GOP Sen. Bob Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had a very rough go on MSNBC's Morning Joe Wednesday when he repeatedly had the chance to express any confidence whatsoever in Donald Trump’s ability to serve as commander in chief. Katherine Krueger writes:
“Can you explain why you think Donald Trump would be a better commander-in-chief than Hillary Clinton?” [Mike] Barnicle asked.
After a deep inhale, the GOP senator replied, “Well, look, I didn't come on the program to talk politics. You asked me to come on to talk about public policy.”
C'mon guys—it's not like I'm a politician and this is an election year or anything. What's with all these incessant presidential questions?
But that was just the beginning. Corker was asked if Trump had a plan to defeat ISIS that he knew of. "No," Corker responded. He was asked if not having a plan seemed like a good plan. He dodged: "I haven't heard either candidate be very crisp as it relates to dealing with ISIS." As a supporter of Trump, Corker was asked if it concerned him that Trump didn't have a plan. He diverted to an assessment of President Obama's foreign policy. In that case, reporter Willie Geist asked, "Could the next president do something better?" Corker said he believed those things would be "illuminated over time."
Mika Brzezinski stepped in: “So it seems like you don't feel comfortable talking about Donald Trump.”
Corker: “Well, I don't feel comfortable coming on a program and being sort of a judger, if you will, of the two.”
Roger that. Brzezinski then practically begged Corker to weigh in on Trump. "Do you have confidence in Donald Trump as commander in chief, especially as it pertains to foreign policy? I'll make it broad and easy," she suggested.
Not easy enough, apparently—another non-answer. Let's face it, if you have nine solid chances to express your confidence in the candidate you’re “supporting” for president and you can't do it, that’s a vote of no confidence.
Check out the rather stunning exchanges below.