Photo credit: Dave Davidson (Prezography.com)
Real estate mogul and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attacked Bob Vander Plaats, President/CEO of The FAMiLY Leader this morning on Twitter. Vander Plaats last month endorsed U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for President.
He started off quoting his Twitter follower’s tweets about an interview that Vander Plaats had on CNN as a surrogate for Cruz:
"@xXFlame: .@bobvanderplaats Idiot Bob Plaats on CNN is DELUDED! Cruz's favorability ratings are 0%, NO ONE LIKES HIM. VOTE TRUMP INSTEAD!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
"@AynsFriend: @bobvanderplaats CRUZ IS DONE @CNN @ChrisCuomo"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
"@puttster71: @bobvanderplaats The next president isn't on ur stage. @realDonaldTrump is the next president."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
He then launched into direct attacks himself.
Why doesn't phony @bobvanderplaats tell his followers all the times he asked for him and his family to stay at my hotels-didn't like paying
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
.@bobvanderplaats begged me to do an event while asking organizers for $100,000 for himself—a bad guy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
Do you think @SenTedCruz knows about @bobvanderplaats dealings? Actually, I doubt it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2016
It has been Trump’s MO to trash any candidate, surrogate, or journalist who has disagreed or not supported him in the past. You’re a “good guy” if you like Trump. You’re a “bad guy” if you don’t.
While Bob Vander Plaats has his detractors among even some evangelicals, it probably isn’t the best idea if you truly want to reach evangelicals because Vander Plaats also has a lot of supporters in the evangelical community. Going to a liberal Presbyterian church for worship last Sunday probably doesn’t help much either, but I digress.
Whether you like Vander Plaats personal attacks from candidates like this shouldn’t be tolerated. Pointing out policy differences is one thing, but this crosses a line which Trump has cross over and over and over again.
Do we really want to have this type of juvenile behavior coming from the White House? It’s time for Iowans to get serious and send this man-child packing.
Update: I missed Vander Plaats’ response on Twitter:
@realDonaldTrump you know that's not true. I gave you an introduction and opportunity and you charged the guy $100K. May work in NY not IA.
— Bob Vander Plaats (@bobvanderplaats) January 26, 2016
Jennifer Jacobs of The Des Moines Register confirmed:
Records & company officials confirm @bobvanderplaats is correct – Trump charged $100k for appearance in Iowa last yr https://t.co/1eMUgAn4vj
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 26, 2016
Disclosure: This writer has endorsed U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for President.