Jindal: Stop treating Trump like a conservative
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says he is not violating Ronald Reagan’s “11th Commandment” — thou shalt not attack a fellow Republican — by criticizing Donald Trump, because Trump is not a Republican.
{mosads}“I’m in compliance with the 11th Commandment,” Jindal said during the GOP primary debate on CNN on Wednesday. “I would tell my fellow Republicans, let’s stop treating Donald Trump like a Republican.”
Jindal has aimed repeated attacks at Trump, the GOP front-runner for the 2016 presidential nomination.
Jindal called Trump “a madman who must be stopped” and America’s “leading expert in bankruptcy.”
He added, “The reality is Hillary Clinton is gift-wrapping this election to us. They’re running their weakest candidate. They’ve got a socialist that is gaining on Hillary Clinton. Folks, you can’t make that up. A socialist is doing well in the Democratic primary. The best way to give this election back would be to nominate a Donald Trump. He’ll either implode in the general election or, God forbid, if he were in the White House, we have no idea what he would do. You just can’t attack him on policy. He doesn’t care about policy. … He’s not serious.”
Later in the debate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said there is plenty of room in the GOP for Trump.
“I don’t think it helps when Republicans attack Republicans, personally,” Santorum scolded Jindal.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki was pressed over his commitment to supporting the eventual nominee, as stipulated in a pledge circulated by the party.
“Donald Trump is not going to be the Republican nominee,” Pataki said, describing the businessman as “unfit” for the presidency because of his past failed casinos on the east coast.
“I will vote for the Republican nominee,” Pataki said when pressed.
The governor has previously said he would not vote for Trump in the general election if he wins the Republican presidential primary.
Trump responded by saying he would not entertain attacks from candidates polling below 1 percent support.
The second GOP primary debate on CNN is being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
The undercard debate featured the bottom four GOP primary candidates: Jindal, Pataki, Santorum and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Graham, long in the GOP race to push for tougher positions on foreign policy, took aim at the Obama administration over strife in the Middle East, specifically its policy regarding Syria.
“How does President Obama sleep at night?” Graham said. “I’m blaming Barack Obama for this mess, and I want to fix it.”
During several moments in the undercard debate, Graham challenged the three fellow candidates on the stage to outline their plans regarding the Middle East, saying he was in favor of U.S. combat troops in Syria.
He also suggested CNN host Jake Tapper ask other candidates during the second GOP debate about their plans on the topic.
Also during the debate, Graham got into a feisty exchange with Santorum regarding their plans regarding illegal immigration.
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