On October 8, a tape of Donald Trump openly
bragging about sexual assault seemed like it was finally the
last straw. Multiple members of the GOP leadership un-endorsed the
Trump in outrage. But now, with the polls tightening ever so slightly, a
number are letting that anger slip away and quietly hopping back on
board.
Utah congressman, Jason Chaffetz, one of the first high-level Republicans to publicly denounce the nominee, said in an interview with Salt Lake Tribune a few weeks ago, “I can not support in any way, shape or form the comments or approach Donald Trump has taken.” Now he’s changing the story to say:
He’s not the only one to backtrack on his initial statement. House Speaker Paul Ryan cancelled a scheduled campaign with Trump in Wisconsin just a day after the “Access Hollywood” tape dropped. A few days later, he announced that he’d no longer campaign with or defend Trump, saying instead he’d be “focused entirely on protecting [GOP] congressional majorities,” according to spokeswoman AshLee Strong.
And yet on Tuesday, Ryan said on Fox News, “I stand where I’ve stood all fall and all summer. I — in fact, I already voted here in Janesville for our nominee last week in early voting. We need to support our entire Republican ticket.”
Similarly, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wrote on October 8 that he can no longer endorse Trump and wrote that he urges him to step aside and allow Mike Pence to replace him.
And then he too changed his mind: On October 21, Crapo said in a
statement to the local radio, “[T]hough I thought and felt we needed a
different choice, that’s not what we’re going to get, and we cannot
elect Hillary Clinton for many reasons. … Given that choice, I will vote
for the Republican ticket: Trump and [vice presidential nominee Mike]
Pence.” the Washington Post reported.
South Dakota Senator John Thune followed the same pattern, backing away from Trump on October 8:
Then a few days later told local media “We’re several days past that now and the more days that past the harder it’s going to be for somebody else to be able to step in and become the nominee and I understand that, but I still think that’s the best solution.”
Though dozens of Republicans revoked their endorsement in response to the tape, Trump still has the support of 83 percent of Republicans — a block that may be too big ignore. At the end of the day, the only thing truly outraging seems to be losing your elected office.
Utah congressman, Jason Chaffetz, one of the first high-level Republicans to publicly denounce the nominee, said in an interview with Salt Lake Tribune a few weeks ago, “I can not support in any way, shape or form the comments or approach Donald Trump has taken.” Now he’s changing the story to say:
He’s not the only one to backtrack on his initial statement. House Speaker Paul Ryan cancelled a scheduled campaign with Trump in Wisconsin just a day after the “Access Hollywood” tape dropped. A few days later, he announced that he’d no longer campaign with or defend Trump, saying instead he’d be “focused entirely on protecting [GOP] congressional majorities,” according to spokeswoman AshLee Strong.
And yet on Tuesday, Ryan said on Fox News, “I stand where I’ve stood all fall and all summer. I — in fact, I already voted here in Janesville for our nominee last week in early voting. We need to support our entire Republican ticket.”
Similarly, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wrote on October 8 that he can no longer endorse Trump and wrote that he urges him to step aside and allow Mike Pence to replace him.
South Dakota Senator John Thune followed the same pattern, backing away from Trump on October 8:
Then a few days later told local media “We’re several days past that now and the more days that past the harder it’s going to be for somebody else to be able to step in and become the nominee and I understand that, but I still think that’s the best solution.”
Though dozens of Republicans revoked their endorsement in response to the tape, Trump still has the support of 83 percent of Republicans — a block that may be too big ignore. At the end of the day, the only thing truly outraging seems to be losing your elected office.
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