TRUMP AND THE GOP – AT 11:18 A.M. ET:   It is no secret that many in the GOP despise Donald Trump.  And, if truth be told, he gave them plenty of reason during the presidential campaign.  We might forget Trump's chronic insults and demeaning descriptions, but his targets will not. 

Now Trump is facing his first real disagreement with prominent Republicans.  It's over the question of alleged Russian attempts to influence our election, in Trump's favor, by the use of hacking and other means.  From Fox: 

Allegations that Russia interfered in the presidential election in a bid to boost Donald Trump’s campaign have roiled Republicans, as prominent GOP lawmakers pursue a bipartisan congressional investigation while President-elect Trump’s team tries to tamp down the controversy and “move on.”

Trump told “Fox News Sunday” the CIA’s reported assessment was “ridiculous” and described the claim as another “excuse” pushed by Democrats to explain his upset victory.

“Nobody really knows,” he said. “... They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., though, said Monday that the Senate intelligence committee will review the matter.

“The Russians are not our friends,” McConnell said, while saying he has the highest confidence in the CIA and the rest of the intelligence community.

The debate follows a Washington Post report that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia interfered in the race to boost Trump, not just undermine confidence in the system.

Intelligence agencies reportedly found individuals connected to the Russian government gave WikiLeaks hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee, as well as from Hillary Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta – though did not have “specific intelligence” showing Kremlin officials directed the activity.

In response to this report, and following White House confirmation that President Obama has ordered an intelligence review of election hacking before he leaves office, the Trump transition team also put out a statement saying: “These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It’s now time to move on and ‘Make America Great Again.’”

COMMENT:  Sorry, but we call 'em as we see 'em here, and Trump is handling this badly.  First, he did not win one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history.  Second, it is demeaning and inaccurate to say that "these are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction."  They are not the same people.

Trump should join the call, now supported by prominent Republicans, for a thorough investigation.  It will be led by Republican-run committees in Congress.  It's going to happen anyway, and Trump doesn't want to be seen as an obstructionist. 

The GOP majority in the Senate currently stands at 52-48.  It is thin.  Trump needs almost total support.  He needs confirmation of his more controversial Cabinet picks.  Some of his comments on the Russian hacking issue are not helpful.

December 12, 2016