Trump Tries to Distract From GOP Ethics Gut With Tweets About GM, ‘Lousy’ Obamacare (UPDATED)
Make no mistake about it — the story of the morning is the House GOP vote to severely weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics (or, as PBS Newshour called it, “eviscerate“).
The New York Times reported late last night, “House Republicans, overriding their top leaders, voted on Monday to significantly curtail the power of an independent ethics office set up in 2008 in the aftermath of corruption scandals that sent three members of Congress to jail.”
The move itself is controversial on many fronts, one of which is the lack of substantive debate or notice of the vote until after it was done. Additionally, Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) adopted the proposal which would put the currently independent office under the umbrella of the House Ethics Committee… which will be under the influence of the lawmakers themselves.
So much for draining the swamp.
But despite the effort to subdue the OCE by Republicans, the President-elect — in typical fashion — took to Twitter this morning in an attempt to throw the dogs off the scent by invoking wildly unrelated topics from the news late Monday.
General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A.or pay big border tax!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017
People must remember that ObamaCare just doesn’t work, and it is not affordable – 116% increases (Arizona). Bill Clinton called it “CRAZY”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017
The Democrat Governor.of Minnesota said “The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) is no longer affordable!” – And, it is lousy healthcare.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017
It’s his newest “Look over here instead!” effort, a flash grenade he hopes will spur the conversation about jobs and Obamacare instead of the news surrounding the Office of Congressional Ethics.
Interestingly (but perhaps unsurprisingly), Trump’s Twitter comments regarding the Affordable Care Act came just minutes after pollster Frank Luntz appeared on Fox & Friends to harangue the signature piece of legislation for the outgoing President. Was Trump watching Fox, then took it upon himself to Tweet from his Android about the ACA? Seems possible, if not outright likely.
Then again, a press conference would really do the trick to lay out all the cards on the table and finally bring about a bit of transparency. Hey, it’s only been 159 days.
UPDATE: 10:11 a.m. EST — He finally took to social media to address the news of the Office of Congressional Ethics. We can only assume he reads Mediaite and worked to correct the problem, here actually calling into question Congress’s vote on the issue:
With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017
……..may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance! #DTS
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017
—
J.D. Durkin (@jivedurkey) is an editorial producer and columnist at Mediaite.
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
