http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/273721-gop-senator-trumps-rhetoric-certainly-not-good-for-ourMarch 21, 2016, 08:03 am
GOP senator in Cuba: Trump’s rhetoric ‘certainly not good for our country’
By Mark Hensch
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) early Monday said that GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s rhetoric does not represent America’s best values.
“I’ve been very critical of the Muslim ban and the talk about Mexican immigrants and everything else,” he told host Chris Cuomo during an interview in Cuba on CNN’s “New Day.”
“That’s certainly not good for our country and our party,” Flake added. "We’re not putting our best foot forward as a country.
“We have a long way to go before the election. Please don’t ask me to speak for Mr. Trump. We have a long way to go, but we’ll get there.”
Flake is one of several lawmakers accompanying President Obama during his historic visit to Cuba.
He argued on Monday that human rights for Cubans will improve as diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington, D.C., continue thawing.
“The economic case is, in many ways, the human rights case as well,” Flake said. "Twenty-five percent of Cubans [now] work in the private sector and are less reliant on government.
“Their human rights record has improved significantly. For a number of Cubans, the majority of Cubans, things are better. That will continue as more Americans come here.”
Flake endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for president late last month before Rubio suspended his campaign on March 15.
Trump leads the remaining Republican White House hopefuls by 9 points nationwide, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.
