Mediaboss Marketing

The new spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee (RNC) used her first interview in the position Tuesday to call for Republicans to rally behind President Trump.

Kayleigh McEnany, a formerCNN commentator, said on SiriusXM'sBreitbart News Dailythatthere are a "wealth of voices in the Republican Party."

"Theres no doubt about that. Thats kind of one of the things thats the beauty of the Republican Party: We welcome everyones viewpoint," she said.

"Look, we have to stand behind this president."

McEnany pointed to ObamaCare, saying Republicans made a promise to repeal and replace the 2010 healthcare law and that the GOP needs to come together as the law "crumbles."

I welcome alternative voices, but look, these Republicans and the senators who have stood against Obamacare at least publicly, but then in their votes did not theyve got to come around, she said.

This law is crumbling, and, to me, thats a microcosm of the diversity of viewpoints within the Republican Party, which we welcome, but that need to come together because, at the end of the day, when you make a promise, it must materialize into results and successes and better outcomes for the American people.

The RNC spokeswoman argued that future electionswill be determined based on what the GOPdoes for the public.

Ultimately, the election will be determined by having successes on behalf of the American people," she said, calling for congressional Republicans and the White House to work together.

You know what that means? It means going out and actually talking to the people."

McEnany said a crucial part of getting Trump elected to a second term is "just getting out there, what President Trump's doing, what Republicans are doing."

I think a big part of my year-and-a-half at CNN was just wanting to give the CNN viewer the other side of the story wanting to give them a perspective that, in earnest, they probably hadnt heard, she said.

In terms of moving forward, I want to be a part of this fight."

McEnany frequently defended Trump during her time at CNN, where she was a paid contributor in 2016. She was named as the RNC's new spokeswoman on Monday.

McEnany told Breitbart that she has been welcomed by the RNC staff.

It was so heartening to see that this party, that the RNC, is staunchly behind this president, she said.

They realize that for our party to succeed, that means the president must succeed.

McEnany has also been a contributor to The Hill.

Read the original post:
New RNC spokeswoman calls on Republicans to unite behind Trump - The Hill

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., center, is surrounded by media on his way to view the details of a new health care bill on July 13, 2017. Alex Wong / Getty Images file

Heller charted a meandering course through the Affordable Care Act repeal debate, leading Tarkanian to say the senator had turned his back on us. Heller stridently opposed an early version of the GOP health care plan before voting for the final bill in the Senate.

I am a conservative Republican who supports the policies of President Trump to repeal Obamacare and end illegal immigration. I will continue to support President Trump's policies that have led to a 20% increase in the stock market in just six months, Tarkanian said in a statement announcing his candidacy.

Hellers camp quickly fired back, noting Tarkanians electoral record is 0-5.

Danny Tarkanian is a perennial candidate who has spent millions of dollars on five campaigns over the last decade. Nevada voters have rejected him every time, Heller spokesman Tommy Ferraro said in a statement. Hes wasted conservatives time and cost the Republican Party seats up and down the ballot. If he ultimately files for U.S. Senate he will lose in the primary.

Tarkanian, son of college basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, most recently lost a 2016 challenge to Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., the Democrat running against Heller next year.

Still, Tarkanians multiple campaigns, while unsuccessful, have made him a well-known name in Nevada politics. If nothing else, his presence in the race could force Heller to divert resources and push the senator into more conservative positions than might be advisable in the Democratic-leaning state.

Heller, the only Republican senator from a state Hillary Clinton won last year, is already Democrats top target in upper chamber in a year that otherwise has them on defense. Groups opposed to Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare spent more than $15 million on ads hitting 13 GOP senators during the health care debate. More than third of those ads $5.6. million

More here:
Danny Tarkanian to Challenge Dean Heller in Nevada Primary - NBCNews.com

"It's not good enough. We've got to do better," said Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, of the Senate's effort so far this year.

In part, they have themselves to blame. After using a process that required only Republican support, they still failed to find consensus on a plan to overhaul the Affordable Care Act and haven't otherwise moved on President Donald Trump's legislative agenda.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Republicans have four priorities: health care, tax reform, regulatory reform, and confirming conservative justices to the Supreme Court.

"If we deliver on those four, this could be the most productive congress in decades," he told reporters. "If we fail on those four, this Congress would be a heartbreaking missed opportunity."

But Republican senators have also been distracted from following through on legislative accomplishments. They worked closely with the White House and even changed Senate rules to get Justice Neil Gorsuch confirmed, but the relationship with the White House has often been sour.

Staffing kerfuffles at the White House, continued leaks about the ongoing Russia investigation and Trump's own evolving goal posts on health care all have all created an environment where senators' are slowly realizing if they want to pass a comprehensive legislative agenda, they may have to be more self-reliant.

"We're getting used to each other," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, a member of leadership. "A lot of our members have never had a Republican administration. This is a President, obviously, who's never had to work with Congress. I just think there are some growing pains that come with that, but things we can work through. "

When Congress returns in September, they'll have a full agenda. They'll have to raise the debt ceiling, keep the government funded and renew the country's flood insurance program. They'll also have to return to work on stabilizing the health care system something most lawmakers acknowledge now requires Democratic help. And, lawmakers are expected to turn again to try and get Trump a win on tax reform.

After years of waiting for a Republican to enter the White House, GOP senators admit that they are adjusting to the fact that the conservative legislative agenda is in their hands.

"I think we're conducting our business in the way things were intended to be," said Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Look, we're separate but equal branch, and I think we understand it's up to us to pass laws and make changes and to deal with things like tax reform. "

Asked if he felt like Congress was on its own, Corker said he was relishing the freedom and urged his colleagues to accept it as a silver lining.

"Honestly I enjoy the fact that Congress, the Senate in particular, is charting a course and developing legislation and, let's face it, leading on all of these issues," Corker said. "When my members in the committee say, 'Well, we have no one here from the administration to weigh in on this,' I say, 'Be careful what you ask for. It's pretty nice the way things are.'"

Republican senators are even defying Trump in some obvious ways. After Trump suggested in a New York Times interview and Twitter that he was displeased with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Republicans on Capitol Hill came to Sessions's defense.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa and the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, tweeted that the Judiciary Committee wouldn't approve another attorney general in 2017. And South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham declared there would be "holy hell" to pay if Sessions was fired.

"I don't think that the caucus is ignoring the President," Collins said in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash last week. "But there may be some ignoring of his rhetoric, which, at times, is over the top."

Murkowski agreed, saying that when the rhetoric from the Oval Office "is not constructive to governing," it's "important to speak up."

"And I think you are starting to see a little bit of that," she added.

If anything, it's been a learning curve for all sides. After a raucous health care debate and the passage of a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that the President finally signed, Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, said Trump might have learned more about how Congress operates.

"We'll stand up for our prerogatives," Flake said. "No president should expect any senator or member of the House to be a rubber stamp. We have our own franchise."

CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.

Read more from the original source:
Republican senators realizing legislative agenda is in their own hands - CNN

A Republican donor in Virginia has filed a lawsuit against the national and Virginia Republican parties, accusing them of fraud and racketeering for raising millions of dollars in donations knowing they wouldnt be able to repeal ObamaCare.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that Bob Heghmann, a retired attorney in Virginia Beach, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Thursday. The suit blasts the Republican Party, saying it has been engaged in a pattern of Racketeering which involves massive fraud perpetrated on Republican voters and contributors as well as some Independents and Democrats.

The lawsuits defendants include the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Republican Party of Virginia, as well as Virginias two members of the RNC and the chairman of the state Republican Party, John Whitbeck.

As part of his suit, Heghmann argues that the Republican Party does not hold the same protection that members of Congress have against being sued for failing to fulfill campaign promises. He wants the GOP to either threaten to withhold money from members of Congress if they dont repeal ObamaCare, or return contributions to donors.

Heghmanns suit alleges that both the national and state GOP raised millions of dollars from 2009 to 2016 by promising to repeal ObamaCare, but that Republicans knew they would be unable to repeal the law when former President Obama won reelection in 2012.

The suit references comments made by former Speaker of the House John BoehnerJohn BoehnerRepublican donor sues GOP for fraud over ObamaCare repeal failure Boehner on Trump tweets: He gets 'into a pissing match with a skunk' every day Boehner predicts GOP will 'never' repeal, replace ObamaCare MORE (R-Ohio) when he said it was clear ... [that] ObamaCare is the law of the land" following Obama's reelection.

In making this statement Speaker John BoehnerJohn BoehnerRepublican donor sues GOP for fraud over ObamaCare repeal failure Boehner on Trump tweets: He gets 'into a pissing match with a skunk' every day Boehner predicts GOP will 'never' repeal, replace ObamaCare MORE was sending a message to House Republicans and others that Repeal was not going to happen. He was trying to put the issue to rest. ... Nevertheless, the Republican Party continued to use the mails, wires and interstate commerce to solicit donations and votes to secure House and Senate majorities and ultimately the Presidency, the lawsuit states, according to the Pilot.

It also accuses the national and state Republican parties of never intend[ing] to implement the Trump Agenda or fulfill the promises of the Republican Platform as it campaigned for President Trumps election.

Senate Republicans bill to repeal ObamaCare failed last week after three Republicans broke with their party to oppose it. After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellFive tough decisions for the GOP on healthcare McConnell on healthcare failure: 'Feel better, Hillary Clinton could be president' George Will warns grotesque is becoming normal for GOP MORE (R-Ky.) said, It is time to move on.

"What we tried to accomplish for the American people was the right thing for the country," McConnell said. "I think the American people are going to regret that we couldn't find another way forward."

Here is the original post:
Republican donor sues GOP for fraud over ObamaCare repeal ...

MSNBC

The Republican Party's birther problem isn't limited to the past MSNBC In Sen. Jeff Flake's (R-Ariz.) new book, he reflects on many in his party losing sight of their core principles, largely out of cowardice. We forgot to affirm in a voice loud and clear that yes, we are proud Republicans, but that we believe in country ... Republicans Have Reached a Tipping Point with TrumpVanity Fair Republican senators realizing legislative agenda is in their own handsCNN In The States, Republicans Have Never Been So Dominant Or VulnerableNPR The Atlantic -Daily Beast -Breitbart News -NPR all 425 news articles »

See the article here:
The Republican Party's birther problem isn't limited to the past - MSNBC