Democrats from red states still condemn Trump – Politico

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said that Trumps actions make her want to throw up. | Getty

Red-state Democrats must win over thousands of Trump voters to have any hope of being reelected in 2018. But they wont be doing it by defending the presidents controversial executive order barring some immigrants and refugees from entering the country.

Over the weekend, all but one of the most endangered Senate Democrats rebuked Donald Trumps directive to stop admitting refugees from Syria, pause accepting refugees from other nations and restrict the travel of people from seven Muslim-majority countries to the United States.

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Ten Democrats are up for reelection in Trump states, five of them from states he overwhelmingly won. But no senators from those deeply conservative states endorsing Trump's move, depriving the White House of a bipartisan stamp of approval.

In fact, Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, a state that Trump carried by 19 percentage points, said that Trumps actions make her want to throw up.

Others said that Trumps decision is counterproductive to national security. Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, a state that Trump won by nearly 20 points, said we can make our country even safer and do so in a way that is consistent with our values. The executive order that was signed yesterday by President Trump is not one of those ways. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, where Trump also beat Hillary Clinton by 20 points, said Trumps order is having harmful consequences on children and braves allies who are helping us fight terrorism.

And Sen. Heidi Heitkamp issued a detailed takedown of Trump's executive order, deeming it "outrageous." Heitkamp had been in the mix to be Trump's agriculture secretary last year, and Trump won North Dakota by about 36 points.

"The ban hurts us in the war against ISIS. It isolates Muslims living in the U.S. who help root out potential terrorists. It hurts those from countries like Iraq and Syria who have served as translators, bodyguards, and informants," she said. "It also confirms the lie terrorists tell their recruits: that America is waging a war on Islam. This is outrageous."

Sen. Joe Manchin, whose home state of West Virginia Trump won by 42 points, had no immediate comment. Manchin was in the running to be his energy secretary and has been warmer to Trump than any other Senate Democrat.

Other Democrats from states that Trump carried more narrowly also came out against his directive.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, which has a significant Muslim population, tweeted that Trump hurts our families & businesses and doesn't make us safer." Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who spent Saturday night with protesters at the Philadelphia airport, accused Trump of taking politically motivated discriminatory actions. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida called Trump's policies "hastily-issued" and said it is "not the answer" for national security. Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Sherrod Brown of Ohio were also critical.

Republicans up for reelection in competitive states weren't exactly rushing to Trump's defense, either. Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada had no comment, and Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) called the order unacceptable.

Enhancing long-term national security requires that we have a clear-eyed view of radical Islamic terrorism without ascribing radical Islamic terrorist views to all Muslims, Flake said.

A number of House Republicans representing swing districts also came out against Trump.

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Democrats from red states still condemn Trump - Politico

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