Tom Reed (left) and Donald Trump
WASHINGTON – Last week Chautauqua County’s representative in Washington became one of the first members of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president.
On Monday, Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) was able to meet with the billionaire presidential candidate as part of an effort to show party unity with the GOP front runner.
“It was a positive meeting. It was a meeting amongst folks here in Washington, DC to see how best we are going to move forward in developing that positive message for America’s future,” Reed said. “So it was a great start in developing and continuing the relationship with Donald Trump. As we go forward we’re going to use our influence to make sure that we’re focusing the campaign as best as possible on what is most important to the American people, and that is creating the jobs of today and tomorrow and getting this country going in the right direction.”
Reed said he also had the opportunity to share his thoughts with Trump on what to focus on during the campaign, and that is issues that he feels would most affect the day-to-day lives of Americans.
“The most critical thing we can being doing is focusing on the problems that impact Americans day to day. That’s on jobs. That’s making sure the rhetoric focuses on the big problems we face as America and hopefully that message is delivered. I think it has been and it will be,” Reed said.
Trump has been criticized because of the rhetoric and tone he uses in many of his campaign rallies, which some say incite violence toward those who protest his campaign rallies. He’s also called for the increased use of torture against suspected terrorists, while also saying the that not only should terrorists be targeted in military campaigns, but their families should also be targeted.
Reed said he’s already spoken out against that, but at the same time acknowledges that much of Trump’s appeal is the way he shares his message.
“That’s been a constant concern that many people share, including myself,” Reed said. “As we had indicated in our announcement last week, so making sure that the recognition of that rhetoric is something that I think is a legitimate issue to be raised with Donald Trump. But at the same time, it’s taping in to a plain talk, a non-politician’s way of looking at things and making sure that you’re speaking the language of the people. I think that’s what Donald Trump is tapping into and has ability to communicate through. My hope and my efforts are going to be to make sure that this national debate that Donald Trump and others are going to be involved in stays focused on the top issues facing America.”
Reed added that he feels the issues that are most important are job creation, national security, and getting the country’s fiscal house in order.
The Corning Republican also said that political threats from Carl Paladino, the conservative Buffalo developer and former gubernatorial candidate, did not influence his decision to endorse Trump.
In response to Reed’s endorsement of Trump, candidate John Plumb – Reed’s likely Democratic opponent in the November Election – said “it’s clear Tom Reed fully supports Donald Trump and his reckless rhetoric that makes our country less safe” and that “Trump’s dangerous rhetoric promoting torture and threatening civilians weakens our standing and puts our military at risk.”
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