Under fire from Republicans, Trump says he'll stop talking about judge

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Politics | Tue Jun 7, 2016 5:40pm EDT

Under fire from Republicans, Trump says he'll stop talking about judge

WASHINGTON | BY RICHARD COWAN AND STEVE HOLLAND

Bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans, Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would no longer talk about a Mexican-American judge after U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan denounced the presidential candidate's criticism of the jurist as textbook racism.

But Trump refused entreaties from party leaders to disavow his charge that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel was showing bias because of his Mexican heritage and should recuse himself from a lawsuit alleging fraud at Trump's defunct Trump University real estate training school.

In a lengthy statement, Trump said his previous remarks about Curiel had been misconstrued.

"I do not feel that one’s heritage makes them incapable of being impartial, but, based on the rulings that I have received in the Trump University civil case, I feel justified in questioning whether I am receiving a fair trial," the presumptive Republican nominee said.

But he added: "While this lawsuit should have been dismissed, it is now scheduled for trial in November. I do not intend to comment on this matter any further."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-ryan-idUSKCN0YT0AM

Earlier LBN thread: Trump: Comments about judge 'misconstrued'

[Skittles]

1. it will be EXTREMELY difficult for Trump to shut himself up

Hillary / Bernie / Elizabeth need to go to town on him

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. He won't stop. Trust me.

The guy has zero impulse control.

Remember a month ago when he said he was going to be "more presidential"? He said the same thing a month before that.

[hatrack]

11. Exactly - he couldn't stop if he wanted to

.

[Protalker]

3. Watched Trump deliver a managed speech

He calmed the party that he isn't always a hateful bigot. He offered a home to Bernie supporters. What does this billionaire offer? HATE is not a family value.

[HereSince1628]

6. Sanders supporters moving to Trump seems to me unlikely to happen in significant numbers.

Trump can invite all he wants, it doesn't mean Sanders supporters would move to him. Trump doesn't offer anything that would even approach a vote in protest.

I rather suspect it's more likely that Sanders supporters that don't come to HRC will choose a different path, going beyond a choice between R and D candidates which may mean giving a vote to support alternative party efforts or casting no vote for president at all.

But even with Sanders failure to secure the nomination for presidency, the most probable path to actualizing progressive influence in US politics remains gaining influence inside the Dem party. As this presidential primary season has demonstrated, it's via the party where not far from half of dem leaning voters clearly lean toward progressive ideas that significant support exists. No other political organization in American politics has that progressive corps.

Sanders knew that when he started his campaign and it remains true today. Winning in the short term isn't everything, especially when everything depends on big change. Sanders has developed assets that make more progressive success easier from inside the democratic party. When the sting of disappointment subsides, I suspect the application of those assets will begin.

Change/rebuilding/reform (whatever label you put on it) is a long term process that takes an army of commitment. Sanders has identified an army of volunteers and donors, it remains to be seen if they are committed to a long-term project.

[Protalker]

9. Thank you for your thoughtful and hopeful reply

I.was mesmerized by Warren tonight. A brilliant fighter which I also think Hillary is. Warren gets my vote for Veep.

[Saphire]

4. He'll shut up about this, but 100% sure he'll say

more outrageous things. Let the words flow, trump. Show the world that fetid stew you call a brain.

[greymattermom]

5. He wants to be in charge

and I doubt he'll listen to orders for long. And every outburst will result in a new set of orders that he can't stand.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Yep, it's OK to be a racist

As long as you don't talk about it in public.

[meow2u3]

8. Let see how long he keeps his mouth shut

It won't be long before the Yammering Yam starts flapping his jaws about his targets being the racists he is. He's just that far gone.

[yellowcanine]

10. As long as it takes for something to get under his thin skin.

Could last as much as two news cycles I would guess.