Posted on 07/19/2016 5:02:00 PM PDT by jazusamo
Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Tuesday defended his decision not to attend the Republican National Convention in his home state.
Kasich, a former Republican presidential candidate himself, has refused to endorse Donald Trump
or attend the convention. But he did speak across town in an interview with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on the second day of the convention in Cleveland.
"That's not where I think I need to be in terms of what I have stood for throughout the presidential campaign," Kasich said when asked why he wouldn't just "give in" and attend the nominating event.
During the campaign, Kasich pushed back against harsh rhetoric on immigration from candidates such as Trump. Kasich backed a path to legal status and pushed back on the idea of deporting the millions of people in the country illegally.
Kasich avoided directly engaging with Trump, who was officially nominated on Tuesday. But he made clear that he has a very different posture on key points.
"You have to be a party that reaches out," he said, mentioning African-Americans and Latinos.
On immigration, he said, "It just seems like it’s a natural thing to do to be welcoming."
Trump’s and Kasich's staff have engaged in a fiercer back and forth this week.
Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, speaking at a Bloomberg breakfast Monday, said the governor is "embarrassing his party in Ohio" by not endorsing Trump.
Kasich strategist John Weaver shot back to Bloomberg on the possibility of Kasich serving as Trump's vice president: "A hologram of Abraham Lincoln could have come back and asked him and he would have said 'no.'''
But Kasich kept his remarks more positive on Tuesday.
He said that after the election, "We’re going to have to sit down and we’re going to have to think about what our party is going to mean to people in the 21st century."
Complete A$$hole and certainly not be be counted on if he makes a promise.
This arrogant little pipsqueak personifies the reason we are all sick and tired of career politicians. John is a big time operator in his own mind. If it wasn’t for the energy windfall in Ohio, Kasich would be steering the Titanic.
It’s shocking that a sitting governor wouldn’t promote his state by appearing at this convention. Selfish man. Never liked him when he was a congressman with his childish cowlick and relenting tv bloviating.
Just quit the party and become a dem already
“That’s not where I think I need to be in terms of what I have stood for throughout the presidential campaign,”
He signed a pledge to support the nominee.
What an asshole.
I’ll second that!!
He’s such a loser. Good riddance!!
Soooo glad he is not there!!!
Kasich actually believed he was going to be the nominee thru contested convention...his ego was that big.
Why is Kasich even bothering to defend himself?
Who even cares what he thinks?
FU Kasich, you losing SOB.
Go now and join Paul Ryan is the Hall of Losers!
Absolutely agree, he has to have a screw or two loose.
I despise polidiots that play games with the security and safety of our beloved republic .....
John Katich , doom on you for enabling the clintonistas. Clinton CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO WIN !!
Disgusting weasel comments trying to undermine Trump and his inclusive campaign. Flasick.
It is amazing that his family has not had him committed. The tool is mentally ill.
Of all people Kasich the mailman’s son should realize the dangers of illegal aliens. Ohio has been hit hard by black tar heroin, a much, much worse drug than the cartel’s brown heroin. The black tar heroin dealers are illegal aliens from Mexico. They deliver black tar heroin and recruit even among children. Oddly they are under orders to sell only to whites.
Yes that is indeed amazing. Trump has smoked out the Republicans that are lying selfish do nothings.
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