Senator Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, launched a scathing dismantling of President Trump in a town hall meeting with voters, claiming he has grown close to dictators and white supremacists
Nebraska Republican Senator Ben Sasse slammed President Trump in a town hall with voters on Wednesday, accusing the president of spoiling the response to the coronavirus pandemic, getting closer to dictators and white supremacists, and to offend voters so widely that it could cause a « Republican bloodbath » in the Senate
In a disastrous nine-minute indictment against M Trump’s foreign policy and what Mr. Sasse called his « deficient » values, the senator said the president has abused women and alienated important allies around the world, spent relentlessly, ignored human rights and treated the pandemic like a â € “ PR screaming ???? He predicted that a loss of M Trump on election day, less than three weeks away – seems likely – and said Republicans would take a heavy toll for standing so firmly behind him for four tumultuous years
– The debate will not be, – Ben Sasse, why were you so mean to Donald Trump? Mr. Sasse said, according to audio obtained by The Washington Examiner and authenticated by The New York Times – It’s gonna be, – what the heck did they think that selling a narcissistic, TV-obsessed individual to the American people was good idea? ?? at ????
Mr. Sasse also alluded to more drastic consequences: a « Venezuelan style » Supreme Court with dozens of judges installed by ascendant Democrats; an empowered China ruling the Pacific because of Mr. Trumpâ ???? her ???? weakâ ???? Strategies; and the American allies doubting that they can trust US force and US willâ ????
Mr Sasse, who is re-elected on November 3, has made his concerns public at a time when Republicans increasingly fear that Mr Trump is heading for a devastating loss in the November election that could also cost them the Senate, giving Democrats, who already hold the House, unified control After years of tolerating the president’s intimidation on Twitter and contempt for party orthodoxy and basic American standards, their patience seems to be running out
He spoke to voters on Wednesday around the time Senators on the Judicial Committee were wrapping up their questioning of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, M Trump’s Supreme Court nominee on Capitol Hill panel member Sasse praised Conservative-favorite Justice Barrett who would definitely tilt the court to the right
Rarely has a split-screen better summed up the compromises Congressional Republicans made over four years of Mr. Trump’s presidency as a Republican senator exulting over his Conservative Supreme Court candidate in an instant and lamenting his standards-upsetting behavior – and his party’s willingness to quietly tolerate it then
Mister Sasse didn’t exactly try to keep his critics quiet James Wegmann, a spokesperson who confirmed his comments, said 17,000 Nebraskans were invited to take part in the call, although it appears not have been open to the general public m Sasse’s criticism played out after someone on the call asked the senator about his previous criticisms of M Asset
– Like many Nebraskans, I’m trying to understand your relationship with the president, â ???? the woman said – Why do you have to criticize him so much? –
Mr. Sasse, a former university president with a doctorate in American history from Yale who presents himself as a conservative in principle, has never hidden his distaste for Mr. Trump During the 2016 campaign, he compared M Trump to David Duke and refused to vote for him At the office he called M Trump’s signing trade war with Chinaâ € ”
But he had toned down his criticisms in recent years, gaining crucial endorsement from the president he once saved
Wednesday’s remarks were far more scathing than any he has made recently, and especially notable given Mr. Trump took over the Republican Party in his four years as President
Mr. Sasse, 48, began by saying that he had worked hard to develop a « working relationship » with Mr Trump, and even prayed for the president because he is one of our leaders. He said he was happy when M Trump has taken traditionally conservative political positions and appointed conservative judges And, he added, he understood that some voters in Nebraska were « frustrated » with his criticisms of the president
– I don’t apologize at all for fighting for my values against his where I think his are lacking, not just for a Republican but for an American, « Mr. Sasse said
He argued that M Trump had « streamlined from sidewalk to sidewalk » as he sought to respond to a pandemic that claimed the lives of more than 217,000 Americans this year
– He refused to treat it seriously, – Mr. Sasse said For months he treated it like a news cycle by news cycle PR crisisâ ????
He added that he didn’t think M Trump’s leadership during the crisis had been – reasonable or responsible, or fairâ € ”
– The way he kisses dictators cigarette butts Mr Sasse said, listing his reservations about M Trump – I mean, the way he ignores that Uyghurs are literally in concentration camps in Xinjiang right now He hasn’t lifted a finger on behalf of Hong Kong peopleâ € ”
He continued, « The United States now regularly sells our allies under his leadership, the way he treats women, passes like a drunken sailor. »
Mr. Trump – laughs at evangelicals behind closed doors, – he added His family treated the presidency as a business opportunity He flirted with white supremacistsâ € ”
Each of these things, M Sasse predicted, would have consequences, for Republicans and the nation He seemed particularly alarmed at the potential damage Mr. Trump, who has supported Democrats for decades as a businessman, could long-term the conservative cause by pushing the country to the leftat ????
Young people, he said, could become permanent democrats because they have just been repelled by the obsessive nature of our politics ???? The women, who have dropped out of the party en masse, might decide – they have to stay away from this party for good in the futureâ € ”
– I’m now examining the possibility of a Republican bloodbath in the Senate, and that’s why I’ve never been on the Trump train, – ???? he said That’s why I didn’t agree to be on his re-election committee, and that’s why I’m not campaigning for him…
In a statement, M Wegmann has not commented on M Sasse remarks He said the senator will stay focused on Senate races
– I don’t know how many times we can still shout this, – Mr. Wegmann said Even though the Beltway is exclusively obsessed with the presidential race, Senate control is 10 times more importantâ ????
Donald Trump, Ben Sasse, Republican Party, United States Senate, United States Senator
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