Montini: Jeff Flake says GOP is toast (GOP says Jeff Flake is toast)
EJ Montini: Jeff Flake teaches us once again: Hot mikes can lead to cold hard truths.
EJ Montini
Hot mics can provide cold hard truths.
The best known example is Donald Trump’s infamous comment about how Trump believes that a rich, famous guy like him can do anything he wants to a woman, including “grab ‘em by the p---y.”
Trump unplugged (and unhinged.)
Following an event in the Valley over the weekend Sen. Jeff Flake had his own hot mic moment, though it didn’t vary too much from what he’s been saying for a while, and particularly since he’s decided not to run for reelection.
Shortly after a public conversation with Mesa Mayor John Giles, while both still were wearing live microphones an ABC15 camera picked up Flake saying, "... (If we) become the party of Roy Moore and Donald Trump, we are toast.”
I’d guess that the people running the Republican party now – meaning Trump – would say just the opposite.
That FLAKE is toast.
The art of saying what you mean
The microphones then caught Mayor Giles urging Flake to consider a run for the presidency.
Giles added, "And I am not throwing smoke at you, but you are the guy. Just for fun, think about how much fun it would be, just to be the foil, you know, and point out what an idiot this guy (Trump) is."
That would be fun.
ROBERTS:Jeff Flake for president? That I'd love to see
Although I’m not sure Trump or his most loyal supporters would notice … or care.
A spokeswoman for Giles later forwarded an email statement to The Arizona Republic, reading:
“As a life-long conservative Republican, I am troubled when candidates like Roy Moore send the wrong message about my party’s ethics and policies. We need more people like Jeff Flake in the US Senate, not Roy Moore.”
That’s true.
We also need more people – other than Trump – who can say exactly what they mean.
And get away with it.
MORE FROM MONTINI:
It's Silence of the Congressional Lambs on Roy Moore