Scathing Local Editorials for Vulnerable Republicans: “Thumbs Down” for Ernst, Gardner “Failed a Test of Fundamental Integrity”

Quad-City Times: Ernst “deflected” and “did the DC-two-step” as she was “dodging questions on whether it’s right for a president to ask a foreign government to investigate a political rival”

Aurora Sentinel: “Gardner failed a test of fundamental integrity,” and his deflection signals he now serves Trump

As vulnerable GOP senators in battleground states keep “stumbling” over a basic question about whether President Trump’s admission that he asked a foreign country to investigate a political opponent and interfere in the 2020 election was appropriate, local editorial boards offered more scathing rebukes of their stumbling responses over the weekend.

While Democrats have been clear that foreign interference in American elections is unacceptable, Senate Republicans like Cory Gardner and Joni Ernst have demonstrated an embarrassing inability to be independent leaders for their states. Their non-answers earned Ernst a “thumbs down” from the Quad-City Times editorial board and led the Aurora Sentinel editorial board to write that “Gardner failed a test of fundamental integrity” and questioned whether he is “qualified to continue to serve as Colorado’s junior senator.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Quad-City Times Editorial: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

• Thumbs Down… to U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst for dodging questions on whether it’s right for a president to ask a foreign government to investigate a political rival. The obvious answer is: “Of course not.”

• Unfortunately, Ernst did the DC-two-step when asked this question this week.

• But there comes a time when politicians should be willing to speak their values, rather than their political interests. Engage in a little straight talk, if you will. Instead, Ernst deflected.

• In 2014, Ernst ran as an outsider, somebody who would bring Iowa common sense to Washington, D.C. She didn’t do it in this case.

Aurora Sentinel Editorial: Sen. Cory Gardner’s deflection on Trump’s treachery signals whom it is he now serves

• Answer the question, Sen. Cory Gardner.

• Gardner virtually sealed his political fate this week when he refused to answer reporter questions about whether a president should enlist the aid of foreign countries to undermine political opponents.

• Gardner awkwardly stammered and dodged the question when confronted by reporters Thursday. He offered one sophomoric deflection after another when asked a simple query…

• In that moment, Gardner failed a test of fundamental integrity. He signaled his inability to save a re-election campaign already mired in his reputation for blind fidelity to a president who regularly undermines Gardner’s constituents. Gardner signaled his allegiance to a complicit band of Republican Trump sycophants who dangerously choose political expediency over the good of the nation.

• When Gardner’s flimsy feint didn’t work, reporters persisted, 12 times.

• Gardner isn’t alone in deflection antics that make Trump’s Congressional supporters and lackeys complicit in his illicit schemes and possible crimes. The same Gardner talking points and marching orders were issued by Republican or Trump officials to senators Joni Ernst in Iowa and Martha McSally in Arizona.

• Gardner refused 12 times when asked by reporters to tell constituents where he sides on the issue that is the nucleus of Trump’s impeachment inquiry. His deflection answers the next question: whether Gardner is qualified to continue to serve as Colorado’s junior senator. If he continues to refuse to answer, he obviously is not.

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