Kaine: Trump's Taiwan Call Is 'Amateur Hourish' But Hiring Bannon Is Worse

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), the defeated Democratic nominee for vice president, said he wasn't surprised by President-elect Donald Trump's phone call with Taiwan's president – a move that disregarded nearly four decades of foreign policy precedent.

"It's kind of amateur hourish is what I would say," Kaine told reporters Monday on Capitol Hill. But despite all the criticism of the the Taiwan call, Kaine said it's not anywhere close to the top of his list of concerns with Donald Trump.

"I would say amateur hourish, but it's the not the thing I am most worried about. You know having somebody as a key adviser who has connections to white nationalists and anti-Semites is a much bigger order of concern," Kaine said, referencing Trump's selection of Steve Bannon as a top White House adviser. "Putting somebody in who wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act as HHS secretary much bigger order of concern. I would put this as a kind of amateur hour thing."

Kaine returned to the Senate earlier this month after he served as Hillary Clinton's VP pick. On the campaign trail, Kaine was a dogged critic of Trump, but since returning to the Senate has tried not to weigh in on every moment of Trump's transition.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-s-taiwan-call-is-amatuer-hourish-but-hiring-bannon-is-worse

[DK504]

1. All this

should have been covered in the lead up to the election by the press. Too bad the media flatly refused to do their job rather then produce a reality show.

[JudyM]

2. "Amateur hour" wasn't a usual, casual choice of words by Kaine. Planted with him, IMO.

Intended to hit tRump where it hurts - that he's a bad entertainer.

This looks like our leadership is coordinating the players. I've been wondering when more of our politicians would start speaking. Most have been pretty mum so far. Ready for more, please.