For those readers who want to believe former President Trump is building a political movement, it worth examining his associates, including those he endorses. For example, Politico has showcased one of his latest and most full-throated endorsements, that of former aide and a candidate for the House, Max Miller:
Miller, 32, is the poster child of Trump’s post-impeachment retribution tour. In his mounting efforts to punish Republican apostates in next year’s midterms and to bolster his political sway for a potential run of his own in 2024, Trump has endorsed an array of supportive candidates in House, Senate and state-level races—but there’s nobody on the list like Miller. He’s not merely a loyalist—he’s a loyalist who worked on both Trump campaigns as well as in the White House and used proximity to the president to foster by all accounts an actual affinity and rapport. He’s not just one of Trump’s “Complete and Total” House endorsements—he was the first. And he’s pitted against one of the impeachment voters who galls Trump the most—in a state he won twice. While the statement that accompanied Trump’s late February endorsement called Miller “a wonderful person,” this rally on a sweltering summer Saturday marked a yet more full-throated and visual showing of his backing.
“An incredible patriot,” Trump said, “who I know very well.”
Maybe not well enough, according to police records, court records and interviews with more than 60 people. Ranging from people who grew up with Miller in the affluent Cleveland inner suburb of Shaker Heights to those he worked with and for in the White House and on Trump’s campaigns—some of whom were granted anonymity because they fear retaliation from Miller, Trump or both—these people told me Miller can be a cocky bully with a quick-trigger temper. He has a record of speeding, underage drinking and disorderly conduct—documented charges from multiple jurisdictions that include a previously unreported charge in 2011 for driving under the influence that he subsequently pleaded down to a more minor offense.
Not all of Trump’s endorsements are of dubious personalities, but it’s worth noting his associations with Paul Manafort, Roger “ratfucker” Stone, Ray Cohn, and many others who have had charges brought against them, convictions, and pardons.
And even when the endorsee appears to be clean, they may be vulnerable in other ways. Susan Wright, recently running to replace her late husband Ron Wright in a special election, had little exposure to the electorate, and while she was initially the favorite, polls eventually showed her behind. Trump endorsed her and bought advertising in the sum of $100,000 for her at the end.
The point is that she was vulnerable, and if she wins, Trump would claimed the credit and then expect her to be loyal – or else. Similarly, Trump associates with those with a dubious pasts. Not that reformation or redemption is impossible for them, but the fact that he is drawn to them as a group suggests not that he’s redeeming them, but that he’s building a group that isn’t a movement so much as collection of dependents. He knows the accusations and convictions against them, and these constitute a fulcrum with which he can leverage support.
Such an approach doesn’t lead to an ideologically coherent political movement; it’s reminiscent of a mob boss and his fellow criminals.
So for those looking forward to a renaissance in American politics deriving from Trump, forget it. This is all about ego, enrichment and building power.
And Wright lost her special election, and by quite a bit, to fellow Republican Jake Elzey. So much for the power of the Trump endorsement. Long time readers may remember other Trump endorsees who’ve lost. There’s no magic touch in Trump; indeed, it may be a noir moment for a candidate to receive a Trump endorsement.
Which makes Steve Benen’s comment today interesting:
* In Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate race, most Republicans are desperate to curry favor with Donald Trump, but political consultant Craig Snyder (R) kicked off his candidacy this week, running as an anti-Trump Republican. Snyder, among other things, created a political action committee in 2016 to support Hillary Clinton.
Will the currying continue? What happens if this Snyder wins the Republican nomination?
