http://www.attn.com/stories/5575/donald-trump-policy-flip-flopsMind-Blowing: Donald Trump Flip-Flops on Key QuestionsRepublican frontrunner Donald Trump hasn't always been the faithful (and often bigoted) conservative he portrays to his base.
In fact, one video surprisingly produced by the conservative organization ForAmerica compiles footage of Trump's biggest political flip-flops, from his stances on healthcare and abortion rights, to immigration and Hillary Clinton.
(Video at source)
1. Healthcare
Guy Benson ✔ @guypbenson
"Conservative" Trump fans informing me gov't-funded universal healthcare=totes fine because it'll be private care. Medicare for all!
8:07 PM - 27 Sep 2015
At the first GOP debate in August of 2015, Trump was asked about single-payer healthcare, to which the candidate responded that it simply wouldn't work in the United States:
"As far as single payer, it works in Canada. It could have worked in a different age. What I'd like to see is a private system without the artificial lines around every state."
But as late as September 2015, Donald Trump proposed universal healthcare in an interview on CBS News.
"There's many different ways, by the way. Everybody's got to be covered," Trump said. "This is an un-Republican thing for me to say because a lot of times they say, 'No, no, the lower 25 percent that can't afford private.' I am going to take care of everybody. I don't care if it costs me votes or not. Everybody's going to be taken care of much better than they're taken care of now." He proposed funding universal health care through "[making] a deal with existing hospitals."
2. Abortion
In 1999, Trump identified himself as "very pro-choice," and he supported partial-birth abortions. Trump claimed to "hate the concept of abortions," but believed choice was important.
A year later, although he still identified as pro-choice, Trump had switched positions on partial-birth abortions, stating the following:
"I support a woman’s right to choose, but I am uncomfortable with the procedures. When Tim Russert asked me on Meet the Press if I would ban partial-birth abortion, my pro-choice instincts led me to say no. After the show, I consulted two doctors I respect and, upon learning more about this procedure, I have concluded that I would support a ban."
In 2011, as Trump began considering a run at the presidency, he declared himself firmly pro-life after hearing different personal stories, in a fairly obvious attempt to court evangelical voters. "One thing about me, I'm a very honorable guy. I'm pro-life, but I changed my view a number of years ago," Trump said in a CBN interview, and recounted different personal stories that had convinced him.
3. Hillary Clinton
Of all the candidates in the GOP field, Trump has emerged as one of Clinton's most vocal critics — going after everything from her work as Secretary of State to her marriage, and even the fact that she used the restroom at a Democratic debate.
In the past however, Trump identified the Democratic front-runner not only as a good friend, but someone he trusted to make a deal with Iran. In a 2007 interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Trump said, "Hillary’s always surrounded herself with very good people. I think Hillary would do a good job.” In a 2008 blog post, he wrote that he thought Clinton would "make a great president or vice-president."
4. Guns
Brad Thor ✔ @BradThor
Looking forward to all Trump hotels/resorts becoming gun-friendly tomorrow + all Trump CCW employees being able to carry at work. #2A #CNBC
9:52 PM - 28 Oct 2015
Today, Trump has identified himself as among the most vocal gun control opponents in the current field, enthusiastically suggesting making Trump resorts and offices gun-friendly zones. Trump criticized gun-free zones at the CNBC debate in October. "The gun-free zones are target practice for the sickos and for the mentally ill," Trump said at the debate. "They look for gun-free zones."
His current gun plan details a national right to concealed carry and criticizes “opponents of gun rights” for using so-called "scary sounding phrases like ‘assault weapons,’ ‘military-style weapons,’ and ‘high capacity magazines.'"
But in his book, "The America We Deserve," published in 2000, Trump supported the ban on assault weapons and criticized Republicans who "walked the NRA line." His stance wasn't exactly pro-gun control, but it was a far-cry from his current stance on guns. Here's an excerpt:
"It’s often argued that the American murder rate is high because guns are more available here than in other countries. Democrats want to confiscate all guns, which is a dumb idea because only the law-abiding citizens would turn in their guns and the bad guys would be the only ones left armed. The Republicans walk the NRA line and refuse even limited restrictions."
5. Taxation and Democratic economics
More recently, Trump has emerged supporting tax cuts for the rich, not raising the minimum wage, appointing Wall Street officials to run the economy, and other fiscally conservative policies associated with the Republican party.
But in a 2004 interview with Wolf Blitzer, Trump said, "I've been around a long time. And it just seems the economy does better under the Democrats than under Republicans."
"But certainly we had some very good economies under Democrats, as well as Republicans," he continued. "But we've had some pretty bad disaster under the Republicans." In 1999, Trump also offered proposals to dramatically raise taxes on the rich.
6. Immigration
Trump arguably rose to prominence when, this summer, he notoriously vilified Mexican immigrants as "criminals" and "rapists," and went on to release a sweeping immigration plan fixated on "[taking] the bad ones and [getting] them the hell out." Trump's campaign has consistently dehumanized Mexican immigrants, and his proposed plan would result in mass deportation, and, somehow, a massive wall separating Mexico from the United States.
However, back in August 2013, Trump met with illegal immigration activists who he claimed "convinced him" to support immigration reform. In a Fox interview detailed in ForAmerica's video, Trump appeared highly sympathetic toward immigrants.
"People who have been here for years, hard workers [who] have good jobs, they're supporting the family — it's very, very tough to just say you have to leave," he said. "How do you throw someone out who's been in this country for 20 years?"
7. The Republican Party
Dan Joseph @DanJoseph78
""I really believe the Republicans are just too crazy, right?" - Donald Trump #tcot
6:55 PM - 11 Jun 2015
In 2004, Trump not only identified "more as Democrat" and praised Democratic economic policies, but also, in 1999, claimed he "really" believed "the Republicans are just too crazy right" in an NBC "Meet the Press" interview. Trump added that his liberal New York origins had shaped his political values.
With the exception of occasional threats to run as an Independent should he fail to win the Republican nomination, Trump spent 2015 campaigning not only as a passionate Republican, but as a far-right conservative.
