There was something disturbing about Donald Trump’s “yuuge” rally at the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome in Tampa on the evening of February 12. It was not Trump’s familiar “red meat” talking points, in which he railed against illegal immigrants, Jeb Bush, free trade agreements, and Obamacare. Although Trump fancies himself as the anti-neocon, lambasting George W. Bush for lying about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and allowing 9/11 to happen on his watch, Trump’s cadre of state-level campaign officials suggest that neocons are gravitating toward his campaign. What is even more troubling is that Trump, if elected president, will likely mete out important government jobs to these neocon campaign workers.
Estimated standing room only crowd of 16,000 showed up at Sun Dome. Photo: WMR
While castigating the media for negative coverage of his campaign, Trump also boasted that there were 230 reporters covering his Tampa rally. Photo: WMR
Trump, the populist candidate who is self-funding his campaign, tossed his signature lines out to the energetic crowd of supporters. He saved his best digs for former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who actually remains somewhat popular in the Tampa Bay area. Trump said of Bush, “he’s a total stiff,” adding that he is “a vicious guy . . . he’s a gutless” and “asleep at the wheel.”
Trump said Bush has spent $140 million in his campaign in reference to Trump’s self-funded campaign. Trump let slip, “I’ve wasted a lot of money . . . no, not really . . . it doesn’t matter.” Self-funding the Trump campaign may be, however, a category of Trump VIP supporters were able to secure the best of seats in the arena for a contribution of $100.
There was a Trump impersonator in the crowd. The real Trump spotted him and told the crowd, "Look, there's another Donald Trump!" (Left photo.) Trump railed on the media, saying if there is one empty seat here, "they'll focus on that." There were no empty seats. (Right photo.) Photos by WMR.
Trump’s criticism of political correctness was joined by the crowd who booed the controversial concept. Trump criticized the recently-signed Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, the mere mention of which also elicited boos from the audience. To a few anti-Trump protesters who showed up in the crowd, Trump said, “Build that wall!” which resulted in thunderous applause. On the migrant invasion of Europe, Trump thundered, “Merkel . . . what she did to Germany . . . do you see the crime in Germany . . . crime in Sweden?” He was referring to German chancellor Angela Merkel’s open invitation for refugees from Syria, Iraq, and other countries to move to Germany.
When Trump mentioned rival Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the stadium also erupted in loud boos.
Trump also let slip a few comments that might enrage Republican candidates further to his right, for example, saying, “Save Medicare because it works” and letting the crowd know that gay singer Elton John is his “very good friend.” One of John’s songs was played repeatedly before Trump arrived along with songs from the Beatles and “Nessun Dorma” sung by Luciano Pavarotti.
But Trump’s warn up team was anything but moderate. The invocation speaker was an evangelical preacher named Dr. Troy Dailey whose invocation included a paraphrased segment from the Declaration of Independence. Dailey prayed that that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain ineligible rights.” The actual passage states “inalienable” rights. Dailey also said that the United States was founded on the principles of Christianity and Judaism with no mention of other religions.
One warm up speaker, identified as a retired Air Force intelligence colonel, whose name was not discernible over the loud noise in the arena and who now supposedly writes for the non-existent Jerusalem Times and the neocon “Counter-Jihad Report,” went through a laundry list of neocon alarmist foreign policy talking points that fly in the face of Trump’s arguments against the Bush-Obama destabilization of the Middle East, all brought about by neocons in both administrations.
Another Florida Trump campaign coordinator shouted out a number of baited questions to the crowd of Trump supporters, asking one half of the arena—some 8000 people—to respond with “Donald” and the other half—also some 8000 people—to respond with Trump. In response to a few of the loaded questions, the crowd roared repeatedly “Donald,” followed by “Trump.” One could not mistake hearing faint echoes of another two-part chant from the 1930s that occurred overseas in another country.
Wayne Madsen is a Washington, DC-based investigative journalist and nationally-distributed columnist. He is the editor and publisher of the Wayne Madsen Report (subscription required).
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Trump rally in Tampa: Is Trump vetting his senior campaign staff? It doesn’t appear so
Posted on February 17, 2016 by Wayne Madsen
There was something disturbing about Donald Trump’s “yuuge” rally at the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome in Tampa on the evening of February 12. It was not Trump’s familiar “red meat” talking points, in which he railed against illegal immigrants, Jeb Bush, free trade agreements, and Obamacare. Although Trump fancies himself as the anti-neocon, lambasting George W. Bush for lying about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and allowing 9/11 to happen on his watch, Trump’s cadre of state-level campaign officials suggest that neocons are gravitating toward his campaign. What is even more troubling is that Trump, if elected president, will likely mete out important government jobs to these neocon campaign workers.
Estimated standing room only crowd of 16,000 showed up at Sun Dome. Photo: WMR
While castigating the media for negative coverage of his campaign, Trump also boasted that there were 230 reporters covering his Tampa rally. Photo: WMR
Trump, the populist candidate who is self-funding his campaign, tossed his signature lines out to the energetic crowd of supporters. He saved his best digs for former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who actually remains somewhat popular in the Tampa Bay area. Trump said of Bush, “he’s a total stiff,” adding that he is “a vicious guy . . . he’s a gutless” and “asleep at the wheel.”
Trump said Bush has spent $140 million in his campaign in reference to Trump’s self-funded campaign. Trump let slip, “I’ve wasted a lot of money . . . no, not really . . . it doesn’t matter.” Self-funding the Trump campaign may be, however, a category of Trump VIP supporters were able to secure the best of seats in the arena for a contribution of $100.
There was a Trump impersonator in the crowd. The real Trump spotted him and told the crowd, "Look, there's another Donald Trump!" (Left photo.) Trump railed on the media, saying if there is one empty seat here, "they'll focus on that." There were no empty seats. (Right photo.) Photos by WMR.
Trump’s criticism of political correctness was joined by the crowd who booed the controversial concept. Trump criticized the recently-signed Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, the mere mention of which also elicited boos from the audience. To a few anti-Trump protesters who showed up in the crowd, Trump said, “Build that wall!” which resulted in thunderous applause. On the migrant invasion of Europe, Trump thundered, “Merkel . . . what she did to Germany . . . do you see the crime in Germany . . . crime in Sweden?” He was referring to German chancellor Angela Merkel’s open invitation for refugees from Syria, Iraq, and other countries to move to Germany.
When Trump mentioned rival Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the stadium also erupted in loud boos.
Trump also let slip a few comments that might enrage Republican candidates further to his right, for example, saying, “Save Medicare because it works” and letting the crowd know that gay singer Elton John is his “very good friend.” One of John’s songs was played repeatedly before Trump arrived along with songs from the Beatles and “Nessun Dorma” sung by Luciano Pavarotti.
But Trump’s warn up team was anything but moderate. The invocation speaker was an evangelical preacher named Dr. Troy Dailey whose invocation included a paraphrased segment from the Declaration of Independence. Dailey prayed that that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain ineligible rights.” The actual passage states “inalienable” rights. Dailey also said that the United States was founded on the principles of Christianity and Judaism with no mention of other religions.
One warm up speaker, identified as a retired Air Force intelligence colonel, whose name was not discernible over the loud noise in the arena and who now supposedly writes for the non-existent Jerusalem Times and the neocon “Counter-Jihad Report,” went through a laundry list of neocon alarmist foreign policy talking points that fly in the face of Trump’s arguments against the Bush-Obama destabilization of the Middle East, all brought about by neocons in both administrations.
Another Florida Trump campaign coordinator shouted out a number of baited questions to the crowd of Trump supporters, asking one half of the arena—some 8000 people—to respond with “Donald” and the other half—also some 8000 people—to respond with Trump. In response to a few of the loaded questions, the crowd roared repeatedly “Donald,” followed by “Trump.” One could not mistake hearing faint echoes of another two-part chant from the 1930s that occurred overseas in another country.
Previously published in the Wayne Madsen Report.
Copyright © 2016 WayneMadenReport.com
Wayne Madsen is a Washington, DC-based investigative journalist and nationally-distributed columnist. He is the editor and publisher of the Wayne Madsen Report (subscription required).