Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., right, and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leave a news conference following a GOP caucus meeting, at the Republican National Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Ryan dismissed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments on Muslims, saying such views are "not what this party stands for and more importantly it's not what this country stands for." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON |  Donald Trump’s plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States is shoving the Republican Party to the edge of chaos, abruptly pitting GOP leaders against their own presidential front-runner and jeopardizing the party’s longtime drive to attract minorities.

Unbowed, Trump fired a searing warning Tuesday via Twitter to fellow Republicans carping about his proposal. A majority of his supporters, he tweeted, “would vote for me if I departed the GOP & ran as an independent.”

The crossfire between Trump and frustrated Republicans became a furious blur the day after the billionaire businessman announced his plan. Beleaguered 2016 rivals condemned his proposal and complained that his divisive positions were dominating attention in the crowded Republican contest. Party elders, meanwhile, warned that too much criticism might indeed push him to abandon the GOP and launch a third-party bid that could hand the presidential election to the Democrats.

And Republicans up for re-election in the Senate grew terse in the Capitol hallways as they were asked again and again to respond to Trump’s remarks — a glimpse of their political futures if the former reality show star captures the GOP nomination.

“This is not conservatism,” declared House Speaker Paul Ryan, the Republican Party’s top elected leader. “What was proposed yesterday is not what this party stands for. And more importantly, it’s not what this country stands for.”

One by one, Republican officials across the country lashed out at Trump’s plan, announced the night before, which calls for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” to help quell the threat of terrorism.

But party leaders are well aware that he could leave the GOP, run as an independent and challenge the party’s presidential nominee next year. It’s a threat they have long feared.

The Republican Party, said Jeb Bush adviser Ana Navarro, is stuck between “a rock and a jerk” less than eight weeks before the first primary-season votes are cast in Iowa.

In New Hampshire, Republican National Committeeman Steve Duprey called Trump’s idea “abhorrent.” At the same time, he reminded Trump of his Republican loyalty pledge, saying, “I know him to be a man of his word.”

And in Mississippi, RNC member Henry Barbour said Trump’s comments “aren’t worthy of someone who wants to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.” He said Trump would be a “disaster politically for the GOP if he won the nomination.”

“It’s embarrassing at best,” Barbour said of Trump’s impact on his party.

Barbour helped author the Republican National Committee’s “Growth and Opportunity Project” after a painful 2012 presidential election that forced party leaders to re-evaluate their strategy in presidential contests to reflect the nation’s demographic shifts. Among other things, the report cited an urgent need for GOP leaders to adopt an inclusive and welcoming tone on issues such as immigration.

“If we want ethnic minority voters to support Republicans, we have to engage them and show our sincerity,” it read, noting that white voters made up a record-low 72 percent of the electorate in 2012 and would represent less than half of all voters by 2050.

Yet Trump has vaulted to the top of the Republican 2016 field by attacking immigrants in many cases.

He called some Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “criminals” in his announcement speech and intensified his criticism of Muslim immigrants or visitors Monday evening. While experts widely consider his proposal unconstitutional, Trump’s continued popularity underscores the deep divide between Republican leaders and the party’s conservative base, which holds outsized influence in the presidential nomination process.

Indeed, Trump’s plan was cheered during a South Carolina rally Monday evening, and vocal supporters across the country defended the Muslim ban as necessary for national security. Polling suggests the sentiment is likely fueled by sharp strain of xenophobia: A new AP-GfK poll found 8 in 10 Republicans think there are too many immigrants coming from the Middle East.

Trump showed little concern for critics on Tuesday.

“I don’t care about them,” he told CNN. “I’m doing what’s right.”

The debate over Trump’s plan left his Republican presidential competitors struggling for attention with little time remaining before Iowa’s Feb. 1 caucuses.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s calls on Tuesday for Congress to strengthen the nation’s domestic surveillance program was little more than a coverage afterthought amid the wave of Trump stories.. So, too, was a new advertising campaign from allies of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush that assailed Trump, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as unprepared to serve as commander in chief.

Former technology executive Carly Fiorina flashed her frustration when asked repeatedly about Trump’s comments as she campaigned in Iowa.

“Maybe you should quit focusing on Donald Trump so much,” she told reporters.

Trump’s position has also forced vulnerable Republicans facing re-election next year into an awkward position. Those who weighed in at all condemned his plan but also stepped carefully.

New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte said she opposes any “religious-based test for our immigration standards,” but she declined to criticize Trump directly when pressed by reporters.

Some Republicans not facing election next year were less cautious.

“It does not reflect serious thought. It’s not our party. It’s not our country,” Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. told reporters.

___

AP writers Erica Werner and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington, Catherine Lucey in Des Moines, Iowa, Jill Colvin in Newark, New Jersey, and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

32 replies on “Trump’s Muslim ban idea pushes GOP toward chaos ”

  1. The GOP is already in chaos. The “quack” just pushed them over the edge. Hope they crash and burn with the “quack”.

    2. Then read the New Yorker. That will wipe the smile off your face. You may even quit with the name calling, and be a bit more mature with your comments. Oh, and I get regular updates from the PEW organization and have for years.

          1. Read Ben Well’s article in The New Yorker, “Donald Trump vs The Modern Political Campaign”.

            Think Well’s summarized the Trump campaign in three words. Andrew Dice Clay.

            You’re welcome!

          2. I sent that website to my friends and veteran members to read. He is recording what so many of them, and I, see in Donald Trump. And he is not leading us. We are leading what he is doing to both parties, and to the Washington Elitists, Parasites, who have driven our politics higher and higher, encouraged by MSM since they are the ones who wind up those funds. And they believe they are the real commanders, rulers, and leaders of USA. The candidates, (one who will become president) and others may get cabinet positions, are their puppets. Which they are. How else could we put up the unqualified, enept, individual who sits or stands in front of teleprompters on each side of podium, and makes policy.
            Does he know what it does to people? Does he care? What will he do, or be when he leaves the house (?) He was not qualified to wax the floors, and would have been at home on a plantation, with a white, colored, black, brown, whatever plantation owner. And had a few peckerwoods to manage the field slaves. (and if you don’t know what peckerwood is from slave days) definition is on the net. I heard that word a lot in Texas, La, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and did not know what they referenced until I found it on net, in a search.) Very important job on the plantations.

          6. By the way, I have been receiving New Yorker on net for long time now. Came across this, and it so fit, what I see with Donald. I researched him long ago, and was impressed, and still am. Same with Romney who showed management skills at 8 years of age. About same time or so, when Donald was sent to military school to gain discipline, and exelled there education and athletics. Same in HS, College, and post graduate school. Both were managers, humanists, and had great resumes.

          8. YEP. You don’t find other party proudly proclaiming what Hillary, Bernie, OMalley did in their youth, as they matured through grade school, high school, or college. And Hillary has nothing to brag about as wife of the predator, senator, or state department. And she should be in rubber room now, confined and remain there until she names who all her contacts were while using her (private conversation servers). State Department needs a real good flushing to find out who made decisions to dismiss Saddam’s military, and not to allow any of the cabinet officers or directors to be part of the forming government.
            ——
            Those generals and non coms, with directors are now the criminal element making up ISIS (ISIL) and they know all the key points to control Iraqi population, plus those who come in to fill in the ranks or also bring criminal abilities. And the military (other tribe) deserted, leaving all of our military equipment, trucks, guns, ammo, for them to use.
            ——-
            Our military whupped theirs in quick time, as predicted. Our state department screwed the pooch, same as they did and are doing to us now. Not all of them, but the head of that snake needs to be cut off. Just as Morrel (sp?) at CIA trusted Washington analyst, rather then the words from folks on the ground, and in danger. He rose to top as NO -RISK taker, just CIA was shafted with Carter selection (Admiral Stansfield Turner) to head up CIA who . fired, retired, and replaced risk-takers and filled top jobs with no-risk takers, wearing nice suits, and demanding that all CIA personnel dress as business attire, clean haircuts, and church attenders regularly. REALLY TOUGH TO BLEND IN WITH THE STREET TOUGHS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON THERE AND IN THE STREETS OF OTHER COUNTRIES.
            I had to work through that era with all my records, paperwork, having to be classified, secured, and kept locked in safes, until I needed to use it. Then had to ensure no one looked over my shoulders and saw something. And my records would mean nothing to anyone, without my experience, training, and way of short cutting needed information. Much was on 3×5 cards (had several such files set up, for quick reference). So was I ticked. Your bet your life I was. Meant longer hours to meet my suspense, and get them done on time. Would much rather been at home, with wife and 2 young children at the time.

  2. Unfortunately for Sen. Flake, it DOES represent your party and vision for the country. Good luck with the hate. Seems the Republicans are going the way of the Whigs- irrelevant to modern society.

    1. You and yours are the problem, your ‘multi-culturalism, open borders, anything goes’ non policies are what’s becoming of a once great America, and you support it. You want no restrictions of any kind, if there is, you call it ‘hate’, if someone has an opinion that differs from your ideas, you have names for them, ‘racist, homophobe, xenophobe’ and others I’m sure you’ve been taught to scream. A country without laws, a country without borders, a country with a welcome for all, not work ethic, just dependency, and apparently believe this is what America stands for to you. Conclaves of different peoples, 100 different languages, no patriotism, no community of Americans, and this is your ‘vision’ for the new, progressive, America, what a sad, utterly insane, end for our nation.

      1. “You and your’s”. Listen to the goo boy quack his bigoted trash. He’s into end times thinking typical of conspiracy theorists of his ilk who see’s a bogey man with a Koran behind every tree.

        This gooey clown is fun. Every comment he makes adds insult to injury.
        Where do these morons come from.

  3. His idea may have been worded poorly, I have always backed a moratorium on any immigration from the Middle East for a long period, until we find those already in this country who mean us harm. A poll shows that 50% think Sharia is better than our constitution, and 5% support Al Quada, that’s one in 20 who think we should be destroyed.

    1. GooGoo, could you point me to the poll that states that 50% of Americans prefer Sharia law to the US constitution? When Trump gets elected president, he should give you a position high in his administration. You’re at least as nutty as he is.

        1. So much for gooey’s source, Center for Security, a crackpot nut tank headed by Frank Gaffney conspiracy theorist supreme. Frank Gaffney has been banned by CPAC who consider him “a crazy bigot”.

          Check it out on Wiki. gooey is a wing nut clown. Is it any surprise he loves the “quack”.

          2. Just looked at this on PEW this AM. PEW in my opinion is a great source for factual information. I’m glad you share my views. Have a nice day.

  4. Trump is that loudmouth at the corner bar who’s had a few too many and is ranting at whoever will listen. Most people will just wish he’d shut up, but he’ll always have a small audience who will subscribe to his incoherent reasoning, littered throughout with his racist, xenophobic, fascist views. Trump gives a voice to all those frustrated angry mostly-white men who feel exactly as he does. He will never be president, but from where I sit, he’s doing a great job of carving off that angry bunch of culture warriors who are losing their battle from the rest of the Republican party. The last time we saw anything similar to this was the presidential candidacy of Barry Goldwater, and we all know what happened there. Had Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam not happened along with Richard Nixon and the so-called ‘southern strategy’, the Republican Party probably wouldn’t exist today. But Trump seems on the verge of permanently splitting the party into at least two factions. If he’s successful, it could doom the GOP at the national level for years to come.

    3. Gotta disagree with you on this one, Retiree. Trump is dealing with his business associates, and doing his own thing. he is not checking it out with any PAC groups as the others have too. And he is not sending out all those little flyers or envelopes, or calendars asking for donations. I have received 19 so far for next year, and none of them are count down to when Obama leaves. Darn it. And I have heard from I think every welfare, donation seeking organization in the United States this past year. On my pensions, I can only afford my regular recipients, and have done that for the year.
      I don’t send any money to either party, but still got a card from White House, and from Presidential Libraries, and others. Gofastgo and ryecatcher keep sending their notes to see if I am still alive, hoping I am not, but I intend to live longer, just to aggravate them.. God must think that worth while too, since both my care providers have given me a very good report, and on my blood analysis report, Dr. had printed in very large letters: Kidney Functions and Blood Sugar EXCELLENT. So have happy holidays fastgo and ryecatcher. Rest of us will have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    4. One more thought. I think Trump will force both parties to reorganize and get more human. Get away from the professional, drone forcing, and quit changing candidates to fit their pattern. Neither party has much to brag about last few years. I cannot believe the Democrats, as a party, are happy with Harry REID and Barrack OBAMA being the NO people, with threats to veto everything under the sun that arises. And Republican Party has not covered itself with glory either. Both have driven folks away from the polls. 6 million Republicans and 4 million Democrats who did not vote in 2012, that did in 2008.

  5. All this chest beating about something that is already part of federal law. Carter did it during the 80s with respect to Iranian visa holders. The law also gives the sitting president (maybe Trump himself) the power to limit immigration when it is deemed appropriate.

    Federal law, at 8 U.S.C. § 1182(f), provides in part:

    Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.

    Prof. Peter Spiro from Temple University believes that this gives the president complete discretion.

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