- Donald Trump
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Release on Bannon and Conway
August 17, 2016
“I have known Steve and Kellyanne both for many years. They are extremely capable, highly qualified people who love to win and know how to win,” said Mr. Trump. “I believe we’re adding some of the best talents in politics, with the experience and expertise needed to defeat Hillary Clinton in November and continue to share my message and vision to Make America Great Again. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to win this election, and ultimately become President because our country cannot afford four more years of the failed Obama-Clinton policies which have endangered our financial and physical security.”
These announcements come at a time of significant growth for Mr. Trump’s campaign, with the first major TV ad buy of the general election slated to start later this week and with additional top-flight operatives joining the movement on a near-daily basis.
Mr. Bannon, once recognized by Bloomberg Politics as the “most dangerous political operative in America,” will oversee the campaign staff and operations in addition to strategic oversight of major campaign initiatives in addition to working with Mr. Manafort. Mr. Bannon, who goes by Steve, holds a Masters in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Breitbart News, Mr. Bannon was an Officer in the U.S. Navy and also owned an investment bank that he sold to Societe Generale.
Ms. Conway, a highly sought-after pollster, will work on messaging and travel frequently with Mr. Trump, while working closely with Mr. Bannon and Mr. Manafort on all aspects of the campaign moving forward.
Paul Manafort, Campaign Chairman added, “It is imperative we continue to expand our team with top-tier talent. Steve and Kellyanne are respected professionals who believe in Mr. Trump and his message and will undoubtedly help take the campaign to new levels of success.”
REACTIONS
Hillary for America email
Aug. 17, 2016
subject: re: Trump's new advisor
---,
Donald Trump just promoted one of the most dangerous right-wing fringe attack artists out there to be the chief executive of his campaign: Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News.
This move makes it clear that Trump’s strategy going into the final weeks of the election will be not just to attack Hillary all day, every day, but to attack the very idea of the America we believe in. The idea that we ought to treat each other with decency rather than hatred. The idea that immigrants, and Muslims, and LGBT people, and everyone has a place in our country and deserves better than to be denigrated by their president. The idea that politics should be based on facts rather than discredited conspiracy theories. That's all up for grabs now.
If we fall behind Trump in August fundraising -- as we very well could -- their strategy just might work. And the consequences would go far beyond what we've seen in past elections. Can you chip in to make sure that doesn’t happen? When you do, we’ll send you a free sticker as a thank you for your support.
The money we raise this month will inform critical, make-or-break decisions about how many voters we can reach in September. We can guess what we’ll be up against: With Bannon as Trump’s new chief, we expect the airwaves to be inundated with the most disgusting attack ads you can imagine.
If we want to win, we have to fight back just as hard to make sure voters know the truth about Hillary -- and the truth about Trump.
We’re counting on you, Eric. Can you chip in right now? If we let them play dirty -- and win -- I know how much we’ll regret it:
Democratic National Convention
August 17, 2016
Here’s what people are saying about Trump’s campaign:
TIME: The hiring of Bannon suggests the pivot to a broadly appealing, conventional campaign will never happen. It may also herald the final rupture of the uneasy alliance between the Republican nominee and a party that could never quite tame or embrace him. “It’s a bad joke that keeps getting worse,” says an influential member of the Republican National Committee, who has long been skeptical of Trump’s strategy. “For the long-term good of the Republican Party, Reince Priebus and the RNC should cut ties with Trump and focus on U.S. Senate races.”
NEW YORKER: Day by day, news bulletin by news bulletin, the Trump campaign spirals to new depths of strategic confusion and moral chaos. . . he has made it clear that he will win or lose by doing it his way, by refusing to “pivot” or blandify his message and language.
CNN: The addition of Bannon -- known for his brass-knuckled demeanor and his website's sharp tone -- came hours after reports surfaced that Roger Ailes, the recently ousted head of Fox News, will begin to advise Trump as he prepares for the presidential debates. The influence of both men lays the groundwork for unleashing Trump this fall from the more traditional presidential candidate framework, which Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort's leadership was brought on to create. . . Instead of Manafort's attempts to make Trump a more traditional candidate, Bannon will take over as Trump's top adviser, giving Trump free rein to run as the outsider candidate who won the Republican primaries.
BLOOMBERG NEWS: Donald Trump's surprise move to hand the reins of his campaign to a right-wing firebrand was seen Wednesday as a formalized revival of his bare-knuckled, anti-establishment strategy and a rebuke to prominent Republican strategists who doubt its power to win the White House. . . The reaffirmation of a base-mobilization strategy, as opposed to reaching out to new constituencies, means Trump has "learned all the wrong lessons from the last few months," said Brian Walsh, a former spokesman for Senate Republican leaders.
THE ATLANTIC: The defense of violent police force within and against troubled black communities looks likely to be elevated by the Breitbartized Trump campaign to the top of its agenda. . . Down ballot Republicans could not fear worse.
WASHINGTON POST: But, the prospect of an even less-disciplined Trump who is even less loyal to or concerned about the national party which he is ostensibly leading will make the lives of down-ballot GOP incumbents and challengers hell over the next 83 days. The most difficult thing for Republicans trying to grapple with what Trump means for their own electoral prospects has always been his unpredictability. His staff moves early Wednesday morning just ensured he's going to get even less predictable in the race's closing stretch.
DONALD J. TRUMP ANNOUNCES MAJOR CAMPAIGN HIRES
Mr. Trump Appoints Stephen K. Bannon To Campaign CEO; Kellyanne Conway Promoted To Campaign Manager
(New York, NY) August 17th, 2016 – Donald J. Trump today announced that Breitbart News Executive Chairman Stephen K. Bannon has been appointed CEO, temporarily stepping down from his role with Breitbart News to work full-time on Mr. Trump’s campaign in a new position designed to bolster the business-like approach of Mr. Trump’s campaign. In addition, nationally respected pollster and Republican campaign strategist Kellyanne Conway, Founder and President of The Polling Company, Inc./WomanTrend, a privately held, woman-owned corporation, has been promoted to Campaign Manager. Paul Manafort will remain as Campaign Chairman and Chief Strategist.“I have known Steve and Kellyanne both for many years. They are extremely capable, highly qualified people who love to win and know how to win,” said Mr. Trump. “I believe we’re adding some of the best talents in politics, with the experience and expertise needed to defeat Hillary Clinton in November and continue to share my message and vision to Make America Great Again. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to win this election, and ultimately become President because our country cannot afford four more years of the failed Obama-Clinton policies which have endangered our financial and physical security.”
These announcements come at a time of significant growth for Mr. Trump’s campaign, with the first major TV ad buy of the general election slated to start later this week and with additional top-flight operatives joining the movement on a near-daily basis.
Mr. Bannon, once recognized by Bloomberg Politics as the “most dangerous political operative in America,” will oversee the campaign staff and operations in addition to strategic oversight of major campaign initiatives in addition to working with Mr. Manafort. Mr. Bannon, who goes by Steve, holds a Masters in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Breitbart News, Mr. Bannon was an Officer in the U.S. Navy and also owned an investment bank that he sold to Societe Generale.
Ms. Conway, a highly sought-after pollster, will work on messaging and travel frequently with Mr. Trump, while working closely with Mr. Bannon and Mr. Manafort on all aspects of the campaign moving forward.
Paul Manafort, Campaign Chairman added, “It is imperative we continue to expand our team with top-tier talent. Steve and Kellyanne are respected professionals who believe in Mr. Trump and his message and will undoubtedly help take the campaign to new levels of success.”
REACTIONS
Hillary for America email
Aug. 17, 2016
subject: re: Trump's new advisor
---,
Donald Trump just promoted one of the most dangerous right-wing fringe attack artists out there to be the chief executive of his campaign: Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News.
This move makes it clear that Trump’s strategy going into the final weeks of the election will be not just to attack Hillary all day, every day, but to attack the very idea of the America we believe in. The idea that we ought to treat each other with decency rather than hatred. The idea that immigrants, and Muslims, and LGBT people, and everyone has a place in our country and deserves better than to be denigrated by their president. The idea that politics should be based on facts rather than discredited conspiracy theories. That's all up for grabs now.
If we fall behind Trump in August fundraising -- as we very well could -- their strategy just might work. And the consequences would go far beyond what we've seen in past elections. Can you chip in to make sure that doesn’t happen? When you do, we’ll send you a free sticker as a thank you for your support.
The money we raise this month will inform critical, make-or-break decisions about how many voters we can reach in September. We can guess what we’ll be up against: With Bannon as Trump’s new chief, we expect the airwaves to be inundated with the most disgusting attack ads you can imagine.
If we want to win, we have to fight back just as hard to make sure voters know the truth about Hillary -- and the truth about Trump.
We’re counting on you, Eric. Can you chip in right now? If we let them play dirty -- and win -- I know how much we’ll regret it:
Democratic National Convention
August 17, 2016
Art of the Divisive
Out of Control Trump Doubles Down on Division
Today, Donald Trump’s campaign continued to veer into chaos, with Trump’s erratic temperament and unhinged management style becoming more and more apparent. Trump once again shuffled his campaign team and installed the CEO of a far- right wing website that peddles debunked conspiracy theories and divisive and offensive rhetoric. These erratic and bizarre moves by Trump are further evidence that he lacks the judgment and temperament to be president of the United States.Here’s what people are saying about Trump’s campaign:
TIME: The hiring of Bannon suggests the pivot to a broadly appealing, conventional campaign will never happen. It may also herald the final rupture of the uneasy alliance between the Republican nominee and a party that could never quite tame or embrace him. “It’s a bad joke that keeps getting worse,” says an influential member of the Republican National Committee, who has long been skeptical of Trump’s strategy. “For the long-term good of the Republican Party, Reince Priebus and the RNC should cut ties with Trump and focus on U.S. Senate races.”
NEW YORKER: Day by day, news bulletin by news bulletin, the Trump campaign spirals to new depths of strategic confusion and moral chaos. . . he has made it clear that he will win or lose by doing it his way, by refusing to “pivot” or blandify his message and language.
CNN: The addition of Bannon -- known for his brass-knuckled demeanor and his website's sharp tone -- came hours after reports surfaced that Roger Ailes, the recently ousted head of Fox News, will begin to advise Trump as he prepares for the presidential debates. The influence of both men lays the groundwork for unleashing Trump this fall from the more traditional presidential candidate framework, which Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort's leadership was brought on to create. . . Instead of Manafort's attempts to make Trump a more traditional candidate, Bannon will take over as Trump's top adviser, giving Trump free rein to run as the outsider candidate who won the Republican primaries.
BLOOMBERG NEWS: Donald Trump's surprise move to hand the reins of his campaign to a right-wing firebrand was seen Wednesday as a formalized revival of his bare-knuckled, anti-establishment strategy and a rebuke to prominent Republican strategists who doubt its power to win the White House. . . The reaffirmation of a base-mobilization strategy, as opposed to reaching out to new constituencies, means Trump has "learned all the wrong lessons from the last few months," said Brian Walsh, a former spokesman for Senate Republican leaders.
THE ATLANTIC: The defense of violent police force within and against troubled black communities looks likely to be elevated by the Breitbartized Trump campaign to the top of its agenda. . . Down ballot Republicans could not fear worse.
WASHINGTON POST: But, the prospect of an even less-disciplined Trump who is even less loyal to or concerned about the national party which he is ostensibly leading will make the lives of down-ballot GOP incumbents and challengers hell over the next 83 days. The most difficult thing for Republicans trying to grapple with what Trump means for their own electoral prospects has always been his unpredictability. His staff moves early Wednesday morning just ensured he's going to get even less predictable in the race's closing stretch.
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Copyright © 2016 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
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