Warner questions Trump relations with Russia during Tazewell stop

Mark Warner sounds like a man with “2020’ vision. While he is not on the ballot this year Warner came down hard on the President and his dealings with Russian leader Vladimir Putin during his July 21 stop at the Tazewell County Fair. He accused Trump of cow towing to the Russian leader during their recent meeting. Warner said he was appalled that Trump seemed more comfortable with Putin than with the NATO allies.  “He treats allies like adversaries and adversaries like allies,’ Warner said. Echoing comments he made earlier in the week Warner said Trump was played by Putin during the recent summit. Warner made the stop at the fair as part of his visit to the Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise.  “It was great to be at RAM and see people helping each other. Especially after being in Washington. I would like to take every member of the senate and have them volunteer at RAM for a day and then lock them in a room until they solve the problem,’ He said. Warner said both political parties have retreated from fiscal responsibility and the fact interest rates have stayed low is the only thing saving them from disaster. “Granted the economy is better but a big tax cut with borrowed money will only buy a little time,’ he said. Warner said an uptick in the coal business which he attributed to international markets had helped the economy of the area. He said natural gas did more harm to the coal business than the EPA. He said exporting coal and gas to Europe would help the area economy and lessen the dependence of that area on Russia. He said agriculture, forest products and things like craft beer are helping diversify the local economy. Warner said industrial hemp is a product he believes can help the area’s economy.  He blasted Trump on the tariff issue saying Canada is not a security threat but China is.  He said the president should get together with our allies and take on China rather than get in a fight with Europe. He accused Trump of “cutting the heck’ out of education and trying to gut the affordable care act.  He said the government must do the math and find a way to help social security and Medicare. “When I was a child there were 16 people working and paying into social security. Today that margin is three to one,’ he said. While he spent a lot of time talking about the presidency, Warner said his interest was in the senate. “We need to manage to keep both parties away from extremes and try to accomplish some things,” he said. Warner’s stop in Tazewell was part of a swing through southwest Virginia that saw him visit Wise and St. Paul.