GOP establishment asks Trump to condemn rally violence, asks Cruz to apologize to Mitch McConnell
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he encouraged Donald Trump to condemn violence at his campaign rallies in a phone call Tuesday and reached out to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to apologize and get the GOP to rally around the candidate against Trump. Other Senators, John Cornyn, John Thune and Orin Hatch are also calling for Cruz to admit fault and “build bridges” to the GOP establishment in the US Senate.
“I took the opportunity to recommend to him that no matter who may be triggering these violent expressions or conflicts that we’ve seen at some of these rallies, it might be a good idea to condemn that and discourage it, no matter what the source of it is,” McConnell said at his weekly news conference.
Mitch McConnell photo/ donkeyhotey
McConnell joined House Speaker Paul Ryan in condemning the violence at Trump’s events.
“All candidates have an obligation to do what they can do to try and provide an atmosphere of harmony, to reduce the violence, to not incite violence, and to make sure that we are appealing to people on their best ideals,” Ryan said today, after condemning the violence in a radio interview Monday morning.
To Cruz, Senators are looking for apologies and bridges.
“I actually made that suggestion to him when I talked to him last,” Sen. John Cornyn said when asked if he thought Cruz should apologize for Cruz calling McConnell a liar on the Senate floor.
“I think he’s got some bridges to build here,” said Sen. John Thune, the No. 3 Senate Republican. “I think it would be helpful obviously for him — if he thinks he is going to be the guy or wants to be the guy — to come back here to mend some of those fences that he tore down when he was here.”
“That was not proper as you know, and I raised hell about it,” Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the longest-serving Senate Republican, said of Cruz’s criticism of McConnell.
“I’m a great believer of repentance and changing, and I think there’s a gradual change there that I’m noticing, which is good.”
Hatch also had this to say of Cruz: “It’s always helpful when you admit you’re wrong.”
2015 Defending the American Dream Summitt Ohio photo Gage Skidmore
