Roberts: Flake to Trump: I'm the other senator from Arizona
While other GOP leaders fold like cheap suits, Sen. Jeff Flake continues to decline to associate himself with Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
Flake was among a number of senators who met privately with Trump on Thursday. According to the Washington Post, Trump went to his usual playbook and threatened to start attacking Flake for daring to criticism him..
“You’ve been very critical of me,” Trump said, when Flake introduced himself.
Flake hasn't endorsed Trump
“Yes, I’m the other senator from Arizona — the one who didn’t get captured — and I want to talk to you about statements like that,” the Post reports that Flake replied, relying on accounts from two Republican officials.
MONTINI:Flake stands up to Trump (almost)
Flake was, of course, referring to Trump’s slam on Sen. John McCain, when he insisted that McCain wasn’t a war hero and, in his best presidential fashion, announced, “I like people who weren’t captured.”
Unbelievably, McCain has endorsed Trump.
Flake, however, has not -- a fact that apparently rankles the presumptive Republican nominee.
Trump reportedly threatened to attack Flake and predicted that Flake would lose his re-election bid. Flake responded by telling Trump that he isn't on the ballot this year and suggested that Trump stop attacking Mexicans.
'I just can't support him'
Flake declined to talk about the exchange with reporters.
“My position remains, I want to support the nominee. I really do. I just can’t support him given the things that he’s said.”
Flake is one of the few major Republican politicians who hasn't jumped on the Trump bandwagon.
One of the few who is clinging by his fingertips to his principles.
Sadly, one of the very few.