Trump Country Unfazed By Comey Testimony [Opinion Of The Day]

Welcome to the White House Patch's daily roundup of what political pundits, columnists and editorial boards across the nation are saying about the news inside the Beltway. Each day we'll feature one opinion piece on the current events in Washington, D.C.

(For more national political news, sign up for the free White House Patch email newsletter.)

Caitlin Huey-Burns: Trump Country Largely Unfazed by Comey Hearing

"'Honestly, they don't seem to care too much about all this Russia mumbo jumbo,' said Kyle Hupfer, the GOP chair in Indiana, a state Trump won by 19 points and where his vice president used to be governor. "[Comey] is the same person that every Democrat wanted terminated six months ago, and now he's the darling of the Democratic Party?'" (RealClear Politics)

PREVIOUSLY:

New York Daily News: Comey’s compelling case of Trump nearing obstruction of justice

"In the picture vividly and credibly painted by Former FBI Director Jim Comey in sworn testimony to Congress, the President of the United States engaged in a pattern of deeply disturbing behavior that could well amount to obstruction of justice." (New York Daily News)

Edward Morrissey: James Comey's credibility problem

"The problem for Comey is that both Democrats and Republicans have spent nearly a year attacking him for failing to exercise professional discretion when it mattered, and politicizing the FBI as a result. So whether his testimony will have any sway depends on whether he can overcome his massive credibility problem." (The Week)

Josh Marshall: The Madness of King Trump

"This last really bad week seems to have gotten us to a new point in which administration leaders are openly saying that the President doesn’t speak for himself or his administration. Either in people’s understanding of what Presidents are supposed to do or in the humiliations these descriptions likely amount to for Trump himself, this does not seem like a sustainable solution to the Trump problem." (Talking Points Memo)

William McGurn: Why Elites Hate

"So good luck with the idea that the Democratic Party can restore its relationship with Middle America without addressing the identity politics that fuels it. Especially when it starts from the premise that the Americans they are condescending to will remain too stupid to figure it out." (The Wall Street Journal)

The New York Times: America in Retreat

"America may be first in the eyes of the president, but in the eyes of the world it is in headlong retreat." (The New York Times)

Niall Stanage: Is Trump a victim of the 'Deep State?'

"Beyond the partisan arguments, the question of whether a deep state exists — and whether the leaks about Trump are justified — divides intelligence experts, including those who have served in leading agencies." (The Hill)

The New York Times: Our Disgraceful Exit From the Paris Accord

"Mr. Trump’s policies ... have dismayed America’s allies, defied the wishes of much of the American business community he pretends to help, threatened America’s competitiveness as well as job growth in crucial industries and squandered what was left of America’s claim to leadership on an issue of global importance." (The New York Times)

Matt Lewis: Paris Can Wait—It Was a Bad Deal

"Why is it a bad deal? There are no consistent standards for participation. Countries unilaterally decided what voluntary and non-binding commitment they wanted to pledge. The United States will cut emissions 26-28 percent by 2025—a pledge that is much more rigorous than other nations." (The Daily Beast)

Jake Novak: Trump is threatening Europe...with the truth

"Trump or no Trump, the U.S. cannot continue to back Europe unless Europe gets its own priorities straight and faces reality." (CNBC)

J. Mario Molina: You've Been Duped

"The administration and Republicans in Congress want you to believe that insurers raising premiums for their plans or exiting the marketplaces all together are consequences of the design of the Affordable Care Act instead of the direct results of their own actions to sabotage the law. Don't let them fool you."(U.S. News & World Report)

Thomas L. Friedman: Trump’s United American Emirate

"We have an emir. His name is Donald. We have a crown prince. His name is Jared. We have a crown princess. Her name is Ivanka. We have a consultative council (Congress) that rubber-stamps whatever the emir wants. And like any good monarchy, our ruling family sees no conflict of interest between its personal businesses and those of the state." (The New York Times)

Washington Times: A hero stumbles

"John McCain risks becoming a common scold and could be seen as an embittered old man. An authentic American hero deserves better than that." (The Washington Times)

Annett Meiritz, Anna Reimann and Severin Weiland: What Was Merkel Thinking?

"On the eve of Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Europe, heads of state and government around the world were eager to put on a veneer of harmony. That effort, though, is over -- and Merkel is one significant reason why." (Der Spiegel)

Victor Davis Hanson: The Fusion Party

"The Democrats are following the lead of the progressive media — together, they now form the anti-Trump brigade." (National Review)

Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/ Staff/ Getty Images News/ Getty Images