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CMR afraid to offend ‘Trump base’

So, Cathy McMorris Rodgers is “heartened” (“Congresswoman heartened on trade outlook,” May 4, 2018) that Donald Trump will be dissuaded from a full-scale trade war that would be disastrous for farmers in the 5th District. Good luck with that! This view ignores that Trump remains subject to the influence of trade hawks like Peter Navarro and Wilbur Ross, and that his own nativist instincts incline him toward protectionism and tariffs. Indeed Trump has acknowledged that his trade proposals may cause “a little pain.”

Trump’s position violates long-standing Republican views on the importance of free trade. Yet McMorris Rodgers and the Republican leadership are so fearful of offending the “Trump base” that they can only offer a hope and a prayer that everything will turn out alright. (Trump himself said his base would stick with him even if he shot someone in the street.)

It’s unacceptable for McMorris Rodgers to kowtow to Trump against the interests of her own constituents. Only a Democratic Congress will provide push-back against Trump on this and other vital issues. I therefore stand with Garfield farmer Judy Olson who, in a May 4 op-ed, called out McMorris Rodgers for her silence and urged the election of Democrat Lisa Brown.

Donald Lamp

Spokane

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