Is Donald Trump Honest?‘: Lawmakers Offer Up Varied Reactions | Morning Joe

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "MORNING JOE."
JOINING US HOW, KASIE HUNT. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. YESTERDAY MIKA SENT YOU ON A
MISSION. SHE HAD A QUESTION YOU CONVEYED
TO LAWMAKERS ON CAPITOL HILL ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.
WHAT DID YOU FIND? >> IT WAS A GOOD QUESTION SHE
HAD. I HAVE AT TIMES ASKED SIMPLE
QUESTIONS, DEMOCRATS FACED SOME TOUGH ONES IN 2014 WHEN ASKED TO
DEFEND THEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, AND I THINK THIS IS
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP PUTTING MEMBERS OF HIS OWN
PARTY IN A A LITTLE BIT OF A TOUGH SPOT.
TAKE A LOOK. >> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS HONEST? THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT
HIS PHONE CALLS WITH THE BOY SCOUTS AND WITH OTHERS?
>> I KNOW YOU ALL LIKE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE ACTUALLY
RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL, I'M NOT GOING DOWN THAT ROAD.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T THINK HE'S HONEST, IF YOU BELIEVE THIS
POLL. HE'S GOT AN IMAGE PROBLEM HE
NEEDS TO DEAL WITH. >> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THE
PRESIDENT IS AN HONEST MAN? >> YES, I DO.
I THINK HE HAS A GOOD TIME SOMETIMES, BUT I THINK BASICALLY
ON VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, HE'S VERY HONEST.
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT IS AN HONEST MAN?
>> UM, YES. >> Reporter: IS THAT A NO OR A
YES? >> I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY THE
GAME. >> Reporter: ONE QUESTION --
PLEASE? >> NOT RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT IS AN
HONEST MAN? THAT'S MY ONE QUESTION.
DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT IS AN HONEST MAN?
>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO BUILD THE CONFIDENCE YOU NEED TO WHEN
CONTRADICTIONS ARE RECORDED. YOU HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH
HOW THEY'RE SAYING THINGS. >> Reporter: SO THAT POLL THAT
SENATOR GRAHAM REFERENCED. >> KASEY, WHEN YOU WERE GOING
AFTER TED CRUZ, IT LOOKED LIKE A REPORTER GOING AFTER A SUSPECT.
LIKE, WHERE'S THE BODY? I'M NOT TALKING.
I'M NOT TALKING. >> ISN'T THE ANSWER SIMPLE IN
836 LIES DOCUMENTED OR MISLEADING STATEMENTS.
THAT 4.4 A DAY. I DON'T THINK IT'S A QUESTION SO
REQUEST. >> IT IS FOR REPUBLICANS.
>> HE LIED ABOUT A -- THE BOY SCOUTS.
>> TED CRUZ, KASIE HUNT, HE WAS RUNNING FROM YOU, SAID HE WASN'T
GOING TO PLAY THE GAME. >> SLAMMED THE DOOR ON KASIE.
>> RAND PAUL ALSO. >> IT'S LIKE THE ACTION NEWS.
THEY'RE SHOWING A TIRE RING THEY'RE EXPOSING.
>> ANYBODY TALK TO YOU OFF THE RECORD SAY I CAN'T TELL YOU OFF
THE REPORT? >> Reporter: WELL, LOOK, IN
FAIRNESS TO FIRST OF ALL SENATOR PAUL, HE DOESN'T ALWAYS STOP,
AND THERE WERE POTENTIALLY OTHER QUESTIONS HE WAS RUNNING FROM.
TED CRUZ I SAW THREE SEPARATE TIMES IN THE HALLWAYS, AND THREE
SEPARATE TIMES HE REFUSED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE
TIME ON THE SHOW WHICH IS THAT EVERY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THAT
HAPPENS, THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAY TO THEMSELVES
PRIVATELY, NOT AGAIN. AND THIS IS THE DYNAMIC THEY'RE
HAVING TO DEAL WITH. BETWEEN THE APPROVAL RATING AND
THE FACT THAT HE KEEPS DOING THESE THINGS IN PUBLIC, HE PUTS
THEM IN A TERRIBLE POSITION. >> TED CRUZ SPECIFICALLY, TED
CRUZ, DONALD TRUMP USED THE NATIONAL INQUIRER TO ACCUSE TED

JFK. HE USED THE NATIONAL INQUIRER TO
ACCUSE TED CRUZ OF HAVING SIX AFFAIRS.
HE USED THE NATIONAL INQUIRER FOR OTHER ATTACKS.TACKS.
HE PUT UP TWEETS SAYING TED CRUZ'S WIFE WAS NOT ATTRACTIVE,
BASICALLY. IF YOU ACCUSE MY FATHER OF
ASSASSINATING JFK, OR PLOTTING ALONG WITH A 9/11 HIJACKERS, I'M
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO NO, HE DOESN'T TELL THE TRUTH.
I THINK IT'S KIND OF EXTRAORDINARY THAT TED CRUZ
CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION WHEN HIS OWN FATHER HAS BEEN ACCUSED
OF ASSASSINATING JFK. >> WHAT DID HE SAY AT THE TIME?
DIDN'T HE CALL HIM A SNIVELING SOMETHING?
IT WAS A WONDERFUL TED CRUZ QUOTE FROM THAT MOMENT.
>> TED CRUZ HAS A COUPLE PROBLEMS.
ONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP ARE THE SAME PEOPLE
THAT SUPPORT TED CRUZ. IF HE PISSES THEM OFF, IT'S A
PROBLEM. TWO, SOME OF HIS BIGGEST PATRONS
IN THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT HAVE LEANED ON HIM HARD TO STOP
CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT. HE'S GONE ALONG WITH IT.
THERE WAS A POINT WHERE HE HAD NO FEAR OF ATTACKING PRESIDENT
TRUMP, BUT IT'S SHIFTED DRAMATICALLY.
AND I THINK ANOTHER DYNAMIC HERE IS WE ALL KNOW THE PRESIDENT
WATCHES THE NEWS ON TV. AND A LOT OF THESE MEMBERS
WHETHER IT'S TED CRUZ OR ANYBODY ELSE, THEY'VE LEARNED THAT THE
QUICKEST WAY TO PISS THE PRESIDENT OFF IS TO BE ON
TELEVISION SAYING SOMETHING CRITICAL.
>> UNEDUCATED MALES NOW AT 40-SOME PERCENT APPROVAL.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER WHERE TED CRUZS OF THE WORLD FEEL IT'S
SAFE TO COME OUT FROM THE ROCK? IS THERE A NUMBER?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THEM. CAN I SPEAK TO MYSELF.
IF SOMEBODY ATTACKED MY FATHER, IF SOMEBODY ATTACKED MY WIFE, I
WOULDN'T -- AND IF MY DONORS TOLD ME YOU CAN'T FAMILY MEMBER
THE PRESIDENT, I WOULD TELL THEM TO GO STRAIGHT TO HELL.
AND THEN FIND SOMEBODY TO PRIMARY ME.
I'M GOING TO BEAT THEIR ASS. THEN I'M GOING TO COME BACK AND
MAKE YOUR LIFE HELL BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO DEFEND A MAN WHO
ATTACKED MY WIFE'S LOOKS AND SAID MY FATHER HAD A PART IN
ASSASSINATING JOHN F KENNEDY. NOW, A MAN THAT WON'T STAND UP
AND DO THAT, A MAN WHO IS LOOKING AT POLLS TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT, LISTENING TO DONORS TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER YOU DEFEND
THE -- YOUR WIFE, OR YOUR FATHER'S MEMORY?
THAT'S A GUY I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND, DONNY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT POLL NUMBERS. IT'S ABOUT CHARACTER.
HOW COULD TED CRUZ OF ALL PEOPLE AFTER HIS WIFE WAS ATTACKED AND
HUMILIATED, AND AFTER HIS FATHER WAS LINKED WITH THE HOST HEINOUS
ASSASSINATION IN U.S. HISTORY, HOW COULD TED CRUZ NOT ANSWER
THAT -- OF COURSE HE DOESN'T TELL THE TRUTH.
HE LIED ABOUT MY FATHER. HE LIED ABOUT MY MOTHER.
HE'S LIED ABOUT ME. HE'S LIED ABOUT SIX WOMEN, MADE
THEIR LIVES LIVING AND BREATHING HELL.
HE LIES ALL THE TIME. I'M STILL GOING TO TRY TO PASS
LEGISLATION IF IT'S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS AND AMERICA, BUT
HE'S A LIAR. >> I TALKED WITH FLAKE.
TO ME, IT IS NO-BRAINER POLITICS AT THIS POINT.
FORGET THE STRENGTH AND HAVING A SPINE AND HAVING ANY MORAL
COMPASS. IT'S EVEN GOOD POLITICS AT THIS
POINT. THAT'S WHAT'S STUNNING.
>> HERE'S WHAT THE REPUBLICANS -- SO MANY OF THE
REPUBLICAN SENATORS DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHEN YOU SHOW COURAGE, PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO IT.
DRAWN TO IT LIKE SOMEBODY HUNGRY FOR WATER IN THE DESERT.
JEFF FLAKE? EVERYBODY OH, JEFF FLAKE, THIS
IS SO DANGEROUS. NO, IT'S NOT.
JEFF FLAKE'S GOING TO WIN REELECTION AND BE ABLE TO GO TO
TOWN HALL MEETINGS. I KNOW YOU VOTED FOR DONALD
TRUMP. I DON'T.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT IF WE CAN PASS TAX
REFORM, I'LL DO IT. IF WE CAN PASS REGULATORY
REFORM, I'LL DO IT. IT DOESN'T MEAN I NEED TO WORK
WITH HIM. I'M HERE TO HELP YOU, AND IF
DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO HELP ME HELP YOU, WE'RE GOOD.
BUT DON'T EXPECT ME TO LIKE THIS GUY.
AND THAT'S WHAT TED CRUZ SHOULD HAVE SAID.
HE ATTACKED MY WIFE. NOW, IF SOMEBODY ATTACKED YOUR
WIFE AT WORK, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? IF SOMEBODY SAID YOUR FATHER
ASSASSINATED JFK AT WORK, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
YOU WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM.
PEOPLE LOVE THAT. THEY LOVE COURAGE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE. THE BIGGEST LANE, THE WIDEST
LANE IN AMERICAN POLITICS IS THE REPUBLICAN THAT STANDS UP LIKE
JEFF FLAKE AND SAYS I'LL VOTE WITH HIM, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN I
HAVE TO LIKE HIM, AND IT SURE AS HELL DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO
RESPECT HIM, BECAUSE I DON'T. THERE'S NOTHING TO RESPECT THERE
OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT HE RAISED SOME GOOD KIDS.
YOU SAY THAT? AND I KNOW.
I WENT AFTER GINGRICH IN MY DISTRICT WHEN HE WAS REALLY
POPULAR. IT'S GOLD.
IT'S POLITICAL GOLD, AND ONLY FLAKE HAS FIGURED THAT OUT.
>> AND DONNY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHERE IS THE
COURAGE? WE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF IT THERE.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD AND CALL THE PRESIDENT A
LIAR, BUT WE'LL GOING TO TALK TO SENATOR CHRIS COONS IN A MOMENT.
HIS CO-SPONSOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA HAS COME OUT NOW
PUBLICLY IN INTERVIEWS AND SAID IT'S TIME TO START TAKING
AUTHORITY BACK FROM 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AND BACK TO
CONGRESS WHERE IT BELONGS. THESE ARE ON THE RECORD
COMMENTS. IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE AN EQUAL

THE POWER DOES NOT LIE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. TOM THUNE, JOHN McCAIN, BEN
SASS. THAT LIST IS GETTING LONGER.
BEN SASS HAS BEEN STRONG SINCE DAY ONE, BUT THE LIST IS GETTING
LONGER OF REPUBLICANS THAT WILL STAND UP AND SPEAK TRUTH TO
POWER. >> SPEAKING OF THE KIDS, WE'LL
BE READ ACT THE KIDS COMING UP. >> I'M NOT SAYING TO VOTE
AGAINST DONALD TRUMP AND VOTE

Is Donald Trump Honest?‘: Lawmakers Offer Up Varied Reactions | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Latest Posts