“Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has tried to avoid questions, but North Country voters aren’t letting her off the hook for her bewildering endorsement of Donald Trump,” said Bryan Lesswing at the DCCC. “By endorsing Trump despite his dangerous ideas, Stefanik is putting party before country and owes North Country voters an explanation of why she thinks Trump is best fit to serve as president.”
There must be a reason: Stefanik should explain why she supports Trump’s candidacy
Watertown Daily Times Editorial
August 16, 2016
[…] More than a few Republican candidates have found it difficult fully embracing Mr. Trump as their presidential nominee. They want to back their party’s standard-bearer, to be sure. But by coupling Mr. Trump’s more non-Republican ideas and his boorish antics, many GOP officials must wince when promoting his candidacy.
U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, appears to be one of these individuals. She has repeatedly declared her support for Mr. Trump as president.
[…] So all we really know about Ms. Stefanik’s support for Mr. Trump is that she believes Mrs. Clinton would follow the same failed policies as President Barack Obama has and that the GOP candidate gives a voice to the frustration many voters have expressed about being ignored.
Frankly, that’s a pretty thin rationale for backing someone wishing to oversee the executive branch of our federal government.
How would Mr. Trump’s policies be an improvement on those put forth by his Democratic rival? What about his ideas on taxes, immigration and foreign policy are worth backing?
Ms. Stefanik is correct that she has her own campaign to focus on, through which she is proposing her own plans on these issues. We agree that she has worked hard for this district and been successful at it. She needn’t have to answer for every one of Mr. Trump’s questionable comments.
But she has gone on the record in support of his candidacy for president. Voters have a right to know what ideas expressed by Mr. Trump she believes are worth pursuing.
If she chooses to back her party’s nominee, she must be more candid about why. Her district deservers more reasons than a negative endorsement of Mrs. Clinton.