Top Republican Leaders Are Still Standing By Trump’s ‘Many Sides’ Charlottesville Tweet
When Donald Trump failed to call out the violence and murder perpetrated by members of the Alt-Right (KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists) many of his fellow Republicans called for the President to issue a more firm stance that bigotry and hatred would not be tolerated in the United States.
Those same GOP leaders also openly questioned why President Trump took 48 hours to forcefully denounced members of the Alt-Right and their dangerous actions.
Fast forward a few days later and a handful of top GOP leaders are now making excuses for The Donald.
“I don’t think the president is some sort of closet racist who’s deliberately stirring up the devils of our nature,” Representative Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a veteran lawmaker said during an interview with The Hill.
“Because of the nature of the attack, he should have been more specific. Within 48 hours, he was,” Cole added. “Probably he missed an opportunity, but we’re all singing from the same song book now, and that’s a good thing.”
Cole wasn’t the only Republican to jump back onto the Trump trainwreck.
“I think the left is trying to make this political and it shouldn’t be,” said another House Republican who asked not to be named. “I’m disgusted by the heat from both sides.”
New York Republican Representative Tom Reed claimed that Trump sent a clear message, despite the public’s opinion. “I believe his message has been clear that racism, bigotry, and hatred is not American and must be rejected in its entirety.”
When a top aide was asked if he had concerns about Trump’s initial tweet they said, “Despite whatever faults Trump has, he is not racist or anti-Semitic. … Trump did not earn this.”
In the meantime, the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, both controlled by the GOP, have issued no plans to hold hearings regarding the Charlottesville attack or to discuss why white supremacist groups are rising under Trump’s leadership.
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