June 18, 2015

Donald J. Trump Exposes Club for Growth’s Shakedown Attempt

Trump Calls for Immediate Resignation of Club President David McIntosh

(New York, NY) June 18th, 2015— Today, Donald J. Trump is calling for the immediate resignation of Club for Growth President David McIntosh after a failed attempt to secure $1 million dollars from Mr. Trump.
 
In calling for Mr. McIntosh’s immediate resignation, Mr. Trump says, “I am appalled by Mr. McIntosh’s shameless pandering and blatant shakedown attempt, exposing him and the Club for Growth as a fraud.”
 
Mr. McIntosh met with Mr. Trump and his representatives in New York City at Trump Tower on May 26th. During that meeting he praised Mr. Trump for his business success and talked about the need for someone like Mr. Trump to be in Washington, D.C. He then talked about the Club for Growth and what it is doing. The meeting lasted approximately 30 minutes.
 
One week later, Mr. Trump and political advisor Corey Lewandowski (now campaign manager) received letters (attached) from Mr. McIntosh requesting $1 million dollars of financial support for the Club for Growth. The letter to Mr. Trump states, “As we both know, it is business owners who create jobs- not the government.”

Less than fourteen days after sending his request for the $1 million, and after Mr. Trump did not give money to the Club for Growth and instead declared his candidacy, Mr. McIntosh attacked Mr. Trump, was critical of his candidacy, and said, “It would be unfortunate if (Mr. Trump) takes away a spot at even one Republican debate.”  
 
Lewandowski stated, “The Club for Growth is the worst of the two-faced hypocrisy of Washington.”
 
This exemplifies everything that is wrong with politics in our country. Club for Growth claims to fight for conservative causes and support Republican candidates who oppose politics as usual, and apparently will say anything in an effort to raise funds. This unfortunate incident is representative of the corruption that persists in Washington, D.C., and politics in general, in the United States.

Press Contact:
Hope Hicks

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Letters from Club for Growth [PDF]

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Club for Growth PAC
June 16th, 2015

Why Donald Trump Should Not Be Taken Seriously as a GOP Candidate and Should Not Be Included in the GOP Debates

Washington, DC – The Club for Growth PAC released the following statement after Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president:

“Donald Trump is a great entertainer and developer, but his ideas of what to do as president won’t grow the economy,” said Club for Growth President David McIntosh. “The Club for Growth has issued very substantive and detailed white papers on the records of the major announced Republican candidates for president (see here).  There is no need to do a white paper on Donald Trump.  He is not a serious Republican candidate, and many of his positions make him better suited to take on Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. It would also be unfortunate if he takes away a spot at even one Republican debate. The 2016 Republican presidential field is already the most pro-growth in recent history, with great ideas for cutting taxes, repealing Obamacare and replacing it with patient-centered, free market reforms, and moving the country forward with free trade.”

Donald Trump, in his own words…

Trump on Health Care “We must have universal healthcare,” Trump wrote in his book, “I’m a conservative on most issues but a liberal on this one.” In an interview earlier this year he continued to applaud single payer health care systems used in other countries.

Trump on Taxes “I would impose a one-time, 14.25% tax on individuals and trusts with a net worth over $10 million,” Trump said. “For individuals, net worth would be calculated minus the value of their principal residence. That would raise $5.7 trillion in new revenue, which we would use to pay off the entire national debt.”

Trump on Trade Trump has called for “a 20% tax for importing goods,” and a “Twenty-five percent tax on China, unless they behave.”

Trump on Eminent Domain When asked about the 2005 case Kelo v. City of New London, that allowed economic development to be a legitimate reason for government to exercise eminent domain, Trump told Fox News (7/19/05), “I happen to agree with it 100 percent.” Trump was unsuccessful in his own attempt to have officials in New Jersey use eminent domain to condemn a home on property he wanted to buy for part of his hotel and casino.

The Club for Growth is the nation’s leading group promoting economic freedom through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, and education. 

Paid for by Club for Growth PAC and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.