Donald Trump hasn't been telling the truth about his record on policy issues, Club for Growth President David McIntosh said Monday, explaining the conservative organization's decision to
launch a massive ad campaign against the controversial GOP frontrunner.
"What has to be done is tell the truth about his record, and he's certainly not doing it," the former Indiana congressman told
MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program, claiming that Trump has for years shown his liberal leanings on topics such as tax increases, healthcare, and eminent domain.
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"His trade policy comes straight out of the union playbook," McIntosh continued, admitting that the late Ronald Reagan changed his stance over the years as well.
"The difference is, and Ronald Reagan put it this way, the Democratic Party changed and he stayed the same," McIntosh said. "In this case, Trump did change in order to run in the Republican Party...it's the fact that he relies on the government to do and tell businesses how to run their businesses."
McIntosh noted that the Republican Party is frustrated with Washington leaders who said they would stop President Barack Obama, and that hasn't happened.
"It's hard to stand up to the president of the other party," said McIntosh. "If you got good leadership, you can get it done," noting that House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has not been effective.
Panel guest John Heilemann commented that Trump has said that he's under attack from the Club for Growth because he refused its attempts to get him to write a million-dollar check, but McIntosh said the group has actually been criticizing the real estate mogul's tax and trade policies for four years.
"First of all, it makes sense if he's a conservative he should be giving money to the Club for Growth," said McIntosh, claiming that after Trump and group officials met, the New York billionaire said he wanted to donate some money, and to send him a letter.
The Club for Growth does have two candidates it likes for "staying in the hunt": Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, both of whom have got "great records," McIntosh said.
But the group is mixed on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who does have a strong record of lowering taxes and reducing the side of government, said McIntosh, but the club is concerned about his support of Common Core educational standards.
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Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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