President Trump renewed his attacks on Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) on Tuesday, chastising him for his skepticism over a $1.5 trillion tax cut. Mr. Corker responded by going on national television to say that Mr. Trump was “debasing” the United States and that the president struggled with the truth.
In a tweet on his personal account, the President responded by stating that Corker "couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee" and that as the chair for the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, "helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal." Corker responded by referring to the White House as a daycare center in a responding tweet.
This virtual shouting match between the President and Senator Corker bodes ill for the President's relationship with the upper house of the United States Congress. President Trump has a history of hostility with the Republican-held Senate (even bearing hostility towards his fellow republicans in the Senate), from the contentious Cabinet hearings to Trump's vows that he'd work with "Chuck [Schumer] and Nancy [Pelosi]" on the issue of the debt ceiling in open defiance of the Republican leadership. Trump's fight with Corker even put a key vote on tax reform in jeopardy (which barely passed 51-48.)
I'm honestly shocked at the way Trump is not taking advantage of his situation-many Republican senators and representatives in the majority of both houses of Congress expected a good relationship with the president, if not a stooge in the White House who could help along the republican agenda once in office. I'm also wondering how this adversarial relationship could affect possible impeachment and removal proceedings (should such proceedings ever occur.)
6 comments:
This story is frightening on a number of levels. Progress has already slowed in Washington given the intense disagreement on most issues between our two major political parties. The split between our parties is scary enough, but now, if the president cannot even agree or get along with the members of his own party, that bodes poorly for our nation's government. If the leaders of our nation want to make progress and positive change, they need to move past their differences and lead to work together and compromise, not to fight among themselves.
Building on Lydia's ideas, I don't think that it is smart for President Trump to verbally attack a member of his own party. Trump's ordeal will most likely make it harder for him to gain votes in the House and Senate. Additionally, the disunity ultimately makes the nation look weak which will lead other countries to not wanting to take us seriously if they haven't already.
I applaud Senator Corker's comments, as he bravely represents the hostile ideas and opinions of numerous Americans against President Trump. With Corker being a leading Republican senator, his comments carry heavy weight in a protest against Trump presidency. Nevertheless, as the above comments concur it is not in Trump's best interest to pursue this argument, for he is only making it harder for Congress to debate and pass the bills on his agenda.
I agree with Lydia that this is a pretty scary thing. Not even thinking about their party affiliation, I think that as leaders of our nation they should not be attacking each other personally in such a public way. I think that this seems very childish and it ultimately reflects badly on our country as a whole. And in regards to them being a part of the same party, I also agree that both Trump and Corker should work harder to get along with the members of their own party since it would honestly just benefit the Republican party and would be a lot more efficient if their Senate and President worked together on issues and try to get past their differences over taxes.
I see Lydia’s point that politicians should be able to get along with others in their party, but I think that it is more important for politicians to call out people who are obviously lying (and therefore decrediting their party), and Trump attacking a member of his own party should show Republican voters that he doesn’t actually care about the party. I hope that Sen. Corker follows his statements about Trump and his policies with action and votes (unlike McCain, who openly disagrees with Trump but still votes in his (unqualified) cabinet members because that’s what the rest of the party does).
I agree with Claire's point that it is critical for politicians to call out members in their party who are obviously lying. I feel like Trump is sucking himself in a political hole that eventually he won't be able to dig himself out. I commend Senator Corker's comments for stepping out on the line to refute Trump because someone needs to do it and he has a high position. I think Trump should back off attacking a member of his own party, because it just gives more fuel to the fire and it only makes it harder for Congress to carry out his policy agenda.
Post a Comment