Spineless GOP Senator Declines 5 Times To Condemn Trump For Extorting A Foreign Power

Republican Sen. Cory Gardner demonstrated that even though he’s up for reelection in Colorado next year, he still lacks a spine when it comes to standing up for the United States of America.

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During a stunning exchange with reporters, Gardner refused to answer – five times – whether it’s appropriate for the president of the United States to extort a foreign power into giving him dirt on a political rival.

One reporter asked, “I haven’t heard you answer this question: Do you believe it’s appropriate for the president of the United States to ask a foreign leader to investigate a political rival – yes or no?”

What followed was a series of deflections from Sen. Gardner in which he did everything – attack the media, attack Democrats, attack the impeachment process – except answer a very simple question.

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Republican senators are strapping themselves to a sinking ship

Some pundits have suggested that if the evidence was damning enough – which it is – then there are a handful of Republicans in the Senate who might break from Trump.

Among those potential senators is Cory Gardner of Colorado, who is arguably the most vulnerable Republican up for reelection in 2020. One poll conducted over the summer showed him trailing potential Democratic opponent John Hickenlooper by double digits.

But what Gardner’s shameless performance on Thursday showed is that Republican members of Congress are strapping themselves to this sinking ship of a presidency because they’re too afraid that Donald Trump will tweet mean things about them.

When Cory Gardner loses next November, it’ll be because of moments like this when he forgot that his job is to defend the United States, not Donald Trump.

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Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.