Donald Trump’s Crossover Appeal

Jonah Goldberg argues that Donald Trump is no conservative–and he is disappointed in conservatives who support him.

He singles out my Breitbart colleague John Nolte, who has tweeted effusive praise of the way Trump confronts the media.

I wish Goldberg had noted some of Nolte’s other writing, expressing skepticism of Trump’s positions. The argument Nolte is making, to borrow a phrase from Bill Kristol, is less “pro-Trump” than “anti-anti-Trump.”

But let us assume that Goldberg is correct–that Trump is no conservative. Would it follow, then, that it would be better to let a Democrat win than to see a President Trump?

Presumably not–unless Trump’s ego is a bigger threat to our Constitution than Obama’s power grabs.

Yet there would likely be more opposition to a President Trump than to Obama–partly because some conservatives dislike him. The media would also re-discover their “integrity.”

It seems apparent that a President Trump is, at least, a real possibility. The reason is not just his huge lead in GOP polls, but also his growing cross-party appeal.

In recent days I have been approached by several liberal friends–not particularly political people–who disagree with me on everything, but like Trump. And not just in that oh-I-could-vote-for-Jeb-Bush kind of way, which is really just another way to say they dislike Republicans.

They are serious.

The evidence is largely (though not entirely) anecdotal. Still, what resonates with some liberals is the idea that Trump can beat a “broken” system. (They prefer Bernie Sanders’s ideas, but don’t believe he can win.)

Is it possible Trump may do what no Republican in 30 years has managed, and win with Democrat votes?

If so, perhaps conservatives who dislike him should not give up on the movement, but seize the opportunity to back stronger conservative leaders in Congress to keep Trump in check.