Posted on 10/09/2017 7:13:31 PM PDT by markomalley
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is offering support to Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) amid a war of words between the latter and President Trump.
"Sen. Corker is a valuable member of the Senate Republican caucus and he’s also on the Budget committee and a particularly important player as we move to the floor on the budget next week and he’s an important part of our team,” McConnell said Monday in Kentucky, according to the Associated Press.
Asked about whether he agreed with Corker's criticism of Trump, McConnell sidestepped, adding: "[Corker is] an important part of our team and he's a particularly important part of the budget debate which will be on the floor next week."
Corker and Trump traded rhetorical fire on Sunday after the president lashed out at the Tennessee senator during an early morning tweetstorm.
But Corker's staff pushed back on the president's tweet, saying Trump asked Corker to reconsider his decision to retire after 2018 and offered his endorsement if he ran for reelection.
Corker also fired back publicly at Trump, comparing the White House to an "adult day care center."
Corker stepped up his criticism later on Sunday, telling The New York Times that Trump's threats to other countries put the U.S. "on the path to World War III.”
“He concerns me,” Corker said during the interview. “He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation.”
Corker also told the Times that he didn't get pushback for his "day care" comments when he talked to McConnell on Sunday.
Corker — once considered as a potential vice president or secretary of State under Trump — says he talks with the president frequently, but his increasingly sharp criticism appears to have rankled the president and his allies.
McConnell's comments on Monday come as Senate GOP leadership will try to pass its fiscal 2018 budget next week. The bill includes instructions that will allow Republicans to pass tax reform by a simple majority, avoiding a Democratic filibuster.
But Republicans have a narrow path for passing either the budget or, ultimately, tax reform. With a 52-seat majority they need the support of at least 50 senators, which would allow Vice President Mike Pence to break a tie.
Corker has emerged as one of the loudest Republican critics in the Senate of leadership's tax blueprint, saying he won't support even a "penny's worth of deficits."
“I want tax reform to reduce the deficit,” he said last week. “I want it to be pro-growth, and I want it to be permanent.”
But he added that his skepticism about the current tax framework wouldn't impact his support for the budget.
McConnell is dead man walking.
Corker needs to put a cork in it.
McConnell should have been as interested in hearing what Steve Bannon had to say tonight on Hannity.
Wait till Bannon’s Brigade gets to the Senate in 2019. Adios, McConnell.
Of course the RINOs would have each others backsides, back ends. Bannon is going to make toast of them.
Of course he would. They are both deep state buddies.
Bannon is our new national hero and he is after their ass so bad. He is the head of a giant PAC of disillusioned Karl Rove one worlders that is going to primary all but Ted CRuz. Either these bastards come out with the Trump agenda or they better lock and load!!!! They are backing McDaniel again is Mississippi and going to hit Orin hatch !! this is so great. The new party is the MAGA party!!
Or just plain stupid?
McConnell has the Deep State working for him. As in the Justice Dept, the Intelligence agencies, and millions of dollars. He knows the Republican Senate is bought and paid for.
Mitch ain’t afraid of Steve Bannon.
The lines are drawn and clear now. No more pretenses. Nothing is going to get done. It will take a Primary bloodbath before the agenda moves an inch. Thank God impeachment has to come from the house or Trump would be doomed.
We should have gone after the RINOs in the primaries a long time ago. The primaries are the key.
Well, if he’s “an important part” of McConnell’s team...
Then we know he’s certainly not on OUR team.
Cheap Labor Express Republicans should always hang together..........
MuFfle supports Corkhead; what a surprise! /sarc
McConnell doesn’t realize he’s politically dead right now.
Radioactive doesn’t begin to describe him and Ryan, right now.
The deep state .. congress .. all the agencies .. were not able to prevent Trump from being elected President by the people.
Well no crap Sherlock!!...it the swamp protecting the swamp!
I think when Mc Tumor croaks the log jam might fall apart. Wishful thinking.
Every decision you could make to prove you are not a man, Mitch McConnell has made.
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