First, Joe Heck was fully Team Trump, insisting that he trusted Donald with the nuclear codes.
Then, post-Access Hollywood tape, he said he “cannot in good conscience continue to support” Trump.
A few days later, Heck backtracked a little and said he really wanted to support him.
Now, just days before the election, Heck continues to dance around the issue, claiming that Trump is “qualified” to be Commander-in-Chief – while refusing to say whether or not he’s voting for him. Then Heck to released a follow-up statement clarifying his initial statement, saying, “my position on the presidential race has not changed.” Excuse me?
If you’re confused by that, you’re not the only one. Joe Heck has taken so many positions that there really is no way to know which position he’s actually referring to. Could it be his position from…
- June when he said he has “high hopes” Donald Trump will be president?
- September when he said he is completely supporting Trump and had no problems with Trump’s finger on the nuclear button?
- October 8 when Heck “unendorsed” Trump and called for Trump to step down (which was not well received by Nevada Republicans, to say the least)?
- October 17 when Heck said “I really want to” support Trump at a closed-door fundraiser?
- October 25 when Heck said that Nevadans “don’t have a right to know” who he’s voting for “because it’s a secret ballot”?
- And now November 1, where Heck is asked if he will vote for Trump and responds with “we’ll see what happens, we’re working through it.”
No wonder Nevada voters are confused. We need a leader – not someone like Joe Heck, who goes with whatever political breeze is blowing instead of working for the people he claims to represent.
Wow … that last flip, or was it a flop, took a whole two weeks— and will throw Nevada’s women under the bus, including his own wife. The only position of Congressman Heck’s that does not change is that he will do or say whatever is best for himself and the power over others he craves.
ICYMI: Politico: Heck says Trump is qualified but won’t commit to vote for him
[Christiano Lima, 11/02/16]Nevada Senate candidate Joe Heck still won’t say if he’s voting for Donald Trump on Election Day, but said Tuesday the Republican nominee is qualified to be president and would make a good commander-and-chief.
Heck, who along with numerous other prominent Republican figures withdrew their support of Trump following the revelation of his sexually aggressive comments during an “Access Hollywood” taping in 2005, told Las Vegas’ KSNV News3LV that Trump cleared his bar to be qualified for the presidency.
“I think he won our nomination through a very intensive primary process and caucus process, and the Republican voters decided that they wanted him as their nominee,” Heck said Tuesday. “So, I think if you meet the constitutional qualifications and you’re selected by the Republican Party, then you’re qualified to be President.”
Heck is facing Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto for Nevada’s open seat now held by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, who is retiring.
Pressed on whether he would trust Trump’s judgment as commander-in-chief, Heck gave a tepid endorsement of the nominee’s abilities.
“Whomever the next commander-in-chief is, they’re going to need to surround themselves with military leaders that will provide them with the expert advice that they need to keep the country safe and make sure our men and women in uniform have the tools and the resources they need to do the jobs we asked them to do,” he said. “I think that Donald will do that. He certainly has a lot of military leaders that have signed on as his advisers.”
Heck, though, would still not commit to voting for the Republican presidential ticket come Election Day, saying only that he knew he wouldn’t vote for Trump’s Democratic counterpart.
“Well, I can tell you I’m not voting for Hillary Clinton,” he said. “We still have six days before I walk into the booth. On November 8th, I’ll have a decision.”
Several weeks prior, Heck gave a stinging rebuke of Trump’s comments about and behavior to women.
“I can no longer look past the pattern of behavior and comments that have been made by Donald Trump,” Heck said at a Nevada rally on Oct. 8. “Therefore, I cannot in good conscience continue to support Donald Trump, nor can I vote for Hillary Clinton.”