Conversation
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Make. Him. Cut. A. Check.
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There’s something that hasn’t been said about Trump’s illegal, self-promoting ads, which until now he has paid for with millions in taxpayer dollars stolen from — among other things — funds for fallen officers.While a few Republicans — John Kennedy, Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, even John Thune — have publicly scolded that the ads should be paid for with his own money, they haven’t said something more obvious. Republicans are fighting to defend Senate seats in ruby red states, including Texas, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Yet, first, Trump delayed spending his enormous war chest until September. Partly as a result (and partly because PACs have to pay higher advertising rates), the GOP is spending more but not necessarily getting more TV time.
And after that — after not doing basic things to try to preserve Republican majorities endangered by Trump’s own unpopularity — once he did start spending, he also unrolled a campaign ad that flamboyantly chose not to spend his own money — but instead to steal from taxpayers. And he put his increasingly unpopular mug at the center.
Worse still, Trump rolled that out to football games, forcing the entire country to watch them.
It is dumb advertising strategy. Counterproductive. But it’s also a giant insult to Republicans trying win elections, that Trump is looking for narcissistic tribute when that’s the worst possible thing he could do to their campaigns.
And so I don’t think it was Jamie Raskin’s letter observing that the ads are a crime or Patty Murray and Chris Murphy’s letter demanding answers or Adam Schiff’s videos that caused Trump to claim he will pay for the ads.
Whatever the public GOP criticism of this propaganda from Republicans, I imagine the private outrage has been far louder.
And so Trump said he will pay for the ads himself, from his PAC.
But thus far, this only covers future ads and anonymous cowards at the White House won’t commit to the obvious remedy: Reimbursing taxpayers (and, better, yet, firing those who participated in this crime).
A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Trump’s commitment covered future ads. The official defended the propriety of the ads that already ran and did not say whether Trump would reimburse the government.
Trump is capitulating to someone and that someone is not us and there’s no reason not to redouble the pressure, most importantly because forcing Trump to pay taxpayers back for his stolen money would be a critical precedent going forward. Indeed, restitution is precisely what Murray (who could become Appropriations Chair if Dems win the Senate thanks to Trump’s obstinance) and Murphy demanded.
The American people deserve answers about how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself—while doing nothing to help them afford health care or housing. These ads need to immediately come off the air, taxpayers need to be paid back for this theft, and everyone responsible needs to be held accountable for this corrupt and illegal propaganda.
Republican pressure has forced Trump to stop ostentatiously spending money he stole from taxpayers, millions of dollars, but still one of the smallest pot of funds he has looted.
It’s not enough.
Make him cut a check to pay back taxpayers.
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