Donald Trump may be one of the most controversial candidates running in the 2016 presidential election. Former VP presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin offered her endorsement of Trump; Conservative media talk show host giant Rush Limbaugh is endorsing Trump, even some religious leaders are supporting Trump. But Glenn Beck, another conservative talk show host giant, and over 20 other fairly well-known conservative talking heads are in the opposite camp, going as far as expressing their views in an editorial in the conservative magazine called, "National Review" with an article entitled "Against Trump."
Glenn Beck posted a rather lengthy question on Facebook back in August in which he admitted that he couldn't understand why many "big names" in the Republican establishment were supporting Donald Trump for president. Beck begins by explaining that Trump seems to be saying all the right things that many in the Republican base want to hear. Then Glenn Beck goes on to point out inconsistencies that he sees:
"Here is what I don't understand: He is part of the problem when he by his own admission, buys politicians; he said he identifies his 'policies more as a democrat'; he makes President Obama look truly humble; he was very pro abortion until very recently; he still says 'don't defund planned parenthood'; he is pro 'assault weapon ban'; he is in favor of a wealth tax that would just 'take money out of people's bank accounts'; he is for boots on the ground in Iraq and 'taking the oil' from the Iraqi people; he is a progressive 'republican'; he says single payer health care works; he said he would give people more than just Obama care; the First Lady would be the first to have posed nude in lesbian porno shots; he said that he keeps all the bibles he is given in a 'special place' outside the city - and he only goes to church on Christmas and Easter; he is generally not a likable guy; he has around 16% favorability with Hispanics and he has gone bankrupt 4 times. This is an honest question. I really want to understand. Why are big name 'conservatives' supporting him?"
One of those big names, Sean Hannity, was very quick to respond to that question. Hannity admitted at the time that he wasn't really endorsing Trump. At least not yet. He's apparently waiting to see what happens during the Iowa Caucus on February 1. But as for at leat one key reason he appears to be leaning in the direction of supporting Donald Trump, Hannity said that Trump is, "refreshingly honest" in his willingness to admit, "what we all know" where the issue of buying politicians was concerned.
As for Rush Limbaugh, he apparently admires Trump's ability to stand up for himself, not back down, and willingness to admit to the truth. He also seems to admire Donald Trump because, "Trump has to date rejected financial support from wealthy donors, saying he does not want to owe them if he gets into office."
Though there are some rather detailed accusations in the "National Review" as to why the conservatives against Trump won't offer their support, the overall message seems to be, "He has shown impressive gut level skill as a campaigner. But he is not deserving of conservative support in the caucuses and primaries. Trump is a philosophically unmoored political opportunist who would trash the broad conservative ideological consensus within the GOP in favor of a free-floating populism with strong-man overtones."
Trump tweeted his response to the review on Thursday: "National Review is a failing publication that has lost its way. Its circulation is way down with its influence being at an all time low. Sad!"
