Sen. Ben Sasse said Tuesday he gets it that Americans are angry, and he believes voters have a right to be angry, but they deserve more choices than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, "two fundamentally dishonest New York liberals."
"I don't think this guy has any more core principles than a Kardashian marriage," the Nebraska senator told
MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program about Trump.
"I know what America means and it doesn't mean Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It doesn't mean two people who might be indicted between now and November."
Nine months remain between now and the November election, said Sasse, and he hopes the course of the GOP changes in the next 30 to 60 days so it's once again the party of Abraham Lincoln, limited government and great potential.
"I want to celebrate what's great about America in the Republican Party, but if the Republican party becomes the party of David Duke, Donald Trump, I'm out, and I think lots and lots and lots of people are out," said Sasse.
Further, Sasse said he doesn't think Trump will ever evolve into somebody he could support, even though he agrees that Americans have a right to be angry at Washington's establishment.
The Nebraska senator hasn't endorsed any other candidate, but he said there are two "really good ones," Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.
Further, Sasse said he has not looked into a run for himself, as he's only run in one election in his life and has "never been a politician."
Sasse also predicted that if Trump becomes the GOP presidential nominee, the media will suddenly grow up and "take the guy apart in little pieces, because he is not a serious adult. He's not somebody who celebrates America. That's what I am saying."
And, Sasse said he wanted to know if the show has ever pursued a line of thought as to why a Trump presidency would be any different than one of a dictator.
"He plays these little race baiting games and plays games with praising [Vladimir] Putin," said Sasse. "He says Kim Jong-un should be respected. He says the Chinese who smashed freedom fighters in Tiananmen Square should be proud."
But Trump does deserve some credit for taking advantage of an opening in the Republican Party where the core principles haven't been clear, said Sasse, commenting he has more problems with his party than he does with the media.
"Donald Trump has seized upon a falling-apart organization," the Nevada Republican said.
"But when the American people are mad, and they're right to be mad. They're right to want to scream 'no' to Washington. They're also going to want it to be for something and they deserve better than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and I think ultimately there will be more choices."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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