GOP senator suddenly fine with Trump 'degrading and assaulting women'

Back in 2016, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) said he absolutely could not vote for Trump, based on principle. On Wednesday, Gardner cast those claims aside.

In an interview with the Independent Journal Review, Gardner said he would “be supporting the president” in 2020.

That’s much different than Gardner’s position just two years ago, when he said he “cannot and will not support someone who brags about degrading and assaulting women.”

Gardner distanced himself from Trump in 2016, after a video surfaced of Trump bragging about serially assaulting women. In the video, Trump claimed he enjoyed grabbing women “by the pussy,” and kissing women without their consent because, as a star, he “can do anything.”

At the time, Gardner said Trump “shows a disgust for American character and a disdain for dignity unbecoming of the Presidency.” He called on Trump to step aside, saying Republicans needed a “new nominee that reflects the values of our country and our party.”

Now, as parties gear up for the 2020 race, it seems Gardner has had a change of heart about sexual predators, and plans to support the very person he said lacks the dignity to sit in the Oval Office.

The sudden change has not gone unnoticed.

“Now, after separating families and putting children in cages at the border, after shutting the government down for over a month for his stupid wall that isn’t ever going to happen, after many in Trump’s inner circle have pled guilty to a preposterous list of crimes, after losing the House of Representatives in a blowout election in 2018, Cory Gardner endorses Donald Trump,” Ian Silverii, executive director of Progress Now Colorado, told Shareblue Media. “I guess Donald Trump finally became the kind of candidate Cory Gardner can support.”

While Gardner may be excited about Trump, the vast majority of Coloradans most assuredly are not. In December 2018, only 40 percent of Coloradans approved of Trump’s job performance, dwarfed by 56 percent who disapproved. It is little surprise how out of touch Gardner is with the residents of his state. After all, they are none too pleased with his job performance either.

In a late 2018 poll, only 38 percent of Coloradans had favorable feelings toward Gardner. The poll came after voters elected Democrats to top positions throughout the state, including the governor’s mansion and a majority in both state legislative chambers. The state sent a clear rebuke to Trump’s influence on the Republican Party.

“Senator Gardner is letting everyone know why he won’t be re-elected in 2020: he’s standing with President Trump and against Colorado,” DSCC spokesperson David Bergstein said in a statement. “We hope he’s proud of his endorsement because he’s going to spend the next two years explaining it.”

Thumbing his nose at his own principles and the will of Coloradans, Cory Gardner is embracing Trump. If GOP insiders were worried about Gardner’s re-election chances before — and they were — they must be terrified now.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.