Some Republicans are hitting back at President Trump after he lectured them about health care on Wednesday, charging that his many scandals (Russia and his trigger happy tweeting included) are not helping their cause.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) was especially blunt. He thinks Trump, his staff, and his family have been wholly unhelpful in their quest to enact policy.
"I don't even pay any attention to what is going on with the administration because I don't care," he said Wednesday. “They're a distraction. The family is a distraction, the president is a distraction," Simpson said. "At first, it was 'Well yeah, this is the guy we elected. He'll learn, he'll learn.' And you just don't see that happening."
As Guy explained in his Wednesday analysis, Trump is one of the last people to blame for the disaster the GOP has made of health care. Whatever their sentiment toward the White House may be, isn't it best to keep that to themselves for the good of the party?
At times, it seemed like Republicans did more to hurt than help Trump during the presidential campaign. Instead of defending him against media attacks, too often they ran.
Certainly, Trump has given the GOP reasons to cringe, especially where his rhetoric is concerned. But he has legitimate beef with the party for thus far failing to repeal and replace Obamacare. They owe it to the American people to figure it out and not leave for vacation before they do, he told them Wednesday.
Despite Trump's airing his concerns at the lunch and a late night meeting between senators, it appears the party is still stuck in neutral. Several lawmakers are even confused as to which bill Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will be bringing to the floor next week.