Todd Young And Erin Houchin Join Secretive Conclave Of Anti-Trump Billionaires In Palm Beach

It seems that U.S. Rep. Todd Young, who is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Sen. Dan Coats, and State Sen. Erin Houchin, who is seeking the 9th District Republican nomination to succeed Young, are down in Palm Beach, Florida this weekend attending a conclave of anti-Trump billionaires. According to Politico, the event was organized by New York hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer and Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts, both of whom have contributed heavily to SuperPACs spending heavily on negative advertising in an effort to stop Trump from getting the Republican nomination.

Politico reports that House Speaker Paul Ryan dined with Singer, Ricketts and other heavy-hitting donors at a pricey French restaurant Thursday night at the secret two-day conclave for what is "being viewed as a pivotal moment for the big-money effort to block Trump from the Republican presidential nomination. The donors described as anti-Trump have varying views on Trump going forward, with some supporting Cruz or Kasich, while others have remained open to the possibility of supporting Trump. Singer and Ricketts, however, want Trump stopped by any means possible.

Politico says the secretive event took place in a "tony resort hotel secured by guards wearing gold trident lapel pins." House Speaker Paul Ryan isn't commenting on his role at the event, although he's been especially vocal in espousing anti-Trump rhetoric. Ryan has so far proven to be as unreliable when it comes to pursuing conservative principles as his predecessor, John Boehner, who said after endorsing Kasich in the Ohio primary that he now wants Ryan drafted as the GOP nominee at what these establishment folks hope will be a brokered national convention. Ryan shot down his interest in being drafted as the GOP nominee this year.

Why exactly Young and Houchin were invited to attend the event of all of the candidates running for either the Senate or House this year is unclear. Politico says they were both scheduled to speak to the group of wealthy donors on Friday, along with U.S. Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada. Neither Young nor Houchin would respond to questions asked of them about their appearances at the event. "Sources familiar with the gathering said the politicians likely would stand to benefit from fundraising by members of the American Opportunity Alliance," Political reported. "It is a loose coalition of some of the richest pro-business GOP donors in the country, and it has helped raise money for select Republican candidates who mostly support hawkish foreign policy stances, and sometimes are moderate on social issues."

This seems to suggest to us that Young and Houchin have sold their souls to the elitist billionaires who are determined to plunder this nation for their benefit and to the detriment of the shrinking middle class. Perhaps they're signing on to the Gannett pledge to disavow Trump in an effort to get financial support from these elitist billionaires and at the same time try to weaken support for Trump ahead of Indiana's Republican primary, which may be consequential for one of the first times in many decades. One thing is clear is that none of  these people could give a damn about what is in the best interest of ordinary Hoosiers. Republican voters should be asking Young and Houchin why they're attending secretive meetings in Palm Beach with the nation's wealthiest billionaires while pretending to represent the interests of ordinary Hoosiers.