Roskam’s flip-flop on Trump
Wednesday, Oct 12, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Last week, Congressman Peter Roskam told the Daily Herald this about Donald Trump…
Roskam said the election is a “binary choice” and he was planning to vote for Trump.
* And then came Monday…
Several suburban Republicans in Congress would not say Monday whether they are following House Speaker Paul Ryan in his decision not to defend or campaign for their party’s nominee for president. […]
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton, previously the No. 4 member of the House who’s worked closely with Ryan, called Trump’s comments and the attitude that they reflect “disgusting and corrosive. They fly in the face of every lesson (my wife) Elizabeth and I taught our daughters and sons about how men and women should interact.”
Asked whether Roskam still intended to vote for Trump, Roskam spokesman Davis Pasch would not comment.
Roskam, in his statement, said of Trump: “He says he has changed and this is not who he is today. Political figures in the past have claimed to change, and some of them have been sincere. Donald Trump is the only person who can prove he means what he says now, and he’s got work to do.”
* On Tuesday morning, his spokesman e-mailed the paper…
“I can confirm he is still planning to vote for Donald Trump”
* And then…
Just hours after saying U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam was planning to vote for Donald Trump, spokesman David Pasch on Tuesday rescinded the remark.
Instead, Pasch released a written statement saying Roskam is undecided on how he will vote Nov. 8.
“Hillary Clinton has already disqualified herself by her actions and deeds,” Pasch wrote in an email Tuesday afternoon. “Donald Trump has 28 days left to convince him (Roskam) that he’s the right person to fix our broken tax code, bring accountability to the federal government, and restore American leadership to the world stage.”
- Federalist - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:31 am:
So if these Republicans don’t vote for Trump are they going to come out and say they will vote for HRC, and why, OR that they do not plan to vote for President.
A little honesty and courage, please.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:32 am:
One of my favorite “Family Guy” moments came when Peter Griffin longingly looked back on his “soup vs. salad” decision and expressed disdain that he chose soup.
This is not one of those decisions. Yes or no would suffice.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:32 am:
28 Days… think Trump can complete “rehab” in that amount of time??? Not likely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BUSPNN8Svw
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:33 am:
I am a Roskam constituent and emailed him Monday asking him to help get Trump off the ticket. In this household Trump is costing the Republicans 5 votes. Some of them the party may lose for decades.
Don’t k now what effect my email had, but am glad that Roskam is reconsidering.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:41 am:
What wondrous revelations could 70-year-old Trump bring forth to convince these quivering GOP Towers of Jello like Roskam as to his fitness for office, after everything they’ve seen and heard over the last year?
If you can’t make up your mind about Trump, one way or the other, how can you possibly see yourself as someone who should be making the tough decisions in Congress?
Such weasel-word fear and cowardice — Rauner should make Roskam his term-limits poster boy.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:42 am:
C’mon Pete, this isn’t new for you.
Did you vote for George Ryan?
Did you vote for Alan Keyes?
You’ve had plenty of practice at this.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:42 am:
If Roskam hasn’t been able to figure his decision out by now, what does he expect Trump to change over the next four weeks to help him decide?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:48 am:
===”Donald Trump has 28 days left to convince him (Roskam) that he’s the right person to fix our broken tax code, bring accountability to the federal government, and restore American leadership to the world stage.”===
OMG! My coffee just squinted out my nose.
Trump wouldn’t change if he had 28 years because he thinks there is nothing wrong with him.
- Mama's Time- out - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:49 am:
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 10:48 am:
- Aldyth - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:03 am:
So, the only consideration is if Trump can fix the tax code, etcetera? His maltreatment of women and his objectifying them as nothing more than instruments of his pleasure is irrelevant, if he can fix the tax code?
Wow.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:07 am:
I pine (it’s futile I know) for the more respectful days when people did not feel entitled to grill others about (or some apparently feel forced to tell) what they are going to do in the sacred privacy of the voting booth, or publicly have to justify for whom they plan to vote. How about a simple generic “Just as everyone should, when I cast MY ballot I expect to vote my conscience and for the candidates whom I believe will best address the specific issues I most care about. Next question.” That response avoids a trap, would suffice, and is especially appropriate in a 24/7 news cycle world where circumstances in both parties at any time may affect or change views and opinions. It’s too late for this election but maybe pols will learn something about the fast moving video and digital world we inhabit and not make the same unforced errors next time.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:22 am:
I’m stunned that the political protégé of Henry “Youthful Indiscretions” Hyde could be capable of inconsistent and partisan moral outrage.
Stunned I tells ya!
– MrJM
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:29 am:
Roskam has little courage or character.
Don’t, I repeat don’t, reference your wife an daughters and then essentially support Trump by failing to denounce him.
Trump said he did certain unspeakable, unconscionable things to women. Bragged about it.
- Stones - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:33 am:
Very statesman like. Sheesh!
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:42 am:
How are you going to get that man off the ballot? The ballots are printed and distributed. Some people have already voted.
And after a year (which seems like 10) of Trump piling on every single one of us who isn’t a rich white man, why is this suddenly a problem for the GOP?
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:47 am:
“why is this suddenly a problem for the GOP?”
Because the GOP cannot win elections without winning ‘college-educated white women’. Republican officials are making a mathematical decision, not a moral one.
– MrJM
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 11:54 am:
What a toad.
If Trump keeps going the way he’s going though I wonder whether we might see some surprise seats flip. 538 has an interesting map of how the county vote could flip toward either Clinton or Trump.
Based on this, Roskam could be in real danger.
Also, seeing this map makes me more annoyed by the DCCC going so crazy against Davis last cycle when he should be in so much more jeopardy now.
http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/clinton-trump-vote-maps-2016/
- dogtrot - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
Hmm. Scurrilous, contemptible, arrogant? Yep, that’s Peter Roskam!
- wordslinger63@gmail.com - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:19 pm:
Responsa, when were those days that officeholders weren’t tied to the unpopular presidential nominee of their party?
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:23 pm:
Some of us Republicans have opposed Trump consistently on the basis of policy and temperament. The ick and outrage factor has added to our ranks. As OW says, it is the politics of addition.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:32 pm:
Is Petey tryin’ to hijack Darin LaHood’s title of Biggest Empty Suit IL Delegation?
- Responsa - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
Word–sure they were “tied”, and everyone in America understood that. But I don’t recall them talking about it, or the media pressing them on a daily basis to endorse or condemn their party’s nominee, do you? Trump is the current poster child. But Dems have had a few real stinkers too who would not have fared well in this anything goes environment. We are in uncharted territory now and I don’t see any good coming from it.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:38 pm:
Friday - that was an excellent question. Perhaps they were concerned of a 2012 repeat (when Dr. Gill defeated Matt Goetten in a surprise primary upset)? Or when Daniel Davis took down a well-funded, Durbin-recruited Joe McMenamin during the 2008 primary? Unless the DCCC comes in and clears the decks - which is not really their strong suit - then that is a roll of the dice every time. Davis is formidable enough and has expressed support for unions and higher education. He is not a “Raunerite”, either.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:39 pm:
“Trump” and “accountability” in the same sentence. Right.
- Ron - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 12:49 pm:
Internal Republican polling is now showing them losing the house. They have no one to thank but themselves for nominatimg Orange Mussolini.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 2:07 pm:
Ron, If the polling holds, it will be a very busy two years. Unlike Obama, HRC will use that time to lock in solutions.
- Illinois Bob - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
Why are we surprised by all this GOP waffling? It’s worked for them in the past. We elected a GOP congress to end Obamacare funding and put enough pressure on the other side for real, useful health insurance reform, but they bailed on us once elected. WE elected them to stop the growth of the Federal government and minimize the deficit to the percentage of GDP growth, but they sold us out to get money to their buddies. They’ll say anything to maintain the power and privilege of office and few have serious commitment to those conservatives that elected them. Why should this be any different?
- Ron - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
Bull Moose, I agree. I had to vote for Duckworth in case the populace of our country is dumber than I think. We need a Democratic Senate to check Trump.
- Ron - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
My greatest joy was voting against my Democratic state Rep. Madigan needs to be stopped.
- Mokenavince - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
Roskam still undecided give me a break. We all know who we are going to vote for. Trump and Clinton are who they are. Trump has come close in the polls, but he is to far down now to beat her.
The Trump will prove once and for all the party of No needs to change.
- 60611 - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
Remember when Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted “You lie!” at Pres. Obama? Roskam was sitting right next to him.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 4:51 pm:
60611 Guilt by association?
Ron. Since Trump cannot avoid fighting with the Republican Speaker of the House, he has little chance of passing anything anyway.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 6:02 pm:
I just saw reports that Trump made it a practice to walk in on women as young as 15 years old as they were changing into swimsuits. Trump explained that he owned the pageants and was just doing inspection tours. This won’t play well in Peoria, or DuPage County. You better get off the Trump boat, Mr. Roskam, before it sinks and pulls you under.
- Illinois is a Socialist State - Wednesday, Oct 12, 16 @ 8:10 pm:
Sissy Boy Republican