Republican Senator Jeff Flake: Party In Denial About President Donald Trump | Morning Joe

>>> JOINING US NOW MEMBER OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE,
JEFF FLAKE OF ARIZONA. HIS NEW BOOK CONSCIENCE OF A
CONSERVATIVE A REJECTION OF DESTRUCTIVE POLITICS AND A
RETURN TO PRINCIPAL IS OUT TODAY.
IN A PART OF THE BOOK YOU WRITE FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN
DENIAL ABOUT DONALD TRUMP. YOU WRITE IN PART THIS.
IT WAS WE CONSERVATIVES WHO RIGHTLY AND ROBUSTLY ASSERTED
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL PREROGATIVES AS A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT WHEN THE DEMOCRAT WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
BUT WHO DESPITE SOLEMN VOWS TO DO THE SAME IN THE EVENT OF A
TRUMP PRESIDENCY HAVE MAINTAINED A SILENCE.
TO CARRY ON IN THE SPRING OF 2017 AS IF WHAT WAS HAPPENING
WAS NORMAL APPROACHING NORMALCY REQUIRED A DETERMINED SUSPENSION
OF CRITICAL FACULTIES. AND TREMENDOUS POWERS OF DENIAL.
IF ULTIMATELY OUELY OUR PRINCIP WERE SO MALLEABLE AS TO NO
LONGER BE PRINCIPLES, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF VICTORIES IN THE
FIRST PLACE. ALL GREAT QUESTIONS.
HOW ARE YOU BEING RECEIVED AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES?
>> IT JUST CAME OUT TODAY SO WE'LL SEE.
>> BUT YOU'VE BEEN RAISING THESE ISSUES FOR QUITE SOME TIME?
>> I'VE BEEN CONCERNED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
IN THE BOOK WE TALK ABOUT BEING A CONSERVATIVE, WHAT IT REALLY
MEANS. IT MEANS A LOT ON POLICY.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE TYPE OF POLICIES GOING FORWARD,
PROTECTIONISM, ISOLATIONISM, ARE REALLY NOT CONSERVATIVE VALUES,
AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THE PARTY GOES IF WE EMBRACE
THOSE KIND OF PRINCIPLES. BUT ALSO BEING A CONSERVATIVE
MEANS SOMETHING IN TERMS OF DEMEAN AND COMPORTMENT.
A CONSERVATIVE IS NOTHING IF PARTICULARLY IN FOREIGN POLICY,
IF HE'S NOT MEASURED AND SOBER AND PREDICTABLE.
OUR ALLIES NEED TO KNOW THAT. WE NEED TO EMBRACE OUR ALLIES
AND RECOGNIZE OUR ADVERSARIES, AND TO DO OTHERWISE IS NOT
CONSERVATIVE. >> SO TO ASK YOU TO GO AFTER
YOUR FELLOW CONSERVATIVES OR REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT BE FAIR.
BUT WHAT ABOUT PUTTING IT THIS WAY.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE KEY MOMENTS ALONG THE WAY?
SO FAR IN THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY WHERE YOU AND YOUR FELLOW
CONSERVATIVES, REPUBLICANS SHOULD HAVE STOOD UP AND SAID
NO? >> WELL, I THINK, AND I HAVE TO
SAY MANY CONSERVATIVES DIDN'T COME OUT WITH FIRING OF JIM
COMEY. >> WHAT WERE THE BIG MISSED
OPPORTUNITIES. >> THE COMEY FIRING.
YOU CAN FIRE THE FBI DIRECTOR. COULD HAVE SAID LAST YEAR HE DID
THINGS HE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE. THE WAY HE HANDLED THE CAMPAIGN
WASN'T GOOD, BUT THE REASON GIVEN, HEY, THE RUSSIA
INVESTIGATION, THAT SHOULD HAVE SET OFF MORE ALARM BELLS THAN IT
DID, AND I THINK GOING FORWARD WE OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL.
THERE'S CONCERN THAT THE A.G. MAY BE FIRED.
THAT WOULD BE A REAL CONCERN. AND I'M GLAD THAT SOME
CONSERVATIVE ARE STANDING UP AND SAYING THAT CERTAINLY WOULDN'T
BE TOLERATED BY CAPITOL HILL. >> SENATOR, IN THE BOOK YOU
WRITE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT IN PARTICULAR YOU WRITE ABOUT A
MEETING THAT BILL BUCKLEY HAD WITH BARRY GOLD WATER HAD AT A
PLACE IN PALM BEACH. GOLD WATER WAS NOT CONCERNED SO
MUCH WITH RUNNING AGAINST LINDEN JOHNSON OR NELSON ROCKEFELLER IN
A PRIMARY, BUT HE WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGE THE
JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY WAS DOING TO THE CAUSE OF CONSERVATISM WITHIN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT'S
YOUR LEVEL OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THE FREEDOM CAUCUS IS DOING TO
THE IMAGE OF CONSERVATISM AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GIVEN THE
FACT THAT THEY CHEERED ON, LOVED APPARENTLY, A HEALTH CARE BILL
THAT WOULD THROW MORE THAN 22 MILLION AMERICANS OFF OF HEALTH
CARE? >> WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT WHAT'S
CONSERVATIVE AND WHAT'S NOT WITH REGARD TO HEALTH CARE.
I CERTAINLY THINK THAT OBAMACARE NEEDS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY
CHANGED, IF NOT REPEALED. I WOULD LOVE TO REPEAL IT AND
START AGAIN IF IT WERE UP TO ME. ABOUT 200,000 ARIZONA PEOPLE
WILL WAKE UP THIS MORNING WITHOUT HEALTH CARE.
THEY PAY THE FINE BUT CAN'T AFFORD THE POLICY.
EVEN BIGGER NUMBER HAVE A POLICY BUT CANT AFFORD TO USE IT
BECAUSE DEDUCTIBLES ARE SO HIGH. WE'RE HURTING OUT THERE IN TERMS
OF WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH HEALTH CARE.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS POLICIES ON TRADE.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, A FREE TRADE
PARTY. WE'RE ONLY 5% OF THE WORLD'S
POPULATION, 20% OF THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC OUTPUT.
IF WE DON'T FIND NEW MARKETS FOR OUR GOODS, WE DON'T GROW.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THE PARTY IS GOING AND THE
ANTI-IMMIGRATION FERVOR. THAT'S NOT A PLACE THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY WANTS TO BE IN THE FUTURE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
AN INCLUSIVE PARTY THAT SPEAKS TO A BROADER AUDIENCE.
>> IN OUR INTERCHANGES WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS, AND I'VE HEARD
DEMOCRATS SPEAK ABOUT YOU. YOU'RE A FRIENDLY, OPEN GUY, BUT
THERE'S A LEVEL, AND IT'S JUST IMAGE, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT
IMAGE IS IMPORTANT. THERE'S A LEVEL OF MEANNESS TO
CONSERVATISM NOW IN THIS COUNTRY THAT'S BOTHERSOME.
>> I DO TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE BOOK.
YOU HAVE TO BE MEANER SOMEHOW, AND THAT IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE
VALUE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WE'VE GOT
SOME HUGE THINGS TO TACKLE. OUR DEBT AND DEFICIT.
$20 TRILLION. WE'LL BE ADDING $1 TRILLION A
YEAR SOON TO THAT DEBT. THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THAT, ANY
DECENT BUDGET AGREEMENT WE'VE HAD HAS BEEN WHEN WE'VE HAD
DIVIDED GOVERNMENTS. WHEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
SAID WE'RE GOING TO SHARE THE RISK.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT. IF WE ASCRIBE THE WORST MOTIVES
TO OUR OPPONENTS AND CALL THEM CLOWNS OR LOSERS, YOU LOSE THE
ABILITY TO SIT DOWN AND SOLVE THE BIG ISSUES AND ACTUALLY
ENACT CONSERVATIVE POLICY. THAT'S THE PARADOX OF ALL OF
THIS. SOMEHOW CONSERVATIVISM HAS
BECOME BEING MEAN OR LOUD, AND YOU CAN'T ENACT CONSERVATIVE
POLICY IF YOU ACT THAT WAY. >> THE PRESIDENT USED THE WORD
MEAN FIRST, JUST FYI. >> SENATOR, SPEAKING OF A
NATIONAL DEBT AS REALLY AN ISSUE OF GENERATIONAL THEFT.
>> YES. >> AND A MORAL ISSUE.
$20 TRILLION IN DEBT. HOW IS IT THAT SUPPOSEDLY

A HEALTH CARE BILL THAT TOUCHES A SIXTH OF THE ECONOMY WITH NO
IDEA HOW MUCH IT COSTS? TO ME THAT'S NOT CONSERVATIVE.
IT'S RADICAL. AND I WONDER HOW THE
CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN HIJACKED BY RADICALS WHO CLAIM
THE MANTLE OF CONSERVATIVISM. AND SPECIFICALLY WE THINK ABOUT
THE JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY IN THE 60s.
WHAT'S THEIR EQUIVALENT TODAY? IS IT A ON TALK RADIO OR TV
NETWORKS? WHAT'S THE THREAT TO

HAVE NO REGARD TO SPENDING? >> CONSERVATIVE ARE NOTHING IF
THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT DEBT AND THE DEFICIT.
LIMITED GOVERNMENT IS THE OUTLINE OF CONSERVATIVISM.
BILL BUCKLEY GOT TOGETHER WITH BARRY GOLDWATERS AND
EXCOMMUNICATED THE JOHN BIRCHERS FROM THE PARTY.
THEY WERE THE EMBLEM OF RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU CAN'T EMBRACE CONSPIRACY THEORIES OR TALK ABOUT
ALTERNATIVE FACTS. THERE ARE TRUTHS THAT ARE
SELF-EVIDENT, AND WE HAVE TO AS A COUNTRY AGREE ON CERTAIN
THINGS. IF WE DON'T, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
HARD TIME MOVING AHEAD AND SOLVING THE PROBLEMS.
>> HARD TIMES AHEAD. >> SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, SENATOR
McCAIN VOTED AGAINST YOU GUYS IN ARIZONA, HE VOTED AGAINST THE
BILL BECAUSE HE SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IT WOULD GO TO
CONGRESS. THAT THING WOULD COME BACK AND
HOPEFULLY WE'D GET THERE. IF HE FIRES MUELLER, IS THAT A
CATALYST TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT.
>> I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY WHAT IT'S A CATALYST FOR, BUT WE
CAN'T STAND FOR THAT. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE
DISPOSITION AND HIS DEMEANOR. IS THAT REALLY THE BIGGER ISSUE
HERE? BECAUSE AT LEAST IF YOU GOT TO
DEBATING ISSUES AND POLICIES IN A SERIOUS WAY, A LOT OF WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WOULD COME OUT IS YOU CAN'T GET TO THAT
BECAUSE HE HAS SO MUCH PERSONAL NEGATIVE FACADE AROUND HIM?
>> AND IT'S NOT JUST HIM. I POINT OUT IN THE BOOK, THIS IS
NOT JUST A PROBLEM OF THIS PRESIDENCY.
THIS WAS A LONG-TIME AND COMING. I ENTERED IN CONGRESS IN 2001.
I AM AFTER RUNNING THE GOLD WATER INSTITUTE.

FLOOR SAYING I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MINUTEMEN CALLED TO THE BATTLE
FRONT AND NOW WE'RE TOLD THE REVOLUTION IS OVER AND NOW WE'RE
GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT
OR NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND INSTEAD OF THE BIG BATTLES OF IDEAS THAT
REPUBLICANS USED TO ENGAGE IN. BUT WE BECAME A COARSER PARTY
DURING THAT TIME. STANDING UP WITH FEW REPUBLICANS
WILLING TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT'S WRONG, THAT'S OUT OF
LINE. I THINK WHETHER IT'S A
REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT DOING THAT, WE OUGHT TO STAND UP AND
SAY SOME THINGS SHOULD BE OUT OF BOUNDS, AND I THINK WE'RE LOSING
SOME OF THAT. >> SENATOR FLAKE, YOU TALK ABOUT
JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE PRINCIPLES WHEN IT
COMES TO FOREIGN POLICY, AND SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT DONALD
TRUMP HAS DONE TO OUR FOREIGN POLICY, I'M CURIOUS, HOW
CONFIDENT ARE YOU IN THIS ADMINISTRATION'S STRATEGY WHEN
IT COMES TO NORTH KOREA? >> I HAVE TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE
IN GENERAL MATTIS AND REX TILLERSON.
HE'S A GREAT GUY. I DO THINK PRESIDENT HAS PICKED
A GOOD CABINET AND SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE.
HE'S DONE SOME GOOD THINGS, I THINK.
SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE IS GOOD.
SOME GOOD FEDERAL JUDGES. I AM ON BOARD WITH SOME OF WITH
WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE, BUT WITH REGARD TO FOREIGN POLICY MY
BIGGEST CONCERN IS, AS I
MENTIONED, WE HAVE ALWAYS STOOD FOR PRINCIPLES AND HAVE DONE SO
IN A SOBER, CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE MANNER, AND CHAOS IS
THE LAST THING THAT OUR ALLIES AND ADVERSARIES NEED TO BE
SEEING. AND I'M AFRAID THEY'RE SEEING
TOO MUCH OF THAT. AND OUR RESPECT FOR
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAD A HAND IN OR WERE THE
MAJOR PART IN BUILDING LIKE NATO.
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. THESE KIND OF THINGS, I THINK WE
NEED TO RESPECT AND UTILIZE TO HOLD OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD, AND
I WONDER ABOUT OUR STANDING AROUND THE WORLD NOW.
>> DO YOU THINK THE NEW CHIEF OF STAFF KELLY CAN MAYBE HELP REIGN
IN SOME OF THE CHAOS? >> I DO.
I'M GLAD HE'S THERE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF RESPECT
FOR HIM ON CAPITOL HILL. I LIKE THE START THAT HE'S GOT.
AND SO I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT THAT WILL HELP.
>> OKAY. THE BOOK IS "CONSCIENCE OF A

Republican Senator Jeff Flake: Party In Denial About President Donald Trump | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Latest Posts