Posted on 03/29/2019 2:38:23 PM PDT by jazusamo
Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said Thursday that he would rather see a Democrat win in 2020 than have President Trump elected to a second term.
Flake made his comments at a debate in New York hosted by the nonprofit Intelligence Squared. Flake and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens argued that the GOP should not renominate Trump, while Liz Peek and former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach backed the president.
Moderator John Donvan asked Flake if he would rather see Trump lose if he is the party's standard-bearer in 2020.
"Are you willing to lose a cycle for the Republican Party because of the principles that you're arguing?" Donvan asked.
"Oh yes, yes," Flake responded, citing Trump's policies on issues such as immigration. Flake said that while those policies were supported by the president's base, they hurt the Republican Party over the long run.
"It can galvanize people for a while, maybe for a cycle or two. But in the end, it turns people off. It turns off minorities. It turns off women," said Flake, noting that anti-immigration policies such as those pushed by former Gov. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) hurt the GOP in The Golden State.
Flake was asked what the GOP should do if Trump remains the nominee.
"You sacrifice a generation, and you think, 'Man, we might get some policy goals in the next year or two,'" Flake said. But he hoped the party took a longer view.
"Look at the long term. Look at the long term, at what you're doing for the party, because people don't want to be associated with it," he added.
The former Arizona senator also said arguments claiming Trump is the only electable Republican candidate in 2020 are flawed.
"We would certainly like it to be a Republican. And this notion — this narrative that's been built up that Donald Trump is the only one that can cobble together the Electoral College and win is just a fallacy," Flake said.
A vocal Trump critic, Flake did not seek reelection in 2018 and retired from the Senate. He announced in January that he would not seek the GOP nomination for president in 2020 and signed on with CBS News as a political contributor.
Not to worry. The Suicide lines will be open for Dems after Trump wins.
Who cares?
Flake’s opinion will influence exactly zero voters.
Who is this guy?
Good luck, Flakey. You’ll need it. President Trump will trounce your fellow candy-ass globalists in 2020.
That name is so appropriate a fit.
And he’s proven to be as much a Republican as McButtface (may he rot in not peace).
The Baby Eaters, Jeff?
No, no it’s not better if a Democrat wins, you dick wad.
I must admit, Flake is probably an expert on what turns people off. . . .
It’s good news to here GOP elite admit they prefer Democrats to the GOP nominee. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Flake best be careful what he wishes for.
Flake is now MISTER IRRELEVANT and I thank God for that. It’s the reason that McConnell will be able to “go nuclear” (I.e., with only 50 votes) next week to eliminate ‘RAT massive obstruction on confirming Trump’s nominees.
Another perfect example of the saying:
“It is better to stay silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.”
You’ve got that right, what a disgrace he is.
You couldn’t be more right, what he did to the GOP and holding up judge confirmations at the end of his term was pathetic.
Trashing Trump is now Flakes meal ticket. Could be a lot more lucrative than the Senate gig
Amazing. Wasn’t he a member of the House Liberty caucus?
The ONLY thing that matters to Bush League Republicans is keeping the borders open and the laws unenforced.
If they don’t succeed in turning the USA into North Mexico, they can’t get to their New World Order.
Fearful Flake has the charisma (and the spine) of a wet noodle.
Figures a jackass named FLAKE would say that..guess ol Flaky is all good with late term abortion, open borders, and NO private health insurance..and let’s not forget NO MORE MOO COWS
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