On July 16, 2018, Niels Lesniewski of Roll Call shared Senator McCain’s statement in response to the republican President Donald Trump actions at the Helsinki summit.
Here’s the statement from the article, ‘Pathetic Rout,’ ‘Tragic Mistake’ and ‘Painful’ — John McCain Holds Little Back in Describing Helsinki
Senate Armed Services chairman lets loose blistering critique of Trump and Putin meeting
The full statement from McCain appears below:
“Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake. “President Trump proved not only unable, but unwilling to stand up to Putin. He and Putin seemed to be speaking from the same script as the president made a conscious choice to defend a tyrant against the fair questions of a free press, and to grant Putin an uncontested platform to spew propaganda and lies to the world. “It is tempting to describe the press conference as a pathetic rout — as an illustration of the perils of under-preparation and inexperience. But these were not the errant tweets of a novice politician. These were the deliberate choices of a president who seems determined to realize his delusions of a warm relationship with Putin’s regime without any regard for the true nature of his rule, his violent disregard for the sovereignty of his neighbors, his complicity in the slaughter of the Syrian people, his violation of international treaties, and his assault on democratic institutions throughout the world. “Coming close on the heels of President Trump’s bombastic and erratic conduct towards our closest friends and allies in Brussels and Britain, today’s press conference marks a recent low point in the history of the American Presidency. That the president was attended in Helsinki by a team of competent and patriotic advisors makes his blunders and capitulations all the more painful and inexplicable. “No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Not only did President Trump fail to speak the truth about an adversary; but speaking for America to the world, our president failed to defend all that makes us who we are — a republic of free people dedicated to the cause of liberty at home and abroad. American presidents must be the champions of that cause if it is to succeed. Americans are waiting and hoping for President Trump to embrace that sacred responsibility. One can only hope they are not waiting totally in vain.”
Poor Mr. McCain should realize that Trump will NEVER put America first, and vow to throw his weight behind an impeachment instead.
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Dear Suze,
Senator McCain has to be furious. This is not good for his health. But he needs to be heard.
This is a day that will go down in infamy in the history books, as the day that a US president refused to defend his own country and that he was clueless as to how his words would land on the American peoples.
Hugs, Gronda
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Gronda, reading his book, this actually may help his health giving him something to fight for. Keith
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A bit of light entertainment: Trump’s Summit with Putin: A Closer Look
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Dear 1EarthUnited,
Thanks a million for the levity break.
Hugs, Gronda
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
The outspoken and brave truth as spoken by Senator McCain.
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Dear Suzanne,
Now that some republicans are finding their spine to where they can finally speak truth to power, we have to put a fire in their behinds where they cannot backtrack.
They need to follow the leadership of Senator McCain.
Hugs, Gronda
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For goodness sake let’s hope so. —- Suzanne
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Gronda, McCain is dead on accurate. Keith
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Dear Keith,
I’m just glad he is still around. He has ended up being a conscience for the US Congress.
Hugs, Gronda
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