have been tricked by that evil woman reporter? If you think SHE can trick Trump, what do you think PUTIN will do? HAHAHA
To both Laura Jones and Grant Noble, I know many very intelligent and highly educated individuals who support Trump. The both of you are placing your hope in a man who is now hurling personal insults left and right against Donald Trump, so determined is he to win, and this from one you label as a good Christian?
This nation is no longer conservative or even center right. There is no way Cruz could win in November. Being a purist might be noble, but unfortunately it’s not realistic in this day in age. Unfortunately the morally of this nation has changed for the worse, and things aren’t going to return to the good old days before gay marriage was sanctioned and prayer was removed from the public schools.
A few days ago Bret Hume made these statements on Fox News which I have entertained for a long while. Cruz worked for the G.W. Bush administration where he wasn’t liked. He then went home to Texas to run as Solicitor General. Then he decided to run for the Senate, planing all along a future presidential bid where he would run as an outsider. He did this in the Senate through his actions which made his fellow senators dislike him. Finally it came time to run for president as an outsider (which he never was), but Cruz didn’t anticipate that Trump would would be a thorn in his side as the real outsider, as one who had never been elected to a political position.
I do apologize to Illinois Review. I missed seeing where the post came from when I wrote my first comment.
Because nothing energizes the type of women (who hate Trump) to vote Republican more than saying that they can’t get an abortion if they were raped. Are you that dumb?
So you are saying, without (for some reason) actually saying it, that Nancy Thorner is absolutely correct and you agree with her.
“One clown claiming to be a republican destroyed the conservative movement and conservative media”
Are you talking about Cruz or Kasich?
Or Romney?
Ryan?
Priebus?
Oh, and, you’re welcome!
Know what the best part of this whole campaign season is?
Its watching all you GOP establishment folks slowly come to the realization that your same old b.s. just isn’t working anymore.
Your Romney, or McCain, or Ryan, or Cruz, are despised by more Conservatives than are admired.
You feel it slipping away, and slowly realize there is nothing you can do to stop it.
You are getting meaner with your comments, as you become more desperate to not lose hold of what you’ve worked so hard for so long to obtain.
Hope you had your fun, cuz you are about to not matter anymore. Unless, of course, you choose to side with Mr Trump – in which case there may still be some hope for all you republican liberals in Conservative clothing.
Trump’s position is so typical for a man that hates women like he does. So a man rapes a woman, and who’s to pay for it? The woman and her unborn baby – the woman deals with the post traumatic stress and the innocent unborn baby pays with its life for being conceived. Who gets away with the whole thing? The aggressive criminal –
The arrogance of the Trump people is breathtaking. So the world is so bad off, let’s just throw in the towel and get in the mud with everyone else. Jesus said we are to be a light in this world, and that includes who I vote for. I want someone that has high moral standards, not someone who will show my kids that you don’t have to pay a price for being criminal or obscene. Giving up on making this world a better place indicates a lack of faith and hope in God the creator, and I put much more faith in Him than in the Trumpster.
What a sad time we’ve come to – there’s no hope in making the world better. Let’s just throw in the towel. How very, very sad.
LakeCoConserv-
Not sure what you mean. We simply quoted from press releases that came from the Schlafly camp – one giving the reason why she endorsed Trump and the other as to their reaction to Trump’s comments.
There’s no “agree” or “disagree” on this. We’re simply providing information and wanted to clarify the sources of the information.
Thank you for reading Illinois Review. We believe we are providing fair coverage of an active political campaign. Our readers hold positions on all sides, and it is our honor to provide information for all. We have two columnists that are clearly for Donald Trump, and we have other columnists that are not. The rest of the time, we cover news as it presents itself and we think our readers want to know.
Alex Jones! Phyllis went on the air with that guy that believe with Donald Trump that George W. Bush had something to do with 9-11!! That’s hilarious! Have you ever watched Alex Jones’ videos?? It’s a nutcase! Talk about ridiculous tin foil hats!
I’m embarrassed for the council Phyllis is getting. What a travesty this whole thing has become!
I agree with you regarding “fair coverage”.
I read several blogs regularly, oftentimes several daily, and believe yours to be one of the most even-handed when it comes to topics involving ‘the right’, and certainly the most even-handed regarding illinois, that I have come across.
You’re welcome,
And thank you for providing the forum.
Apparently, Laura Jones – nor her daughters – have ever been impregnated by a rapist.
Hopefully that never happens, but if it were to happen, I anticipate Laura Jones would gladly go full term with said rapist’s baby and then her husband would happily agree to raise the child – with every meal around the table with the family being a reminder to everyone of the brutal assault – as one of his own.
Because, of course, as Laura says “…Jesus said we are to be a light in this world”.
Oh, and when the rapist gets paroled and shows up at Laura’s door when the child is 14 because he is the biological parent and wants a relationship with his daughter …….
Not sure about dumb, but that IS how desperate the anti-Trump’s have become.
And with good reason.
It is refreshing to see Trump supporters admit they are not pro-life. Sure, some of them may consider themselves partially pro-life, as long as the baby can be killed in case of a rape.
And it is equally as refreshing to see ‘Conservatives’ admit they are willing to give away YET ANOTHER completely winnable election over an issue that has been made legal – whether in valid fashion or not – nearly half a century ago.
Willing to lose election after election, and then have the audacity to complain that their interests are being ignored.
Dummies!!!!!
Wise up, already!!!
Win an election, and THEN make the changes you fight for!
Win an election, dammit!!!
So, Laura, you aren’t going to believe what Phyllis Schlafly had to tell Alex Jones on his show, because you don’t like Alex JOnes. What a closed mind you have.
I would advise all to listen to the video noted below in which Phyllis sets the record straight as to why she supports Trump, and how state presidents at Eagle Forum who are for Cruz, attempted a coup to take away Eagle Forum leadership from Phyllis and her two sons, Andy and John. The endorsement of Trump by Phyllis was her own choice and not meant to reflect the thoughts of all state Eagle Forum state presidents. All are free to support whomever they wish to. The support of Phyllis for Trump greatly angered the Cruz-only women who then attempted to gain leadership of Eagle Forum at a board meeting where they were in the majority.
Published on Apr 20, 2016 –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj-l_eynaY0
Trump told NBC News in 1999 that “I am very Pro-Choice” and he would “not ban partial birth abortion”. More recently Trump made large campaign donations to pro-choice Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, and Chuck Schumer.
It’s refreshing to see all of the “conservative” pregnant men commenting here.
Is Denny Hastert conservative enough for you?
Conservative has been rendered a meaningless word. Regardless of the meaningless ideological label, “conservative,” supporting abortion is an indication of character. Of course opposing abortion entirely isn’t enough to make a politician worthy of support if he is a piece of crap in other areas.
1999?
Going back pretty far aren’t you?
Yeah, it’s actually a big reason why they imploded. It’s actually amazing that they destroyed themselves while trying to destroy Trump, clearing the way for Trump to sweep to the coast! They COMPLETELY misread the American public. These are the same exact people who, a few weeks ago, attacked Trump for saying that there would be enforcement of the law, if there is a law – like laws. Duh! I’m pro-life and I know that the people who are attacking Trump right now won’t actually be pro-life in a few months when they somehow think that they’re going to win the votes of urban leftist feminist women. The difference between them and Trump is that Trump has the common sense enough to know that these women will never vote for ANY Republican, so work on turning out more people who aren’t voting right now: MEN and WORKING people!
Just release the 28 pages already.
These are the same exact people who, a few weeks ago, attacked Trump for saying that there would be enforcement of the law, if there is a law – like laws. Duh! I’m pro-life and I know that the people who are attacking Trump right now won’t actually be pro-life in a few months when they somehow think that they’re going to win the votes of urban leftist feminist women. The difference between them and Trump is that Trump has common sense enough to know that these women will NEVER vote for ANY Republican, so work on turning out more people who aren’t voting right now: MEN and WORKING people!
Just consider that 11 to 20 million illegal 3rd world immigrants, if amnestied and given citizenship aren’t going to be voting for pro-life, fiscally conservative Republicans.
They’re going to be corralled into becoming an enormous voting bloc for the Democrats who will promise them the most free stuff. Pols like Luis Guttierrez and Jan Schackowsky will be their heroes.
Maybe that’s why Ann Coulter said that she didn’t care if Donald Trump personally performed abortions in the White House, as long as he would close the borders and evict the illegal aliens.
And BTW, Grant Noble, I realize it is not a significant issue up there in rarified Lake Forest, but immigration is a social issue – and one that has become a pivotal one among those of us who reside in less elegant places and are not in the Barron’s Weekly investor class.