Trump attacks Cruz on immigration, faces revolt from GOP magazine
The conservative journal National Review is launching a full-throated assault on Donald Trump’s credentials as a conservative, just as Trump turns his fire on his closest Republican presidential rival, accusing Ted Cruz of being soft on immigration.
The magazine that credits itself with founding the modern conservative movement, National Review is out with a new issue with “Against Trump” emblazoned on the cover. Inside, 22 conservatives contend that Trump isn’t a true conservative and that he’s a disaster for the party.
“These contributors have many differences of opinion among themselves, but all agree that Trump is not a conservative, he is a mistake for the Republican Party, and he is the wrong man to pick up the pieces after the wreckage of the Obama years,” editor Rich Lowry said, warning against the “siren song” of Trump.
The contributors include Glenn Beck, former U.S. Attorneys General Edwin Meese and Michael Mukasey, columnist Cal Thomas, novelist Mark Helprin, Cato Institute executive vice president David Boaz and Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“These are not the ideas of a small-government conservative who understands markets,” Club for Growth president David McIntosh writes of Trump. “They are, instead, the ramblings of a liberal wannabe strongman who will use and abuse the power of the federal government to impose his ideas on the country.”
Trump responded via Twitter, calling the magazine a “failing publication” that would shame its founder, William F. Buckley.
National Review is a failing publication that has lost it's way. It's circulation is way down w its influence being at an all time low. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2016The assault came as Trump — who announced the “coveted endorsement” of “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson — released two new ads, including a TV spot that accuses his closest rival, Sen. Ted Cruz, of being weak on immigration. Cruz, in an interview with ABC News, accused Trump of latching onto the issue for political gain.
Trump also released a radio spot, featuring Jerry Falwell Jr. introducing him this week at Liberty University.
Falwell did not formally endorse Trump, but lavished praise on the real estate magnate, saying he sees “a lot of parallels between my father and Donald Trump.”
The radio ad will play in Iowa — where Trump is courting evangelicals — and in South Carolina. The TV spot will air in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Trump’s campaign said.
This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Trump attacks Cruz on immigration, faces revolt from GOP magazine."