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The conservative magazine National Review, which has been a standard-bearer of right-wing politics for decades, published a scathing issue Thursday night devoted to why Donald Trump should not be the Republican nominee for president.The issue, titled "Against Trump," includes 22 essays by influential conservative voices along with an editorial from the magazine, all effectively arguing that The Donald the worst thing to happen to the Republican party and urging Americans not to vote for him.Trump "is not deserving of conservative support in the caucuses and primaries," wrote the magazine's editorial staff. "Trump is a philosophically unmoored political opportunist who would trash the broad conservative ideological consensus within the GOP in favor of a free-floating populism with strong-man overtones.Related: Schlonging, Spamming, and 'SNL': These Are the FCC Complaints Inspired by Donald Trump"Donald Trump is a menace to American conservatism who would take the work of generations and trample it underfoot on behalf of a populism as heedless and crude as The Donald himself."The Republican National Committee (RNC) dropped the magazine as a co-sponsor for the Republican debate scheduled for February 26 shortly after the anti-Trump issue was published. National Review publisher Jack Fowler wrote in a blog post last night that the RNC disinvited the magazine from the debate, which Fowler shrugged off as a "small price to pay for speaking the truth about The Donald."RNC spokesman Sean Spicer confirmed to BuzzFeed News that they ditched the National Review because "a debate moderator can't have a predisposition."Contributors to the "Against Trump" issue included powerful conservative writers and pundits like the Weekly Standard's William Kristol, writer and radio host Erick Erickson, and evangelical leader Russell Moore.Right-wing commentator and former Fox News host Glenn Beck also wrote a piece for the magazine in which he called Trump's candidacy "a crisis for conservatism."Trump wasted no time in hitting back against the magazine on Twitter.
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The National Review was founded by William Buckley in the 1950s and has been a favored publication amongst conservative thinkers, including former president Ronald Reagan. Trump himself even cited Buckley as one of the proud conservatives to come from New York during the last Republican debate, in response to an attack from Senator Ted Cruz over his "New York values.""The late, great, William F. Buckley would be ashamed of what had happened to his prize, the dying National Review!" Trump tweeted.The magazine's very public stance against the leading Republican presidential candidate is yet another indication of just how much the base of the party hates and fears Trump. But it is not clear how much negative impact this will have on his candidacy, ten days before the Iowa caucuses, considering that Trump only seems to do better the more people criticize him.The issue also highlights the deep divide that currently exists within the Republican party after it has become increasingly clear in recent days that the Republican establishment is not thrilled by Ted Cruz either, who is currently in second place behind Trump.Follow Olivia Becker on Twitter: @obecker928National Review is a failing publication that has lost it's way. It's circulation is way down w its influence being at an all time low. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)January 22, 2016