Page 30 - 082517

Groton Daily Independent
Friday, Aug. 25, 2017 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 056 ~ 30 of 65
also “came for a battle” in Charlottesville, Pennsylvania Republican Chairman Val DiGiorgio said. DiGiorgio was standing by the “many sides” comment Trump immediately made after the clash in Virginia, in which a car was driven into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a woman. The president had been criticized harshly by both Republicans and Democrats because he didn’t immediately denounce the white
nationalist groups in Charlottesville.
Bill Palatucci, a RNC committeeman from New Jersey who sponsored the resolution, said it was impor-
tant for the committee to formally denounce white supremacists. Palatucci said, “I think he got it wrong a week ago Tuesday, in regards to Charlottesville,” when Trump said during a free-wheeling, de ant news conference that there were “very ne people on both sides” at the demonstration.
But even Palatucci, who was a devout supporter of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s 2016 presidential campaign, said, “I support the president’s agenda.” He cited deregulation measures Trump has signed and the president’s plan, outlined Monday, to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan to revive the ef- fort to root out terrorist cells.
The party’s robust $75 million in rst-half 2017 fundraising — more than twice what Democrats raised in the rst half of President Barack Obama’s inaugural year in of ce — has also lifted spirits, as has improv- ing economic con dence.
The consensus in Nashville is that the Republican-controlled Congress, not Trump, has let down the party.
“There is a level of frustration that Congress didn’t repeal and replace Obamacare,” Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken said. “They want the president’s agenda passed. They blame Congress.” While Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have feuded before and since the failed health
care vote in July, there was little talk in Nashville of dumping the veteran Kentucky senator as leader. “I’m not ready to abandon McConnell,” Pennsylvania’s DiGiorgio said. “But I would urge him to come
together and get this done.”
Trump has complained about McConnell, and other Republican senators who have criticized the president
or opposed his efforts. He notably pointed to Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, Arizona Republicans, dur- ing an angry speech to supporters in Phoenix Tuesday.
Trump’s intraparty attacks have some GOP strategists worried that the ghting could harm Republicans’ chances of holding the Senate in next year’s midterm elections, though that would require Democrats to retain almost all of the 10 seats they occupy in states Trump won last year.
Chairwoman McDaniel said Trump’s taunts are the outspoken New Yorker’s way of urging action.
“The president wants to see his agenda passed,” McDaniel said. “He’s channeling what I’m hearing from the American people, which is, ‘We gave you the White House. You have the Senate. You have the House. Why aren’t you getting these things done?’”
2nd victim found from USS McCain crash; 8 still missing
SINGAPORE (AP) — A second victim of the collision between the USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker near Singapore was identi ed by the Navy on Friday.
The 7th Fleet said Navy and Marine Corps divers recovered and identi ed remains of 26-year-old Elec- tronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon on Thursday night. He is from Suf eld, Connecticut.
More divers and equipment arrived overnight to continue the search inside ooded compartments of the ship for eight others still missing. The Navy had called of the search of the seas on Thursday.
Divers earlier recovered the remains of 22-year-old Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kenneth Aaron Smith from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
The collision Monday ripped a gash in the McCain hull, ooding crew berths and machinery and com- munications rooms. The destroyer is now in port in Singapore.
The commander of the 7th Fleet was red this week after four accidents this year raised questions about its operations. The ring of Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, a three-star admiral, was a rare dismissal of a high-ranking of cer for operational reasons.
The Navy also ordered an operational pause for its eets worldwide to make sure all steps are being