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.
A political tsunami hit America last November, and McConnell acts like it was an ordinary high tide.
Could this creep be any more tone deaf?
Of course the RINOs would have each others backsides, back ends.
Of course Myrtle the Turtle would defend Corker. Establishment b*tches gotta stick together.
If McConnell had ANY integrity he would have stripped Corker of any committee assignments and suggested he go home... forever.
Yes to both. He has gotten away with his duplicity for decades, but now we know exactly what he is.
McConnell - who has not gotten one piece of legislation through his senate and stood by and watched as underlings like McCain made a mockery of him has absolutely no room to talk and should step down in disgrace if he can’t do his job.
Corker is a member of the Senate budget committee. When was the last time we had a urgent?
“I want it to be pro-growth, and I want it to be permanent.”
Let me translate this. Corportists like beltway Bob Corker want a corporate tax cut only. Main Street taxpayers can ESAD as far as these elitists are concerned on tax cuts.
Curious if McConnell helps Corker with his hair.
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.
The problem is only 1/3 of the Senate is up every election. So they give us pass the baton beltway theater between safe Senate seats. McCain, Collins, Corker, etc.
All the House is standing for election every 2 years so they must be more inline with the electorate. The Senate is just flipping us the bird and there isn’t much we can do about it, unfortunately.
And yet, this SOB said nothing as Obama overspent by TEN TRILLION DOLLARS in 8 years.
Corker wants tax cuts for his corporate donors. That’s all he cares about. The “fiscal hawk” stuff from him is all just BS beltway theater.
No big surprise with McConnell not supporting the President!!
Bannon vs. The Turtle....whatcha betting?
Leni
Although they may indeed be working together to make things look a certain way Ryan has actually moved things (maybe because he knows it won’t get passed). Mitch has moved nothing. He’s the bigger problem.
Separation of RINOs and State, are you saying?
Rinos don’t have any problem going after Trump ,but refuse to go after the dems when they hurt people or get out of line...Rinos loooooove the dem party...
Memo to McConnell:
POTUS Trump is much more important team member of the MAGA agenda than lame duck senator Corker.
You arrived at the right conclusion but for the wrong reason. The correct answer is 99% of ALL career politicians are controlled by the same ultra-rich donor class.
Hey Mitch how was dinner in LA with rich republican donors? Went well until they told you that you haven’t done anything and forget more money. Lonely ride back to DC. Did you sit on a pillow?
I think you are right about a frozen agenda. I wonder if Pence was impeachment insurance as there are a number of Republicans who might consider his abortion and religious views too far right. As to a Primary bloodbath, Congress may be even more fractured after that plus Nov. ‘18.
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