NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Trump's addition to GOP on par with Lincoln and Reagan, says Darrell Issa as Internet calls him a 'nut job'

'I think when you take the party of Reagan, and then you add Lincoln, then you add Trump you get our party'

Darrell Issa, the US Representative-elect for California's 50th Congressional district likened President Donald Trump's addition to the Republican Party to that of contributions of former presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. “I believe that Donald Trump has added to the Republican Party just as Lincoln did and Reagan did and Goldwater did,” the ardent Trump supporter said on 'Fox News Saturday.' “People still mark each of those historical figures in a very special way. And so I think when you take the party of Reagan, and then you add Lincoln, then you add Trump you get our party.”

Issa won his race last week in California’s 50th District, two years after he retired as Congressman from the increasingly Democratic 49th District. He is a nine-term Congressman who once headed the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He gained many brownie points from his party after launching a string of investigations against the Obama administration.

Many people on social media mocked the fact that Issa drew a comparison between Trump and the legendary presidents of the United States. "Unlike Trump, Lincoln and Reagan were two-term presidents," one noted while another said, "I heard him say too many times. 'Next time' we should do this and that to ensure a fair election, but not one of his ideas to avoid the next time is to be transparent this time." A third commented, "This from a used car salesman."

Someone else wrote, "Did Lincoln and Ronald Reagan try to divide the country?" One more added, "You're determined to drive right off the crazy cliff, aren't you? Well, good luck to you. But it's a long way down." The next remarked, "Also on par with Hitler." Another quipped, "Oh I thought I was going to see a full workup on how he compares to Lincoln and Reagan in contrast of specifics. Fox still going with the hearsay witchcraft hypnosis style huh?"

One user tweeted, "Did Lincoln or Reagan destroy the GOP and resign and seek a pardon ... just wait." Another said, "You are all as nutty as a squirrel." Someone else noted, "hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha .... The party of Lincoln and Reagan has been hijacked by these nut jobs."

Issa is one of the Republicans who has openly supported the president’s claims of mass voter fraud and irregularities in the vote count process on social media. He tweeted last week: “President Trump — I stand with you, just as you have stood with me from 2016 until today. The fact that poll watchers are not being allowed to adequately supervise certain recounts is completely unacceptable. This is America. Election integrity comes first.”

After winning the race he tweeted, "To all the voters who participated in this election, thank you. To everyone who volunteered time or treasure to support me these past 14 months, thank you. I have been so encouraged during this campaign by all the new supporters I’ve met across our vast and diverse District," adding in another, "Finally, I want to thank those primary opponents whose endorsement for the General Election was sincere. I hope to continue to work with all of you for the betterment of our community."