The Republican Party created the “Frankenstein” candidacy of Donald Trump through its actions over the two terms of the Obama presidency, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid claimed in a post-Super Tuesday floor speech.
Reid, D-Nev., delivered a lengthy diatribe against the GOP and Trump, the current front-runner for the party’s presidential nomination, that linked Trump to party leaders who have been working to distance themselves from his candidacy.
“Republicans created him by spending seven years appealing to some of the darkest forces in America,” Reid said. “It’s time for Republicans to stop the Frankenstein they created.”
Reid said Senate GOP’s votes that blocked legislation to impose gun control, increase the minimum wage, strengthen campaign finance laws and prevent deportation of some illegal immigrants are among the actions that helped propel Trump to the top of the polls.
Reid also pointed to a Tuesday House vote in which nine Republicans voted against naming a U.S. post office against the late African-American poet Maya Angelou.
Reid’s remarks linked Trump to the two GOP congressional leaders, House Speaker Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky.
Both leaders on Tuesday took indirect aim at Trump in remarks that criticized Trump’s refusal to denounce white supremacist David Duke’s endorsement. They didn’t mention Trump by name. Ryan, when asked, repeated his pledge to support the GOP nominee, no matter who wins. McConnell hasn’t signaled what he’ll do, but privately told Senate GOP lawmakers running for re-election they would drop Trump like “a hot rock” if he wins the nomination.
Reid said that wasn’t enough because neither leader has pledged to disavow Trump even if he becomes the nominee.
“Republicans are supporting a man who refused to denounce the KKK,” Reid said. “A man who continues to denigrate immigrants, Muslims and the disabled. Donald Trump is the standard-bearer for the Republican party.”
