Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News
Showing posts with label us presidential election 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label us presidential election 2016. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Donald Trump presidential bid gets Sarah Palin backing


  • 17 minutes ago

by Suzanne Gould and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, New York/Washington DC

Sarah PalinImage copyright AP
Donald Trump's Republican presidential bid has received the backing of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
His campaign has issued a statement that says Ms Palin was "proud" to endorse the billionaire.
Ms Palin was the vice-presidential nominee on Republican John McCain's unsuccessful run in 2008.
She drew huge crowds and massive media attention, and is expected to join Mr Trump on stage at rally in Iowa on Tuesday night.
Sarah Palin said in the Trump campaign statement: "I am proud to endorse Donald J Trump for President of the United States of America."
The New York businessman, who leads the Republican race, said her backing was "coveted" and "influential".
He said she was a "trusted conservative" with a "proven record of being fiscally modest, staunchly pro-life and [she] believes in small government that allows businesses to grow and freedom to prosper".

Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington

While the former Alaska governor's reputation has been diminished since the heady days of 2008 - thanks to her absence from public office and involvement in series of questionable reality television shows - she is still well liked by conservative Republicans and nearly universally known.
Her backing could help insulate Mr Trump against charges that he's not a true believer in the cause due to his support for liberal political issues and candidates in the past.
At the very least, she could add even more crowd-drawing power to a Trump campaign that already fills entire sports arenas.
Will Palin help Trump?

Republican road to the White House


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Trump denies using " schlong" (Yiddish for the F-word) to describe Clinton's loss in 2008

Dec 22, 11:56 PM EST


by Suzanne Gould and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Washington DC

AP Photo
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

WASHINGTON  -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed reports that he used vulgarity in describing Democrat Hillary Clinton's primary loss to now-President Barack Obama in 2008.
Trump said Monday night, "She was favored to win and she got schlonged, she lost," using a slang word for male genitalia.
The GOP front-runner argued with that definition on Twitter Tuesday. "'Schlonged' is not vulgar," he wrote. "When I said Hillary got 'schlonged' that meant beaten badly."
He said the "dishonest" mainstream media was giving the word "false meaning."
Trump, who has ramped up his criticism of Clinton in recent weeks, also mocked Clinton on Monday for returning late to Saturday's debate following a commercial break because she'd been using the bathroom.
"What happened to her? I'm watching the debate, and she disappeared. Where did she go?!" Trump said at the rally at the DeltaPlex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
"I know where she went. It's disgusting, I don't want to talk about it," he added. "No, it's too disgusting. Don't say it, it's disgusting."
This isn't the first time Trump has used what could be interpreted as gendered language to criticize Clinton. He has repeatedly described her as lacking the strength and stamina to be president and invoked the image of her putting on a pantsuit before heading to work.
In an interview Tuesday with The Des Moines Register, Clinton said: "Nothing really surprises me anymore. I don't know that he has any boundaries at all. His bigotry, his bluster, his bullying have become his campaign. And he has to keep sort of upping the stakes and going even further."
The latest rift between Clinton and Trump began during Saturday evening's debate. Clinton claimed the Islamic State group had used videos of Trump's comments about Muslims to recruit militants.
"They are going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists," she said.
There was no evidence to back the claim, and Trump quickly called Clinton a liar and demanded an apology.
"She's a liar!" he repeated at the rally, labeling Clinton "not a president."
Some of Trump's critics have leveled similar criticism at him. Many Republican leaders fear Trump's incendiary rhetoric would make him unelectable in a general election against Clinton, who is widely favored over two rivals for the Democratic nomination.
Trump continues to the lead the Republican field going into the new year - a development that has stunned the political world and deeply divided the Republican party.
Clinton appeared Tuesday in Keota, Iowa, a small rural town where three high school students launched an energetic campaign to get Clinton to visit their school. Clinton entered the high school gymnasium - packed with about 700 people - alongside the students to huge cheers.
During her remarks, Clinton stressed the differences between Republicans and Democrats in the field. She decried Trump's rhetoric on Muslims, saying it was "not only dangerous, it's shameful." She said that kind of talk plays in to the hands of violent jihadists.
"It's a very serious matter when you hear some of the things he and unfortunately some of the others have been saying," Clinton said.
Clinton did not reference Trump's latest comments on her 2008 presidential bid, but she made a veiled reference to his campaign when a student asked her about combatting bullying.
Advocating for more "love and kindness" Clinton added: "That's why it's important to stand up to bullies wherever we are and why we shouldn't let anybody bully his way into the presidency. Because that is not who we are as Americans."
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has made Trump his main target in recent days, also weighed in Tuesday while campaigning in New Hampshire, saying that Trump's behavior is not only offending people and turning voters off to him, but it is also hurting the Republican Party.
"There has to be a level of decorum to win. It's not a sign of strength to insult people with profanity," Bush told reporters after speaking to voters at a community college in New Hampshire's north country. "Trump is not going to be president because he says these things. It turns people off. For crying out loud, we're two days before Christmas."

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Trump won't be next president: Obama



© AFP/File | US President Barack Obama, pictured arriving on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California, told CBS television's "60 minutes" that he doesn't believe Donald Trump will be elected president
WASHINGTON  - 

by Melissa Gruz and Biodun Iginla, France24, Washington DC

 
President Barack Obama is fairly certain of one thing when it comes to next year's election: Donald Trump won't succeed him in the White House.
The billionaire businessman, the frontrunner in the race to become the Republican party's White House nominee, has raised hackles with his controversial comments on immigration, gun control and women, among other issues.
"He knows how to get attention. He is, you know, the classic reality TV character, and at this early stage, it's not surprising that he's gotten a lot of attention," Obama said of Trump in an interview on CBS television's "60 Minutes" news program.
"I don't think he'll end up being president of the United States," Obama said in the interview, which aired on Sunday.
Trump's incendiary comments on immigration and other issues have dominated the campaign and offended many Americans, but he nevertheless has seen his poll numbers climb steadily higher.
During a speech to Latino political leaders last week, Obama condemned the logic of "saying clearly inflammatory things and then saying, 'Well that's not what I meant' -- until you do it again and again."
"Leadership is not fanning the flames of intolerance, and then acting all surprised when a fire breaks out," he added.
Obama did not name Trump directly during that speech, instead denouncing the overall tone of the Republican presidential field.
In his "60 Minutes" interview, the Democratic president pointed to "genuine anti-immigrant sentiment in a large portion of at least Republican primary voters," although he stressed it was not "uniform."
Obama, who is currently completing his second term after winning elections in 2008 and 2012, said he had no regrets about term limits that prevent him from running again.
"I think having a fresh set of legs in this seat, I think having a fresh perspective, new personnel and new ideas -- and a new conversation with the American people about issues that may be different a year from now than they were when I started eight years ago -- I think that's all good for our democracy," Obama said.
"I think it's healthy."
But the president said he believes he would win if he had a chance to run for a third term.
Obama said he had a "bittersweet" feeling about the 15 months he has left in the White House.
"On the one hand, I am very proud of what we've accomplished and it makes me think, I'd love to do some more," Obama said.
"But by the time I'm finished, I think it will be time for me to go."
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Monday, September 21, 2015

Ben Carson 'should quit 2016 race' over Islam remarks

by Suzanne Gould and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, New York

45 minutes ago


Calls are growing for Republican Ben Carson to quit the 2016 race after he said a Muslim should not be president.
Muslim-American groups, among others, have said these views make him unqualified to run himself.
Mr Carson, a Christian, made the comments on Sunday, adding that Islam was inconsistent with the Constitution.
Another Republican presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, said on Monday a Muslim president should swear on a Bible to uphold the Constitution.
He said a Muslim Republican who fought to protect religious liberty, respected the Judeo-Christian heritage of the US and was committed to destroying Islamic State and radical Islam, and condemned cultures that treated women as second class citizens would get his vote.
But they must "place their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution", he added.
The Republican candidates for president are being asked about their views on Islam since Donald Trump failed last week to correct a supporter who said President Barack Obama was a Muslim.
Mr Trump, the Republican frontrunner, has since said he would have no problem appointing a Muslim to his cabinet.
Image copyright AP
Image caption Worshippers mark the end of Ramadan in New York
But in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Mr Carson said the president's faith matters if it differs with the values of America.
"I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation," he said.
He elaborated later when he told The Hill: "Muslims feel that their religion is very much a part of your public life and what you do as a public official, and that's inconsistent with our principles and our Constitution."

Analysis - Jon Sopel, BBC North America editor

I don't know whether Dr Carson's words will bolster his position among the base after a somewhat lacklustre performance in the Republican debate last week at the Ronald Reagan Library - but what about the feelings of the three million Muslims who live in America?
How is it going to feel to have a serious political figure, someone who aspires to lead this nation, essentially saying being Muslim is un-American?
These people who day in, day out serve their communities, support their families, enrich the lives of fellow citizens and make America the successful melting pot that it is.
Media caption Ben Carson: "I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation"
Democrats immediately denounced his remarks and Muslim groups called on Mr Carson, a neurosurgeon who is riding high in the polls among Republican voters, to quit the race.
"To me this really means he is not qualified to be president of the United States," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
He noted that the US Constitution specifically does not require the president to have a certain religion.
Farhana Khera of Muslim Advocates said the "religious bigotry" was heard when JFK was hoping to be the first Catholic president.
And Haroon Moghul, a leading commentator on Islam, told CNN: "I think Carson's comments mean he should get out of the race".
One of the latest polls, run by CNN/ORC, shows Mr Carson has slipped into third place in the Republican race, trailing former Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina and Mr Trump, who has consistently remained ahead of the pack.
Senior Republicans had said after the 2012 election that if the party did not become more inclusive, it would continue to push away young voters.

Should a Muslim be US president?

YES
  • Hillary Clinton: "In a word: Yes. Now let's move on," the former secretary of state said on Twitter.
  • Ted Cruz: "The Constitution specifies there shall be no religious test for public office and I am a constitutionalist," the Texas senator told an Iowa public television station.
  • Lindsey Graham: "I think Dr Carson needs to apologise," the South Carolina senator told Fox News.
  • Mike Huckabee: "I don't think we ought to just disqualify from somebody because of his or her faith," the former Arkansas governor told Fox Business Network.
  • John Kasich: "The most important thing about being president is you have leadership skills, you know what you're doing, and you can help fix this country and raise this country," the Ohio governor said on NBC's Meet the Press.
  • Rand Paul: "I try to see that as a separate thing, someone's religion. I just think it's hard for us. We were attacked by people who were all Muslim," the Kentucky senator told CBS News.
  • Bernie Sanders: "People should be elected to office based on their ideas, not their religion or the colour of their skin," the Vermont senator said in a statement.
  • Donald Trump: "Some people have said it already happened, frankly," the real estate mogul said on NBC's Meet the Press.
MAYBE
  • Bobby Jindal: "If you can find me a Muslim candidate... who will place their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution, then yes, I will be happy to consider voting for him or her," the Louisiana governor said in a statement.
NO
  • Ben Carson: "I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that," the retired neurosurgeon said.

Road to the White House

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, September 18, 2015

Donald Trump criticised for not correcting 'Obama is Muslim' man


by Suzanne Gould and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, New York


Media caption Republican Donald Trump sought to laugh off the comments
Donald Trump has been criticised for failing to correct a supporter who said US President Barack Obama was a Muslim and "not even an American".
The Republican sought to laugh off the comment, which was preceded by the supporter saying: "We have a problem in this country - it's called Muslims".
The comments were made at a campaign rally for Mr Trump in New Hampshire.
Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton said his failure to denounce "hateful rhetoric" was "disturbing and wrong".
Pointing to his first questioner at the campaign event in Rochester, the billionaire businessman said: "I like this guy."
"We have a problem in this country called Muslims," the man said. "We know our current president is one. You know he's not even an American."
"We need this question?" Mr Trump said, laughing.
"But anyway," the man continued, "we have training camps growing where they want to kill us. That's my question: When can we get rid of them?"
Mr Trump failed to clarify that Mr Obama is a Christian American, instead replying that "bad things are happening" and saying he would look into them.
Mrs Clinton joined criticism of Mr Trump on social media, tweeting: "Donald Trump not denouncing false statements about POTUS & hateful rhetoric about Muslims is disturbing & just plain wrong. Cut it out."
Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Mr Trump was greeted by a marching band before the campaign rally in New Hampshire
In a statement, Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Mr Trump's "racism knows no bounds".
"This is certainly horrendous but unfortunately unsurprising given what we have seen already. The vile rhetoric coming from the GOP candidates is appalling," she added, calling on his rivals to denounce him.
Mr Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski sought to play down the incident, telling US media that "all he heard was a question about training camps".
"The media wants to make this issue about Obama. The bigger issue is that Obama is waging a war against Christians in this country," Mr Lewandowski told the Washington Post.
The incident evoked a moment during the 2008 campaign when Republican nominee John McCain took the microphone away from a woman who said she did not trust Mr Obama because he was "an Arab".
Media caption What are the weird questions that people asking Google about Republican candidates? We provide answers
President Obama, who has spoken openly about his Christian faith, was born to an American mother and Kenyan father in Hawaii.
But Mr Trump has been one of the leading sceptics, challenging Mr Obama in 2011 to produce his birth certificate to disprove rumours that he was born in Kenya, which the president did.
With more than a year until polling day, the businessman is ahead of his Republican rivals in the polls despite having no political experience.

2016 hopefuls

Image copyright AP
Image caption Clockwise from top left: Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton
The early Republican frontrunner is Donald Trump
  • Hillary Clinton will have learnt much from her failed campaign of 2008
  • Florida senator Marco Rubio lost some right-wing fans by backing a bipartisan immigration reform package
  • Wisconsin governor Scott Walker appeals to both the Republican establishment and the Tea Party
  • Libertarian Rand Paul has his supporters - and enemies - among Republicans
  • Veteran congressman Bernie Sanders is drawing huge crowds at his rallies
Meet all of the 2016 hopefuls

Road to the White House

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)