That Trump Tweet? Republicans Prefer Not to See It
WASHINGTON On the 161st day of the fourth year of the Trump presidency, having grown accustomed to Republican lawmakers favorite excuse for refusing to comment on President Trumps latest incendiary tweet, reporters resorted to a rare tactic.
They printed out copies of Mr. Trumps post this one containing an unsubstantiated suggestion that an older protester shoved and injured by the police in Buffalo was an Antifa provocateur who staged his own assault for any Republican who might try to fall back on what has become a stock response: I didnt see the tweet.
It did not work. Even faced with documentary evidence of the presidents inflammatory remark, most Republicans averted their gaze on Tuesday, declining to comment as they darted through the hallways of Capitol Hill and appearing to wish away what was on paper in front of them.
Their reactions were the most vivid illustration to date of an extraordinary dynamic among elected Republicans that has been building almost since the moment Mr. Trump took office behaving as if they have no idea what he is doing or saying. After thousands of tweets carrying falsehoods, racist language and demeaning barbs against their own colleagues not to mention the news reports, book excerpts or speeches that have roiled this administration lawmakers in his party have largely settled on blissful ignorance as a way of avoiding defending the indefensible.
All I can say is they are liars, fools and traitors.