The wealthy Republicans who want to oust Trump in November's election
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jimmy Tosh, who runs a multi-million dollar hog and grain farm in Tennessee, is a lifelong Republican. He is pro-gun, supports lower taxes and agrees with most of Republican President Donald Trump's agenda.
He is also spending his money to help defeat Trump in November's election.
"I agree with 80% of the things he does; I just cannot stand a liar," Tosh, 70, said of Trump.
Tosh is one of a growing number of wealthy conservative Americans who say Trump is a threat to democracy and the long-term health of the Republican Party. They are actively supporting his Democratic opponent in the Nov. 3 vote, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Several billionaire and millionaire donors to The Lincoln Project, the most prominent of Republican-backed groups opposing Trump's re-election, told Reuters that elected Republicans should also be punished for enabling him. Some even support the ouster of vulnerable Republican senators to hand control of the chamber to Democrats.
Their money has fueled an unprecedented campaign from members of a sitting president's own party to oust him from office. This is a sign that Trump has alienated some Republicans, most recently with his response to the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests over police brutality against Black Americans.
The ultimate impact of these actions remains to be seen in a country so deeply polarized. The "Never Trump" Republicans failed to stop his ascent in 2016 and became marginal figures as Trump came to dominate the party during his presidency. But this year could be different, some strategists from both parties said.
"The distinction in 2020 that we didn't see in 2016 is the amount of money backing their efforts and their size," said Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist and a spokesperson for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.
"The number of people willing to go public about Trump and put serious money behind beating him -- I don't think we've seen an effort on this scale."
Besides The Lincoln Project, several Republican-backed groups have been formed in recent months to support Biden including 43 Alumni for Biden, a super PAC involving hundreds of officials who served in Republican President George W. Bush's administration, and a coalition of former Republican national security officials.
Others are skeptical, noting that Trump is vastly outraising and outspending the Never Trump groups and still enjoys nearly 90% support among Republicans. In June alone, Trump's campaign raised $55.2 million, compared to the $20 million that The Lincoln Project has raised since its formation in December.
Yet in a close election, even peeling away a sliver of wavering Republicans and some independents could make a difference, analysts said.
Tosh, who has given $11,000 to The Lincoln Project after seeing one of their ads attacking Trump, said he might give to other Republican-led groups too.
"I made the decision I will not support a Republican candidate in an election until Trump is gone," he said.
Other top individual donors to The Lincoln Project include Christy Walton, the Walmart heiress who has mainly given to Democratic candidates in recent years; hedge fund billionaire Andy Redleaf, who sits on the board of visitors at the conservative Federalist Society; and Sidney Jansma Jr., an oil and gas executive from Michigan and a frequent donor to Republican candidates and causes.
The Lincoln Project ads have attacked Trump over his response to economic and health crises and racial tensions, targeting wavering Trump voters and independents.
Democratic ad maker Jimmy Siegel who worked on Clinton's 2008 campaign, said some of the spots, viewed by millions, could be persuasive to "teetering" Republicans on the fence.
Erin Perrine, a Trump campaign spokeswoman, said of the anti-Trump groups: "This is the swamp – yet again – trying to take down the duly elected president of the United States." She said Trump's level of support among Republicans is "something any former president of any party could only dream of."
'REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE PUNISHED'
It is not just conservatives giving to the Republican anti-Trump groups. The Lincoln Project, for instance, is also receiving large sums from wealthy Democrats, filings with the Federal Election Commission show. Its biggest single donation in June was $1 million from hedge fund manager Stephen Mandel, a prolific Democratic donor.
Reed Galin, one of the group's founders who worked for Bush and the late Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, said Trump's bullying brand of politics is "not good for the party, and it's also bad for the country."
Redleaf, founder of Minnesota-based hedge fund Whitebox Advisors, said Biden will be the first Democratic presidential candidate he has voted for.
Readleaf, who calls himself a "conservative libertarian," has donated $35,000 to The Lincoln Project. He said he agreed with the group's push to also target Republican senators who face tough re-election battles in November.
Tosh said he has "mixed emotions."
"I've been a Republican all my life and want to stay Republican - but the Republican Party has to change after what it's done over the past three years."
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Tosh, who has given $11,000 to The Lincoln Project after seeing one of their ads attacking Trump, said he might give to other Republican-led groups too.
"I made the decision I will not support a Republican candidate in an election until Trump is gone," he said.
Speaking to Republicans I know, I can't remember a time when so many were refusing to support the nominee of their party.
Think any forever-trumpers here on NT will see the light? My bets are no....
My experience (of many, many years on Social Media sites) is that while there are a few exceptions, most users are not too bright.
What fucking light do you think you [see?][Removed for context]
I'm betting by posting your last comment that I knew something about it that you didn't. I'd say that put me up by two....
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Perhaps it's just perspective. I've no doubt you're seeing the same light many other Trump supporters are
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The left will crawl into bed with anyone it seems; even those they demean 24/7. Say or do something against Trump and you become a hero to the left.
Wonder if they have thought their position out? Agreeing with 80% if what Trump does, is better than disagreeing with 80% (and that is probably a very low percentage) of what Biden does. I am sure he will suffer buyer's remorse if Biden is elected. Throwing away millions to elect someone they will complain about and want removed from office even worse than Trump is the height of stupidity.
TDS crosses party lines. The Establishment can't stand anyone that bucks their system.
No, Trump Delusion Syndrome is fairly party specific...
Ha! I bet! LMAO Anything to sow dissension in the enemy to win an election. This is what politics has devolved into, though. What both parties need is leadership with a clear philosophy, visions, goals, and plans to accomplish those goals. We haven't seen that in a long, long, time. Trump had a lot of that, but no plan. Democrats, on the other hand, can't even figure out what it is they believe.
You should figure out how the quote function works.
Well, there are many of us poor white folk that have just had enough of the daily doldrums from anything and everything even remotely associated with the Trump.
Very strange phenomena, ever since the Trump slid down that escalator behind Melania, every breath of air seems as if were already used up by the MAGA mouth that never shuts up.