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Democrats: GOP Not Disavowing Trump is ‘Baloney’

Senate Democrats call on Republicans to rescind endorsements

New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen joined fellow Democrats in calling on Republicans to denounce their presidential nominee, Donald Trump.  (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen joined fellow Democrats in calling on Republicans to denounce their presidential nominee, Donald Trump.  (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate Democrats are keeping the heat on Republicans to disavow Donald Trump  and urged them to distance themselves from the GOP’s presidential nominee.

Democrats condemned Republicans who’ve stayed silent about what they called “reckless and irresponsible” rhetoric by Trump about his foreign policy and national security platforms.

“This idea that ‘I support him but I don’t endorse him’ — that’s baloney,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said during a call with reporters Friday.

Senators continued to express concern about Trump’s comments attacking the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, an American Muslim who died in the Iraq War in 2004.

Trump also expressed fondness for Russia, raising fears in Washington about what it means for U.S. interests.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said diplomats have privately expressed concerns about a Trump presidency.

“It worries them about America’s presence,” Cardin said.

Democrats want Republicans to take one step further and rescind their endorsements of Trump.

“You can’t have it both ways,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said. “Right now we have Republican candidates that want to be able to be quiet and not stand up to him so they don’t make their Republican base mad but then be able to send out a statement disavowing everything he said.”

Contact Rahman at remarahman@cqrollcall.com or follow her on Twitter at @remawriter

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