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by Rod D. Martin
June 16, 2015
The Republican Establishment wants to write him off as “not serious,” “a clown,” anything but a real threat.
But Donald Trump’s candidacy is very real indeed.
Trump is smart, media savvy and a brilliant negotiator. He’s amassed a $9 billion fortune through precisely those skills, and spent much of that time outsmarting wildly successful politicians, starting with Ed Koch. He’s been contemplating this for 16 years, and he can dig more change out of his couch than the rest of the field combined can raise.
It’s that last bit more than anything else that bears watching. Trump can self-fund a primary campaign on a grander scale than any conceivable opponent. Money doesn’t equal victory, but the lack of it usually equals defeat. And Trump is not limited to his own pocketbook. Wealthy businesspeople across the country may suddenly find the need to support their old friend and associate, or at least to ensure that they continuing having the opportunity to do business with him. There are a lot of people who can’t afford to be on his bad side.
Clearly the Republican Establishment hasn’t figured that out. They are doing everything they can to insult and humiliate the man.
That’s a mistake. The same money that can make him a powerhouse in the primaries can make him a spoiler in November. In 1992, Ross Perot took 19% of the vote, nearly all of which came out of George Bush’s hide. Bill Clinton was headed to a big loss. Perot made his victory possible.
Waving a red flag in front of this bull is foolish. Attack his positions, but keep it in bounds. Below the belt could cost more than its worth.
Of course, the principal reason the Beltway guys hate Trump is that he hates them. He’s brash, he’s vocal, and he absolutely can’t be corralled or controlled.
That is exactly why he could gain a lot of traction. It’s not just the populism. It is the visceral disgust across America not only with the very GOP Establishment Trump assaults. People are desperately tired of politicians who can’t be pinned down and who don’t keep their word. But you never have to wonder what Donald Trump thinks, and he’d rather chop off his finger than sugar coat anything.
That could catch fire. For a time it did for Chris Christie. In many quarters it has for Ted Cruz. But no one does it like The Donald.
In any case, yes, for those asking: Donald Trump is no joke. Don’t underestimate him.
UPDATE: Erick Erickson on “Why Donald Trump Matters“.
Rod is one of our nation’s leading minds. He’s smart, original, and very committed—a combination that one rarely finds.
Rod Martin and [former Howard Dean campaign manager] Joe Trippi are America’s two foremost experts on online politics.
Rod Martin is a Reaganite-Thatcherite conservative…[and] a man who has spent much of his life ministering to and working for the benefit of others. I know Rod as an advocate for freedom, a leader who understands the real changes we need in Washington, and who has the drive and ability to make those changes happen.
Rod Martin is the kind of dynamic leader who has the knowledge, ability and experience to lead us successfully into the 21st Century. His vision for America is compelling.
Rod Martin literally wrote the book on excellence. Humble yet brilliant, a man of love and compassion, with penetrating clarity he illuminates the world around us, and we are both stirred and enlightened.
Rod Martin is a born leader and an outstanding political mind. Anyone who takes him on is going to have a serious fight on their hands.
Rod Martin is a man of uncommon vision and character. Ever since I first worked alongside Rod in the early days of PayPal, I’ve been struck by his powerful vision for the future. Rod understands the intersection of technology, politics and culture in a way that few others do.
Rod Martin wears with uncommon grace an uncanny ability to link his vigorous faith to the practical challenges of both the business world and the political arena. Yet the respect he shows for others carries a warmth and modesty that are both too rare among those who are strong advocates of feisty positions.
America badly needs more leaders who really get the future. We need more Rod Martins.
Rod Martin is a modern day philosopher-statesman. He is a capitalist intellectual, a conservative iconoclast, a gentle adversary and a kind prophet. He inspires us towards a fresh national vision built upon the original founding principles.
Rod Martin is not only effective and efficient, but he is also perceptive, wise and gracious. He gets things done. He is a great friend and a great ally.
Rod is one of the sharpest, most gracious men I know, and one of the most gifted political thinkers today. His ability to analyze issues and communicate thoughtful insights on them have earned him the respect of people across the political spectrum.
I am proud to have been Rod Martin’s friend for a quarter century, and I can tell you that he is one of the finest men and most outstanding leaders in our church and in our country today. He has a knack for turning everything he touches to success.
Rod Martin is a cornucopian entrepreneur and eutropic thinker whose influence radiates through an array of companies, institutions, movements and churches. A renaissance American, he is also a prolific friend of freedom and faith around the globe.
If Rod Martin represents the next generation of leaders, America has nothing to worry about.
A leader and a servant, in public life and in private, Rod Martin strides at the top of his profession, and has nowhere to go but up. He is in the truest sense of the word ‘outstanding’.
Rod Martin is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished thought leaders today. He is a wonderful mentor, a humble role model, and a deep inspiration for the next generation of scientific innovators and entrepreneurs.
Rod’s achievements pale beside his character and his brilliance. He sees what others can’t. He leads when others won’t.
Rod Martin is one of America’s finest young minds.
