The Daily 202: As Roy Moore declines to step aside, a tale of two Republican parties emerges

[DonViejo]

By James Hohmann November 10 at 7:38 AM

THE BIG IDEA: The reactions to the allegation that Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore initiated sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl when he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney have highlighted deep divisions within the Republican Party and underscored the growing tribalism that has infected the nation’s politics.

-- At the Capitol, establishment Republicans expressed alarm. “If these allegations are true, he must step aside,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a formal statement on behalf of all Republican senators. A host of his members made similar comments, including Jeff Flake, David Perdue, John Thune, Cory Gardner and Pat Toomey. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was unequivocal:

Link to tweet

-- Meanwhile, down in Montgomery, Republican leaders mostly circled the wagons behind Moore. The deadline has passed to take his name off the ballot. The Alabama state party could disqualify him from the election, but there was relatively little appetite locally to do so.

Samuel H. Givhan, the senior vice chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, was dismissive when asked about McConnell’s statement. “I’m not sure Sen. McConnell has any say so in this,” he told our Michael Scherer.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/11/10/daily-202-as-roy-moore-declines-to-step-aside-a-tale-of-two-republican-parties-emerges/5a04e1dd30fb045a2e002f77

[louis-t]

1. Anyone who still votes for the guy should

have their head examined.

[Pope George Ringo II]

2. Well, they lack the essential requirement for us to examine their hearts.

I guess examining their heads will have to do.

[Sneederbunk]

3. Nothing to see there.

[Initech]

4. Why are the republicans untouchable when it comes to sexual harassment and assault?

This is so fucking disturbing that they are standing behind this monster.

[underpants]

6. Al Abama

The only thing that would have done Moore in is if it had been a black girl.....and then MAYBE

[gratuitous]

5. Oh no, no, no, no, no

There aren't "two" Republican parties. They don't get to quarantine their perves, pedophiles, and pussy grabbers while the "respectable" Republicans scupper away. There is one and only one Republican party, and if Roy Moore joins the Senate, he's every inch a Republican, just like Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, John Thune, John Barasso, and the rest of the Johns in their party.

[maxrandb]

7. Democrats have liberals and moderates

But at least we haven't descended into pro and anti pedophilia wings