Senator Otis regrets [updated]

I posit “Senator Otis” as my generic Senate Democrat — Amy Klobuchar, for example, who specializes in vacuous amiability, or Al Franken, who specializes in condescension and snark, to pick two nonrandom names. Senator Otis and his friends are prime subjects of the campaign to portray President Trump as a leader beyond the bounds of civilization. He is not legitimate. He is not to be treated as if he is.

Senator Otis’s disdain of Trump aligns with the views and inclinations of “the Resistance” among the institutional and lunatic left at the heart of the Democratic Party. Senator Otis is not to accord President Trump the courtesies due his office. He is not even to accept his hospitality. Accordingly, when invited to a feel good event at the White House by President Trump, Senator Otis is apt to decline the invitation.

That is the lesson I take, perhaps mistakenly, from the Washington Times article on the Democratic no-shows at President Trump’s “spring soiree of music and fellowship” featuring Army Chorus and Marine Band at the White House this past Tuesday evening. Dave Boyer and S.A. Miller report that 28 of 46 Senate Democrats snubbed the event.

At this point the no-shows hesitate to proclaim their disdain. They are a little shy about the project. Other matters called them:

Assistant Minority Leader Patty Murray said she had “other plans.” The Washington Democrat became defensive when pressed about what plans outshine an invitation to the White House.

“Oh my gosh,” she said. “Many presidents have invited me to the White House many times for Easter parties and receptions, and I have declined.”

Ms. Murray was among five of the 11-member Senate Democratic leadership team to skip the dinner, according to a guest list provided by the White House.

Other members of the Democratic leadership who didn’t attend included conference Vice Chairs Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia, Steering Committee Chairwoman Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Mr. Sanders, who’s in charge of — wait for it — “outreach.”

An aide to Mr. Warner said he was having dinner with Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson at Cafe Milano, an Italian restaurant in Washington known as a wine-and-dine power hub for diplomats, politicians and lobbyists.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said he had dinner plans with his children, who were in Washington for a visit. He said he didn’t know why so many of his Democratic colleagues turned down the invitation from Mr. Trump.

“I can only speak for myself,” Mr. Blumenthal said. “I see my children little enough and knew they were going to be in town. Their trip was planned long ago, and that’s my priority.”

* * * * *

Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, said he was “juggling” too many obligations, including his duties as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee probing the Russian meddling in the election and possible involvement of Trump campaign officials.

“I would have liked to go,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Schumer, did show, however, as did Senator Cardin. Senator Cardin asserts that the turnout represented situation normal. Perhaps I am mistaken, or perhaps they are preserving their options on behalf of their busy Democratic colleagues.

UPDATE: On Friday morning Senator Klobuchar’s spokesman wrote us with a correction: “I wanted to let you know that Sen. Klobuchar attended — and stayed for the entirety of — Tuesday’s event at the White House.” I appreciate the correction and sincerely regret the error.

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