CRACKDOWN – AT 9:18 A.M. ET:  There are reports that the Republican National Committee, concerned that Donald Trump is destroying the party's attempts to appeal to minorities, is reading Trump the riot act.  The RNC was very effective last year in winning elections, which, I think, is pretty important in politics.  From Fox: 

The head of the Republican National Committee reportedly told presidential contender Donald Trump Wednesday to tone down his comments on immigration amid his controversial remarks about illegal immigrants from Mexico.

The Washington Post reports Chairman Reince Priebus spent an hour on the phone with Trump about his comments, which has apparently alarmed Republicans across the country.

Trump made his inflammatory remarks on the heels of his presidential campaign announcement on June 16.

"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending the best,” he said during the announcement. “They're not sending you, they're sending people that have lots of problems and they're bringing those problems. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. They're rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they're telling us what we're getting."

Since then, Trump has received immense backlash from other Republicans, top Democrats and even television stations. However, he said Saturday he was surprised by the outrage and that is comments are causing financial concerns.

NBC and Univision decided last week not to air the Trump-owned Miss Universe Pageant, Macy’s is dropping his signature clothing line, New York Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered a review of Trump’s city contracts and NASCAR is moving an annual banquet from the Trump National Doral resrt in Miami.

"I didn’t know it was going to be this severe,” Trump said Saturday, adding that he was surprised by the NASCAR decision, considering he has a good relationship with the group. “I am a whipping post.”

I think he meant a whipping boy.

Even with the scrutiny surrounding Trump, he has still managed to draw support from Americans who say he is openly confronting the severity of the immigration problem that others won’t publicly acknowledge, which some fear will plague the GOP down the line.

COMMENT:  It's Trump's manner and choice of words that are damaging, not his concern about criminals crossing the border.  Eventually, personalities like his wear out their welcome, which is what has happened with Chris Christie.  Americans still want a president who is "presidential." 

I'm guessing that Trump's time in the spotlight will be short-lived, but I admit that I could be very, very wrong.

July 9, 2015