I hope you're sitting down, folks: We've just learned that Donald Trump isn't pure.
Facing a prospective tab of more than $1 billion to finance a general-election run for the White House, Donald Trump reversed course Wednesday and said he would actively raise money to ensure his campaign has the resources to compete with Hillary Clinton’s fundraising juggernaut.
His campaign also is beginning to work with the Republican National Committee to set up a joint fundraising committee ....
But surely this will be an army of Davids -- ordinary citizens making small contributions of their hard-earned pay. Right?
Mr. Trump, who had largely self-financed his successful primary run, added that he would create a “world-class finance organization.” The campaign will tap his expansive personal Rolodex and a new base of supporters who aren’t on party rolls, two Trump advisers said....
Several wealthy donors have already said they would back him if he became the nominee, and billionaire Home Depot Inc. co-founder Ken Langone said Wednesday he was “all in” for Mr. Trump. In addition, the candidate has said his wealthy friends are prepared to cut checks.
The super PAC backing Mr. Trump, meanwhile, is also seeking to ramp up its fundraising operation. Eric Beach, Great America PAC’s fundraiser, said super PAC officials have received about 75 calls, mostly from donors, since Mr. Cruz exited the race Tuesday evening. The group plans to add dozens of staffers and announce new members of its finance committee in the next weeks.
But ... but ... but just a week ago, in "A Liberal Case for Donald Trump," Salon #BernieOrBuster Walker Bragman assured us that Trump is the Republican Bernie Sanders, and that Trump's election will cause the plutocracy to tremble!
Like Sanders, Trump is neither beholden to special interests, nor coordinating with a Super PAC. This alone sets him apart from the other candidates in the race --especially Hillary Clinton. If he wins the presidency, it will send shock waves through our political system, much like what would happen if Bernie were elected....
Trump’s candidacy is further served by the fact that we do not have publicly financed elections, and by our corporate, ratings-obsessed mainstream media. He has a personality for prime time, and enough money to run himself in spite of the powers lined up against him....
Excusing the fact that Trump, himself, is a corporate interest, he would shake the current system to its core -- which needs to happen.
And now, even if Trump wins, that won't happen! I'm crestfallen!
This really is the day America lost its innocence.
Crossposted at No More Mister Nice Blog
