Posted on 07/07/2016 10:16:51 AM PDT by ObozoMustGo2012
Donald Trump’s private meeting Thursday with Senate Republicans — designed to foster greater party unity ahead of the national convention in Cleveland — grew combative as the presumptive presidential nominee admonished three senators who have been critical of his candidacy and predicted they would lose their reelection bids, according to two Republican officials with direct knowledge of the exchanges.
Trump’s most tense exchange was with Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has been vocal in his concerns about the business mogul’s candidacy, especially his rhetoric and policies on immigration that the senator argues alienate many Latino voters and others in Arizona.
When Flake stood up and introduced himself, Trump told him, “You’ve been very critical of me.”
“Yes, I’m the other senator from Arizona — the one who didn’t get captured — and I want to talk to you about statements like that,” Flake responded, according to two Republican officials.
Flake was referencing Trump’s comments last summer about the military service of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict. Trump questioned whether McCain was a war hero because he was captured.
Flake told Trump that he wants to be able to support him — “I’m not part of the Never Trump movement,” the senator said — but that he remains uncomfortable backing him, the officials said.
Trump said at the meeting that he has yet to attack Flake hard but threatened to begin doing so.
Flake’s spokesman did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Trump also called out Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) — who withdrew his endorsement of Trump last month, citing the business mogul’s racially based attacks on a federal judge — and said he did not approve of the senator’s action, the officials said.
Characterizing Kirk as a loser, Trump vowed that he would carry Illinois in the general election even though the state traditionally has been solidly Democratic in presidential contests. Kirk did not attend the meeting with Trump.
Trump also singled out Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who has refused to support Trump and has emerged as perhaps the most vocal advocate for a third-party candidate. Sasse declined to speak with reporters as he left the meeting.
“Senator Sasse went to today’s meeting ready to listen. Senator Sasse introduced himself to Mr. Trump, and the two had a gracious exchange,” said James Wegmann, the senator’s spokesman. “Mr. Sasse continues to believe that our country is in a bad place and, with these two candidates, this election remains a dumpster fire. Nothing has changed.”
Trump’s trip to Washington on Thursday highlighted the continuing concerns among congressional Republicans over controversial remarks he continues to deliver on the campaign trail and how they may affect GOP members facing tough reelection battles in the fall.
Before his meeting with Senate Republicans, Trump visited with the House GOP conference in what leaders billed as a chance for rank-and-file members to get to know the party’s presumptive presidential nominee.
“What I thought was especially helpful today was our members just got access and got to ask their questions and talk about their issues,” said House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). “I thought he did a great job engaging with our members, and I think our members appreciated it.”
Ryan said members talked to Trump about the constitutional roles of the president and Congress, reducing regulations and overhauling the tax code — all issues included the “A Better Way” policy blueprint House Republicans have rolled out in recent weeks.
“We clearly have a presumptive nominee who wants to work with us on moving this agenda forward,” Ryan said.
Trump was greeted by applause from more than 200 House GOP members at the standing-room-only gathering, according to GOP aides, and was introduced at the event by financial commentator and TV personality Larry Kudlow. Trump opened the discussion with a speech on the importance of appointing conservative justices to the Supreme Court, members said.
In his discussion with senators, Trump claimed that he had inside intelligence about Hillary Clinton’s vetting process for Supreme Court vacancies and that he knew the names of two people the presumptive Democratic nominee is considering nominating, two Republican officials said. But Trump would not reveal those names.
Trump has long cited vacancies on the Supreme Court as a reason for Republicans to unify behind his candidacy, pledging that he would appoint more-conservative justices than Clinton.
Despite House leaders positive statement about the gathering, several GOP lawmakers leaving the morning meeting said they are still unconvinced that Trump can be a good standard bearer for the party.
“I still need to be persuaded,” said Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), a moderate member of the conference.
Several lawmakers said questions were raised about derogatory comments Trump has made about minorities and women, as well as his inability to stay on message.
Trump dismissed the issue and insisted he has great support from Hispanics, Dent said.
[Donald Trump praises Saddam Hussein for killing terrorists ‘so good’]
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) described Trump’s remarks in the meeting as “a lot of stream of consciousness” akin to what he says at rallies but “less cheery.”
He said Trump brought up his recent comments about Saddam Hussein “in the context of how unfair the media has been to him.” Trump has praised the former Iraqi dictator for being “so good” at killing terrorists while adding that’s all he thinks was good about a “bad guy, really bad guy.”
Kinzinger called Trump’s previous comments about Hussein “disgusting and despicable.” He said it was “awkward” to hear the GOP nominee defend his remarks in the room.
Other members expressed confidence that Trump understands he needs to tone down his rhetoric.
“If you look at the trajectory of his unforced errors, he’s getting better,” said Rep. Bill Flores (R-Tex.). “I mean, he’s not where we want him to be, but he’s getting better.”
[Trump says campaign shouldn’t have deleted image circulated by white supremacists]
The gatherings with House and Senate Republicans came after Trump said at a rally in Ohio on Wednesday night that it was a mistake for his campaign to remove a tweet attacking Clinton with a six-pointed star placed on top of a bed of money. The image reportedly appeared last month on an online web forum frequented by white supremacists and has widely been condemned as anti-Semitic.
The controversy started to quiet by Tuesday, as Republicans moved to draw attention to Clinton’s email practices as secretary of state, which had come under investigation by the FBI. But now, it has returned to the forefront of the national political debate.
[While Clinton tries to change the subject, Republicans pounce on email criticism]
Trump repeatedly said Wednesday that the six-point star was “just a star,” not the Jewish Star of David, and that media outlets that covered the controversy are “racially profiling.”
House members leaving the meeting said Trump did not address the controversy in his remarks and was not asked about it by members.
When asked whether he was bothered by the tweet, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), the only Jewish Republican in Congress, said: “I don’t think it helps him.”
They only care about THEIR power, they couldn't care less about the country, the party or the people.
The whole US Senate is a corrupt cesspool of sub-human, treasonous scumbags.
If the whole assembly were to get vaporized, the gains would offset the losses at least 98 to 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k8YpQKzl_k
“Mr. Sasse continues to believe that our country is in a bad place and, with these two candidates, this election remains a dumpster fire. Nothing has changed.”
Voters think so too, sasse, it’s why they/we put Trump in as the nominee.
These senators have no respect for the voters. None. And that is why they are out and Trump is in
Successful businessmen, successful honest businessmen, have respect for people who get the job done, whatever their station in life. It’s a huge part of their success.
That’s what’s getting him to the top here. We have had enough of putting hope into guys like sasse only to have them treat us like idiots after they’re In office
These senators can’t figure out that trump is the voters’ favorite
Who are the idiots?
“The whole US Senate is a corrupt cesspool of sub-human, treasonous scumbags.”
Best post of the thread!
Good advice. Here’s the dilemma: when it comes to choosing between a real Democrat and a RINO democrat-lite who are both globalists, are we smarter voting for the RINO who might slightly better on some issues, or by trying to send a message as was done to Eric Cantor?
good description
Same situation here in New Hampshire with Ayotte and Maggie Hassan.
With only a very few exceptions, the entire government has been corrupted and compromised.....Trump, the amateur, represents the most real threat they have faced in their lifetime because he doesn’t understand “how things are done around here”....
The neocon types are reverting. Sad. Charles Krauthammer the other night said he supported the transgenders in the military policy. This from a shrink!!
Flunky Flake needs to switch parties.
“Yes, I’m the other senator from Arizona — the one who ist still butthurt.”
Fixed it.
is still
So. Flake is the one who “ didn’t get captured”
Then he must be the whose son kills dogs with extreme cruel negligence
Flake is just that!
That still makes me so sick. But no charges for Flake jr!
I believe you send the message and lose the seat, but only if you seriously intend on winning it back the next election with a solid conservative. It's tougher to send messages with Senators than Representatives because of the six years versus two, but something has to be done with these RINOs.
Too big to jail
Unless you actually READ what those who were quted said about the meeting, such as Ryan.
Did you read the entire piece or just the lib wapo take on it?
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