From Politico Playbook -
R’s are asking Pence to tell T to tone it down on the “Send her Home” rhetoric per reporting today - but very few if any are saying it directly to camera.
POLITICO Playbook PM: What Republicans are saying in private about Ilhan Omar and ‘send her back’
ON THE ‘SEND HER BACK’ CHANTS …
– NEW, via David Jackson of USA Today, today’s pooler: “Asked why he did not stop chant: ‘I think I did - I started speaking very quickly.’ He added: ‘I was not happy with it - I disagree with it.’”
– MELANIE ZANONA, QUINT FORGEY and JOHN BRESNAHAN: "Republicans press Pence for answers on ‘send her back’ chant": "Republican members are expressing shock and discomfort over the ‘send her back’ chants that erupted during President Donald Trump’s rally Wednesday night, with even some members of House GOP leadership expressing their concerns to Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday.
"During a breakfast meeting with Republican leaders, multiple members said they were disturbed by the chants aimed at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and asked Pence to relay their message to Trump, which he agreed to do, according to several members who were present.
"Rep. Paul Mitchell, the sophomore class representative, even asked for a 15-minute meeting with the president so he could directly discuss the issue with Trump. ‘It’s one thing to do chants of “lock her up.” But a chant like [“send her back”] is simply not reflective of our constitution,’ the Michigan Republican told POLITICO.
“And Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said Pence seemed to share their concerns. ‘He said, “at first I couldn’t even tell what it was.” And he said, “that just needs to not happen,”’ said Cole, ranking member on the House Rules Committee. ‘He seemed as appalled by it as everybody else.’” POLITICO
– SARAH FERRIS, HEATHER CAYGLE and JOHN BRESNAHAN: “House Dems warn Omar in ‘imminent danger’ after Trump rally chants”: "House Democrats erupted in fury Thursday over President Donald Trump’s attacks at freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar at his reelection rally, fearful that crowd chants of ‘send her back’ have personally endangered her and her family.
“Senior Democrats are now calling for authorities to evaluate security for Omar (D-Minn.), as well as the three other lawmakers who Trump called out by name at his Wednesday night rally in North Carolina — warning that Trump has escalated the risk of threats or even acts of violence toward the four minority freshmen. ‘It’s crystal clear to me that her life is in imminent danger,’ said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus. ‘He has threatened the safety of a member of Congress. That takes this to a whole different level.’” POLITICO
– House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY said the “send her back” chants had no place in America. He said that this is an ideological fight – it really hasn’t been – and said that the president said “if you don’t love America, you can leave.” "He doesn’t pinpoint any individual."
what total BS
Podcast
