Republicans twist themselves into knots over Trump vote

Michael Walsh
·Reporter

Several prominent Republicans cannot bring themselves to publicly endorse Donald Trump, but have said they will still vote for him anyway.

These Republican members of the U.S. Congress — from both the Senate and the House of Representatives — have strongly condemned Trump for his statements about women and some publicly withdrew their support. Nevertheless, they say they will still vote for the reality television star because they fear that a Hillary Clinton presidency would be even worse.

Here are some of the Republicans appearing to struggle with their Nov. 8 vote.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah

Late Wednesday night, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz became the latest GOP politician to say that Trump still has his vote even though he cannot condone the Republican presidential candidate’s behavior.

Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, had publicly endorsed Trump’s bid for the White House but withdrew it earlier this month when a recently released video from 2005 revealed the reality TV star boasting about how his celebrity status allows him to grab women “by the p****.”

Shortly after the audio was uncovered, Chaffetz told CNN that he would no longer he able to endorse Trump.

“My wife, Julia and I, we have a 15-year-old daughter,” Chaffetz said. “Do you think I can look her in the eye and tell her that I endorsed Donald Trump for president when he acts like this and his apology? That was no apology, that was an apology for getting caught.”

“So I’m not going to put my good name and reputation and my family behind Donald Trump for president when he acts like this, I just can’t do it,” he continued.

And he’s not the only one to rescind his endorsement.

Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho

On Oct. 8, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho released a statement saying that Trump’s repeated actions and comments about women have been disrespectful and demeaning.

“I have reached the decision that I can no longer endorse Donald Trump. This is not a decision that I have reached lightly, but his pattern of behavior has left me no choice,” he said in a statement.

Crapo said that he spent more than two decades working on preventing domestic violence, and that Trump’s “locker-room talk” excuse is unacceptable.

“Make no mistake. We need conservative leadership in the White House,” he continued. “I urge Donald Trump to step aside and allow the Republican Party to put forward a conservative candidate like Mike Pence who can defeat Hillary Clinton.”

On Monday, Crapo released a statement saying that he will vote for Trump anyway.

“The choice we still have today and the choice we will have is between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton,” Crapo said. “In that context, I have to tell you, though I thought and felt we needed a different choice, that’s not what we’re going to get, and we cannot elect Hillary Clinton for many reasons. … Given that choice, I will vote for the Republican ticket: Trump and [vice presidential nominee Mike] Pence.”

Crapo said the U.S. must elect a president who will appoint Supreme Court justices who will “interpret the Constitution as it was written” and lead Americans to a stronger free market and a more limited government.

“In that context,” he continued, “I don’t think the choice is that hard when we realize the decision this country must make.”

Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska

Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska publicly condemned Trump’s “Access Hollywood” comments as disgusting and “totally unacceptable” on Oct. 8.

Three days later, however, Fischer clarified on local Nebraska station KLIN that even though she found Trump’s comments about women unacceptable she still intended to vote for him.

“I plan to vote for Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence on November 8,” she said, according to Politico. “I put out a statement … with regard to Mr. Trump’s comments. I felt they were disgusting. I felt they were unacceptable and I never said I was not voting for our Republican ticket.”

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota

A day after the controversial 2005 tape appeared, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota called for Trump to withdraw and Pence to take his place as the presidential nominee.

But Thune later told local South Dakota station KOTA-TV that he still intended to cast his vote for Trump.

“It’s really all about winning the election and defeating Hillary Clinton.” He said. “Hillary Clinton I think would be very harmful to South Dakota. She is somebody who talks about Donald Trump and his character issues, there is no one like I said before, there is no one that can claim character in this debate.”

Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey

New Jersey Rep. Scott Garrett released a statement denouncing Trump’s lewd remarks about groping women.

“Donald Trump’s comments are inexcusable. I am appalled that he would brag about violating a woman’s physical boundaries,” he said. “As a husband and father of two daughters, I denounce his comments and the behavior that it incites. I believe that Mike Pence would be the best nominee for the Republican Party to defeat Hillary Clinton.”

Nevertheless, he is still on the Trump train. Garrett’s campaign manager Sarah Neibart released a statement to the New York Observer saying his top priority in this election is stopping Clinton’s agenda.

“Donald Trump remains the nominee of the Republican Party, and Rep. Garrett has always said he will vote for the Republican Party nominee,” she said.

Rep. Bradley Byrne of Alabama

Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne called on Trump to step down from the presidential ticket, saying that he is unfit to be the commander in chief and unable to defeat Clinton in the general election.

“Donald Trump’s comments regarding women were disgraceful and appalling. There are absolutely no circumstances under which it would ever be appropriate to speak of women in such a way,” he said. “It is now clear Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States and cannot defeat Hillary Clinton. I believe he should step aside and allow Governor Pence to lead the Republican ticket.”

Again, despite vehemently denouncing Trump, he vowed to vote for the Republican ticket.

Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois

Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk said Wednesday that he doesn’t know for whom he will vote on election day but suggested that he might write in former CIA Director David Petraeus.

“A man who has such a good military record would be able to inspire many of us,” Kirk said of Petraeus to Chicago’s WBEZ. “Trump does not inspire me about anything at all. Neither does Hillary. I’m in one of those ‘neither one’ categories.”