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Dems cheer Flake after scathing Trump speech

by Josh Delk - 10/24/17 5:47 PM ET

Democratic senators on Tuesday praised Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) for his retirement-announcing speech, which called out the GOP for its “reckless” support of President Trump.

“We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals,” said Flake, who has repeatedly clashed with the president and his advisers.

Flake called out Trump for what he sees as his “coarseness,” his “personal attacks” and his “flagrant disregard for truth and decency” in remarks made minutes after Trump met with Republican senators for a strategy lunch.

“Senate is losing a good man in @JeffFlake. He made an excellent statement of principles,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore) in a tweet with a link to video of Flake’s fiery remarks on the Senate floor.

Senate is losing a good man in @JeffFlake. He made an excellent statement of principles. Trump’s rhetoric & actions are dangerous & divisive https://t.co/F3BehlyXHe

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) October 24, 2017

{mosads}

Flake, an outspoken conservative critic of the president, said that Trump was guilty of “regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals.”

The senator, who will not seek reelection in 2018, said he could no longer “stay silent” against Trump, and that the Republican Party no longer had room for his own conservative views.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that Flake “is one of the finest human beings I’ve met in politics” and he “will be missed.”

.@JeffFlake is one of the finest human beings I’ve met in politics. He is moral, upright, strong & will be missed in the Senate.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 24, 2017

Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.), the 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate, called Flake a “good man,” and said that it was “tragic” that the GOP had become so “toxic and upside down” that the Republican was not able to mount a reelection campaign.

My friend @JeffFlake is a good man. An honest broker. A reliable partner in our push for military oversight.

— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) October 24, 2017

That GOP politics have become so toxic and upside-down that @JeffFlake “can’t in good conscience” run again to serve his state is tragic.

— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) October 24, 2017

Polls showed the Arizona senator facing a strong challenge from Republican opponent Kelli Ward in the GOP primary and massive disapproval ratings going into the 2018 election.

House Democrats joined their Senate counterparts in praising Flake.