No matter how much Trump embarrasses himself or the GOP, why has the leadership refused to show courage and disavow him?
Ryan’s not the only Republican trying to have it both ways. Others have outdone themselves, seeking refuge in ever more clever, and cynical, formulas. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he disagrees with Trump, but will stick with him because “The party of Lincoln wants to win the White House.” Former candidate Marco Rubio also disagrees, but adds, “You don’t want Hillary Clinton to win.” Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN.), rumored to be on Trump’s short list for vice president, admits “there could be” a line that would make him withdraw his support for Trump, but we’re not there yet.
Even John McCain, who was himself ridiculed by Trump for being a prisoner of war, admits he’s offended by Trump’s racist comments, yet argues “You have to listen to people that have chosen the nominee of our Republican Party.” Really? No matter who he is? No matter what he says?
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), in a tough race for re-election, has re-written the political lexicon by inventing a new category of support. She told reporters she will vote for Donald Trump, but she does not “endorse” him.
Equally disgusting was Chris Christie’s robust defense of Trump. He’s known Trump for 14 years, Christie told reporters, and he knows he’s “not a racist.” Yet Christie, a former federal attorney, also knows that Trump’s lawyers have filed no motion to recuse Judge Curiel from the case. In fact, they’ve actually praised him for conducting a fair trial. The only reason Trump attacked him is because of his supposed ethnicity.
Profiles in Courage? No, these Republicans are just the opposite. Profiles in Cowardice: so-called political leaders who readily put what’s good for their party over what’s good for the country, because they believe in nothing and stand for nothing. It’s not that they don’t know the difference between right and wrong. They just don’t have the backbone to do what’s right.
Fortunately, there are at least two brave voices among the GOP. Illinois Senator Mark Kirk cited Trump’s comments as reason to withdraw his endorsement, which led South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham to observe that if any Republican was looking for an “off-ramp” to get off the Trump highway, this was it. More Republicans should take it.
(c) 2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
