Toomey continues to maintain distance from Trump
Like other Republican candidates in this election, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has not embraced the GOP presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump.
His lack of endorsement of the party鈥檚 choice with only four days until the election was among the topics he discussed during a recent interview with the 缅北禁地.
Both Toomey and his Democratic challenger, Katie McGinty, were invited to participate in a public candidate forum hosted by the 缅北禁地, but due to their respective schedules were unable to do so.
The two were offered an opportunity to take part in a telephone interview, with Toomey agreeing to answer several questions offered by the newspaper鈥檚 editorial board.
McGinty declined the invitation, noting that her schedule was unable to accommodate an interview.
Toomey said in his opinion, Trump is a 鈥渂adly flawed candidate.鈥�
鈥淚 have criticized (Trump) publicly for many of the things he has said, policies he鈥檚 taken and questioned his temperament and judgement,鈥� said Toomey.
Although Trump鈥檚 candidacy is flawed, he continued, the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, is moreso.
While information about classified emails being received and sent from Clinton鈥檚 private server continues to be revealed, Toomey said McGinty has yet to raise any questions about the illegal activity of her party鈥檚 nominee.
鈥淪he is the most badly flawed candidate in modern history,鈥� said Toomey. 鈥淪he has a long history of being dishonest with the American people (and) a blatant history of corruption, for which new evidence is emerging on a daily basis.鈥�
Toomey said many Pennsylvanian鈥檚 have reservations about Trump, so his arm鈥檚 length stance is not uncommon.
However, while the clock ticks toward the hour he will step into the polling booth, he declined to state his presidential choice.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 possibly ever support Hillary Clinton, but I鈥檓 very disappointed with the choice that (Republicans) have,鈥� he said. 鈥�(Because) the election is not being held today, I don鈥檛 have to make a decision today. I will make the decision when I鈥檓 ready to.鈥�
Toomey has also stood with fellow Senate Republicans to block action to name a new U.S. Supreme Court justice.
The court vacancy occurred earlier this year with the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia.
President Barack Obama recommended Merrick B. Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to replace Scalia, but the GOP-held Senate has refused to hold confirmation hearings, saying the new president should do so.
His hesitation, said Toomey, stems from his belief that Scalia鈥檚 presence on the court allowed for decision-making that sometimes favored conservative thinking and other times, liberal thinking.
鈥淚t was ideologically balanced,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith the passing of Justice Scalia, the question arises what will the balance of the court be.
鈥淲ill it be balanced or will it lean to the left or lean to the right?鈥�
Toomey said while the president and the Senate share the responsibility of selecting members of the Supreme Court, the voters should also play a role and will have that opportunity on Nov. 8.
鈥淚 just think it鈥檚 better for the American people to have the maximum say in this, and they will have that opportunity by virtue of their election choice,鈥� he said. 鈥淕oing through the motion of examining the credentials of Judge Garland would seem dishonest.
鈥淭o me as I think we should await the decision of the American people.鈥�
Whether Garland would be a consideration if recommended by either a Clinton or Trump administration, Toomey said he is undecided.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 ruled that out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 do have reservations about Judge Garland, but if the next president would nominate Judge Garland, I would give him serious consideration.鈥�
An audio recording is available for listening on the 缅北禁地 website at www.heraldstandard.com.