McConnell On Trump: Our System Will Prevent ‘Big Mistakes’ (VIDEO)

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2015 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Ky. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democrats seem certain to block Republican legislation banning most late-term abortio... FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2015 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Ky. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democrats seem certain to block Republican legislation banning most late-term abortions in a Senate showdown with plenty of political significance but little suspense. I'm asking colleagues to open their hearts and help defend the defenseless," McConnell said Monday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Apparently trying to reassure those worried about GOP nominee Donald Trump’s take-no-prisoners approach to politics, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is issuing a reminder that all commanders-in-chief face systemic and institutional “constraints” that will prevent “big mistakes.”

“Well, one thing I’m pretty calm about is that this is nowhere near the most divisive period in American history,” McConnell said in a preview of an upcoming CBS “Sunday Morning” interview. “But what protects us in this country against big mistakes being made is the structure, the Constitution, the institutions.”

“No matter how unusual a personality may be who gets elected to office, there are constraints in this country,” he continued. “You don’t get to do anything you want to.”

Trump’s proposals to build a southern border wall that Mexico would pay for, temporarily ban Muslim immigrants, and forcibly deport 11 million undocumented immigrants are among his more extreme policy positions.

McConnell endorsed Trump in early May after his win in Indiana effectively cleared the Republican field, though other Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) have withheld their endorsements for now.

View More: Politics News|Live News|More News Videos

Latest Livewire
139
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for wjl wjl says:

    Too bad they weren’t here when W. was President . . . no wait . …

  2. You know you’re in trouble when you have to assure your own people that your own candidate for President won’t be so bad because Constitutional checks and balances will prevent him from doing too much damage.

  3. Is this the system that protected us from President Bush II’s invocation of WMD’s as the grounds for invading Iraq?

  4. This from a guy whose party nominated Donald J. Trump as their presidential candidate…

  5. Except many of those constraints are based on the checks and balances between the three branches and if Trump gets elected we will have lunatic fascists in control of all three.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

133 more replies

Participants

Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for foundryman Avatar for clemmers Avatar for theod Avatar for trnc Avatar for george_spiggott Avatar for inlabsitrust Avatar for shadowhappy Avatar for datora Avatar for nkd Avatar for inversion Avatar for arrendis Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for midnight_rambler Avatar for georgekaplan Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for emilianoelmexicano Avatar for beattycat Avatar for meta Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for cuwrs Avatar for ncgirl741

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: