Established Congresswoman Entertains Possibility of Trump-Clinton Conspiracy

Dismissed as a conspiracy theory by some, the possibility of a Trump/Clinton arrangement for Hillary to take the White House is still plausible for others. Certain fed up conservative Republicans, continually disgusted by Trump’s brash campaign that seems to be tearing the GOP into mangled pieces, are left wondering if it was all be design as a clever ploy to secure the White House for Hillary Clinton. Perhaps that casual call between Trump and Hillary last May was anything but unceremonious after all.

In the wake of a campaign laced with bombastic pomposity and racially laced overtones, as reported by the National Review, Trump’s antics have triggered veteran democratic congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. The House’s longest established female, Kaptur notes, “There are some theories on the internet that this is Bill Clinton’s best political deal”, going on to say that Bill Clinton and Donald are “buddies, and they have a lot of similar friends in New York, and he has masterfully selected a friend who maybe by October will say ‘You know, this is very boring, and I’m going to get out’.”

Kaptur muses about the believability of this theory, remarking, “You know, you really wonder.”

Despite being an unorthodox move to suggest that your own party’s presidential nominee may be complicit in such a scheme, Kaptur isn’t new to scuffling with the Clintons. Kaptur stood in passionate opposition to NAFTA and similar free-trade negotiations during Bill Clinton’s first term. In 1996, Kaptur contemplated joining Ross Perot’s bid for the presidency as his running mate. In 2016, Kaptur was one of eleven Superdelegates thumbing her nose at Hillary Clinton, instead opting to support Bernie Sanders, once again defying the Democratic establishment. Despite Sanders’ willingness to back Clinton, Kaptur remains undecided about jumping onto Democratic nominee’s bandwagon. Feeling currently uncompelled to support Clinton, she states, “I’m waiting to hear from[Sanders]”.

Kaptur’s home state of Ohio, a keystone state for both parties, offers 18 electoral votes crucial for capture. This holds true especially for Trump, who has a track record of favorable popularity among residents of the Rust Belt, yet a relative weakness among white-collar Republicans. Kaptur offered her insights into the prospects of Clinton and Trump in her home state during a comprehensive interview with the National Review. She expresses concern over losing crucial free trade debate beneath the typical Trump rhetoric, and how the Democratic party can mend itself after a particularly disappointing primary.

Kaptur’s district, comprised of shattered steel factories and tumbledown union halls, typically leans Democratic. However, Trump has found favor among the white, blue-collar workers amidst the protectionist movement at the forefront of this region’s election cycle. Trump is attempting to latch onto these voters in coal country and the industrial Midwest who previously supported Sanders in surprisingly large numbers. In an attempt to undermine Clinton among this trade-concerned demographic, Trump is criticizing Clinton’s historical praise of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

However, it is critical to note that despite their mutual enmity toward free trade, Kaptur is no Trump supporters, but is still pleased that Trump and Sanders have both highlighted the issue, saying “When steel gets dumped on the international markets, it’s workers in Ohio who get laid off”. She goes on, “It’s very different in Washington D.C., where the majority of jobs are government jobs. I don’t come from that kind of America.” Kaptur is increasingly worried that racial tensions will continue to overshadow important issues of trade and economy.   “Economics has been the major issue in Ohio for a very long time- jobs and the economy”, Kaptur states. She fears Trump’s abrasive rhetoric will continue moving the focus away from economic and trade issues and increasingly toward social issues.

Despite Trump’s social controversies, this is good news for Clinton. Kaptur says, “This makes it easier for Clinton because he’s shifting her to the social-rights platform, and she will excel and he will not”. Yet she still laments about the possibility of a missed opportunity from the party’s progressive wing to take a strong stance on the economy and trade concerns that Sanders previously championed during his campaign. Kaptur, not quite ready to give up on Sander’s chances, despite the Democratic primaries results, says “I think we have to give it a little more time, the senator has to work with his team, including Superdelegates like myself- to develop a constructive strategy”. Kaptur, though, is still confident Clinton and Sanders will come together to earn the continued support of the blue collar voters.

Ultimately, Kaptur believes voters will reject Trump’s brand of GOP politics in the fall, but she urges Clinton to resist the temptation of running solely against Trump’s controversial social stances.

Her advice to Clinton: “It’s tough. I don’t think you get out of Ohio without dealing with the economy”.