Ohio Sen. Johnson dismisses Dem's call to rescind endorsement of Trump

CANFIELD

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson is dismissive of Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras’ call that the Republican congressman withdraw his endorsement of Donald Trump over recent statements made by the GOP presidential nominee.

Betras on Wednesday said, “It’s time for Bill Johnson to denounce these statements. If you don’t, what will it take to get [Johnson] to condemn him?”

Trump has made numerous offensive statements, Betras said.

But, he said, Trump took it to new depths in recent weeks by criticizing a Gold Star family, and on Tuesday telling Trump supporters that gun owners could stop Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, in a way that could be interpreted as an allusion to shooting her.

Trump and his campaign have said that’s a misinterpretation of what he said.

“I agree with the comments of Speaker Paul Ryan who said that Mr. Trump’s remark about the Second Amendment sounds like a ‘joke gone bad,’” Johnson said.

Trump’s statements about Muslim parents of an American soldier killed in 2004 by a suicide bomber while in Iraq have drawn criticism from fellow Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of the Cincinnati area, who said he was “disappointed” by the comments.

Johnson, a retired Air Force lieutenant-colonel, wasn’t willing to criticize Trump on Wednesday.

Read more about the matter in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.