Donald Trump's references to Harvard University often imply that he considers it a paragon of education, but his fellow Republicans there do not share the same fondness for him.
In a statement posted to its Facebook page on Thursday, the Harvard Republican Club called the Republican nominee a "threat to the survival of the Republic" who "simply does not possess the temperament and character necessary to lead the United States through an increasingly perilous world."
The some 800-word critique continued, “His authoritarian tendencies and flirtations with fascism are unparalleled in the history of our democracy. He hopes to divide us by race, by class, and by religion, instilling enough fear and anxiety to propel himself to the White House.”
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The club, founded in 1888, calls itself "the oldest College Republican organization in the nation."
A poll administered this week found that 80 percent of its members said they would not support Trump, with 10 percent saying they would and another 10 percent remaining undecided, according to the Harvard Crimson.
On the trail, Trump tends to mention the university as an example of excellence in an attempt to make blunt points about the strength of America's adversaries. At a July 5 rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, he called Iraq "Harvard for terrorism," faulting the Obama administration for allowing the nation to become a training ground for Islamic State fighters and other groups.
He also has referenced Harvard in order to boost his own, struggling educational endeavor. Facing complaints from former students of Trump University, Trump pointed to positive reviews of the school during an interview with Bloomberg Politics in June. Speaking of reviews of the school, he referred to one that said, "I went to Harvard and this was better.”
He declined say whether he agreed or disagreed with that assessment, adding, “The experience was very good for a lot of people.”
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Dear Members and Alumni, In every presidential election since 1888, the members and Executive Board of the Harvard...
Posted by Harvard Republican Club on Thursday, August 4, 2016