Extortion: Trump Demands A Cut Of Every GOP Fundraiser That Uses His Name
Nice campaign. Be a shame is something bad happens to it...
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It seems like just yesterday I was lamenting laughing at the fundraising troubles of the House GOP. Oh wait, it was yesterday! Mike Johnson’s rookie status is taking a toll and the money is just not rolling in like it needs to. Meanwhile, Democrats are hauling in cash hand over fist because voters are sick and fucking tired of Republicans.
Well, get ready to lament laugh a little louder today because, I shit you not, Donald Trump is demanding money from Republican fundraising:
In a letter received by Republican digital vendors this week, the Trump campaign is asking for down-ballot candidates who use his name, image and likeness in fundraising appeals to give at least 5 percent of the proceeds to the campaign.
“Beginning tomorrow, we ask that all candidates and committees who choose to use President Trump’s name, image, and likeness split a minimum of 5% of all fundraising solicitations to Trump National Committee JFC. This includes but is not limited to sending to the house file, prospecting vendors, and advertising,” Trump co-campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita wrote in the letter, which is dated April 15.
“I am the leader of the party, the presumptive nominee, and you are not allowed to use my image. Unless you pay me. A lot. Or else…”
Sounds an awful lot like extortion, doesn’t it? And if you pay more than the tithe Trump is demanding, he will look upon you with great favor. Also sounds like something a cult leader would tell his flock of rubes.
Now, it’s fair for Trump to put some restrictions on campaigns when it comes to their fundraising:
But in the letter, Wiles and LaCivita reiterated their request that Republicans “avoid” using certain “language and tactics” while using Trump’s name, image and likeness.
The letter, for example, asks that candidates not speak “on behalf of President Trump,” “mention of the President’s family without their consent or the consent of the campaign,” or [impersonate] President Trump or his campaign.”
That is perfectly reasonable. No, seriously. From a strictly practical point of view, you want control over how your name and image are being used within your own party. Especially knowing that your party is filled with fucking psychotics.
Kari Lake just advocated for domestic terrorism in the run-up to the election. While Trump is 100% on board with this, he probably doesn’t want to advertise it too loudly. He also probably doesn’t want the real bible-thumping misogynists running around telling people that Donald Trump is going to ban abortion the first day he’s president.
So Trump is exerting control over the party to avoid damage by the imbeciles who populate the GOP. At long last, Trump has figured out that words have consequences and he really wants to be re-elected to avoid going to prison for the rest of his life.
Which, of course, is why he is now squeezing down-ballot Republicans for money which is very different than just putting restrictions on them. Trump’s fundraising has not been great lately. He’s spent every day of the last eight years demanding money from his cult with multiple texts, emails, and fliers in the mail. Give me money. Give. Me. Money. GIVE ME MONEY! GIVE ME EVERY FUCKING PENNY YOU HAVE!
And they’re tired of it. And him. How much money can you give to a losing loser who keeps losing?
Trump has already plundered the RNC, leaving little to nothing for down-ballot races. At the same time, WinRed, the Trump-created fundraising site all Republicans must use, skims millions off the top. Now Trump is demanding even more of the GOP’s money to feed both his immense legal bills and insatiable greed.
And they’ll do it, too. Republicans will have no choice because Trump will punish them if they don’t. He doesn’t care if he has a friendly House or Senate when he’s president. The only thing he cares about is getting elected so he can put a stop to the criminal cases against him. After that, he plans to run America like a dictator anyway so who cares if Congress is Democratic or Republican? He’s going to have his enemies arrested and rule by fiat. He just has to get across the finish line and pillaging his own party is the only way he knows how to do that.
Consider, though, what happens if (when) Trump loses in November. He will have crippled the Republican Party in his desperate bid to avoid prison, leaving them weakened and vulnerable in an election they were already facing an uphill battle. A cornered animal is at its most dangerous. We just never considered Trump might be the most dangerous to the GOP. Ha. Ha. Ha.
There are 200 days until the 2024 election. Vote blue like your life depends on it.
“He will have crippled the Republican Party in his desperate bid to avoid prison, leaving them weakened and vulnerable in an election they were already facing an uphill battle.”
Yeah. And?
Not seeing a problem here.
He isn’t going to care if he has a favorable House or Senate because HE IS GOING TO DECLARE HIMSELF DICTATOR FOR LIFE. #VoteBlue, because your life surely depends on it!