'Things happen': GOP still can't answer key Trump scandal question

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The Rachel Maddow Show / The MaddowBlog



‘Things happen’: GOP still can’t answer key Trump scandal question



01/20/20 08:00 AM—Updated 01/20/20 12:40 PM Steve Benen



Should an American president be able to solicit foreign interference in U.S. elections with impunity? It’s a question that’s near the center of Donald Trump’s Ukraine scheme. It’s a question that’s been around for months. And it’s a question Republicans still don’t know how to answer.

On ABC News’ This Week, George Stephanopoulos posed the question to Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who said, “I don’t know that has been actually proven. You know, that’s all in dispute.”

It’s really not. We know this for certain in part because the White House released an official call summary of Trump’s July 25 conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which the American president pressed his counterpart in Kyiv to “look into” Joe Biden. A week after that call summary was released to the public, Trump stood on the South Lawn of the White House and told reporters on camera, “China should start an investigation into the Bidens.” The Republican added soon after, “I would say that President Zelensky, if it were me, I would recommend that they start an investigation into the Bidens.”



Reminded of reality, Shelby suggested Trump’s rhetoric didn’t actually count, because it was “political.” It led to this exchange:

STEPHANOPOULOS: So it’s OK?

SHELBY: I didn’t say it was OK. I said people make them – people do things. Things happen.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, this is the president of the United States.

SHELBY: Well, still the president of the United States is human. And he’s going to make mistakes of judgment and everything else.

The senator added that he doesn’t believe Trump’s controversy “rises to the standard of an impeachable offense.”

It was a little painful to watch the Alabama Republican change direction so frequently, so quickly............................................................

[Skittles]

1. trying to imagine this same conversation about a blow job

STEPHANOPOULOS: So it’s OK?

SHELBY: I didn’t say it was OK. I said people make them – people do things. Things happen.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, this is the president of the United States.

SHELBY: Well, still the president of the United States is human. And he’s going to make mistakes of judgment and everything else.

[uponit7771]

2. "I think republican Senator [] doesn't agree with soliciting foreign interference in our elections"

... is the common sense thing to say for all democrats