The highest-ranking woman in the House Republican conference is endorsing Donald Trump — even as she declares it was "not exactly" with enthusiasm, nor did it relieve "concerns" about his controversial remarks about women and "those from different backgrounds."
Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the House GOP conference chairwoman, said in a long
Facebook post that she'd mailed in her primary ballot for Trump earlier this week.
"In Washington State, we embrace change and innovation," she writes, including people "with ideas and the passion to turn industries upside down and inside out and transform our lives."
"More than ever, America needs a leader who will bring this same kind of positive disruption to the other Washington and restore representative government," she writes.
"Mr. Trump certainly disrupted this unique campaign. It is my hope that his disruption will be positive - not just to win in November, but to radically transform the way government works so it stops making the centralized federal bureaucracy more powerful, and starts serving and empowering people again."
But she adds: "Did I cast my ballot with enthusiasm? Not exactly."
And, she says she "vehemently disagrees" with his past statements "about women; people with disabilities; and those from different backgrounds."
"They are wrong in a presidential campaign; in our workplaces; in our homes; and anywhere else," she writes. " I've called him out before, and I won't be shy if he does it again because he owes it to our party and our country to treat everyone respectfully and to build an inclusive coalition."
McMorris Rodgers — along with House Speaker Paul Ryan and other GOP leaders — met with Trump last week in Washington in what the McMorris Rogers writes was "a positive first meeting."
Ryan has yet to endorse the party's presumptive nominee.
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