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.
I'm sure Bannon has them in his sights.
At this point I don’t care about a GOP Senate majority, for all the good it has done us.
Throw the bums out.
Big talk, no action. The only thing that gets their attention is cantorizing. Next year is going to be a political bloodbath for CINOs.
They can also hang separately, as long as they hang.
Bannon should attend the Calif. GOP convention in 10 days. Pie in the sky. Breitbart is based in L.A. and Anaheim is 30 miles south. What does Calif have? That Silicon Valley CEO who prefers the company of other men. He should look into running for Gov. Scare the hell out of the rats. Gonna be awesome!
What a jerk!!!!
Maybe he’ll go back to acting.
Corker is low-life scum. He should tarred and feathered, put on rails and run out town, for talking about the President like that.
Let us remember Italy, 1945. These traitors are not going down willingly, but when they do, it will be a joyous occasion for patriots.
Any way to feed McConnell to the lions?
Randy Newman bump...
McConnell - always on the wrong side by design....
That is what the original TEA Party was about, but since the obummer IRS squelched their ability to raise funds, it was not very effective.
As an original member in W PA, it was heartbreaking to see what was happening. The fight goes on.
McConell defends a lame-duck loser and traitor to the Iranian Mullahs. Got it.
Fact: Both the Democrat & Republican Establishment Political Parties, RINOs & “Never Trumpers’ are dying of self-inflicted wounds. All of these political “has beens” are going to have very bad, negative evening on election day, November, 2018.
Steve Bannon, however....will be jumping for joy!!! Mitch McConnell....who’s he?
Attn: Steve Bannon...we can win the governorship this year (2017) in Virginia and we can politically destroy that moron Senator Tim Kaine, Virginia, in November, 2018. Also...while a serious long shot, New Jersey governorship could be in play this year also. I would go for victory in both New Jersey & Virginia. Get Trump out to both VA & NJ...now!!!
I don't think McTurtle will be running again. Whether it's age or writing on the wall, McTurtle's not gonna run!
Corker is a Demorat in disguise.
Many Rhinos have showed their Demorat Leanings.
Time to vote them out. Start with McCain, Graham,
and Ryan.
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