Make wishtv.com your home page

Rep. Messer says Trump played the race card

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Congressman Luke Messer Thursday questioned Donald Trump’s ability to control himself.

Messer, who is a member of the House Republican leadership team, called Trump’s comments about a federal judge inappropriate, but he didn’t stop there.

He appeared on C-SPAN and made his comments in response to a call from a viewer.

Rep. Messer said that he doesn’t believe Donald Trump is racist but he said that Trump played the race card when commented on the Mexican heritage of Indiana born Judge Gustavo Curiel.

He suggested that comments like those could cost Trump the presidency.

“I think one of the real unknowns of the upcoming campaign season is does Donald Trump really have some sort of strange personal tic where he can’t control his comments,” he said. “Or is he an adult, is he a leader? Is he somebody who can control his tongue and focus on the real challenges of the American people?”

Messer is the Republican Policy Chair in Congress, the number five leadership position in the House.

He didn’t support Trump at the beginning of the presidential race but now believes that he is a better choice than Hillary Clinton if, he said, he can avoid making offensive remarks.