John Delaney: Trump's 'dirt' comments 'un-American', leaders need to show 'courage' and call him out

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Democratic 2020 hopeful John Delaney said it was "un-American" for President Trump to want to view "dirt" on his political rivals from foreign governments on "The View" Thursday, and told Republican lawmakers to stand up to the commander-in-chief.

"Well it’s un-American," Delaney said. "I mean that’s the really simple way of thinking about it. It’s un-American. It’s unpatriotic. I think it’s against the law. But putting aside the law for a second, it is completely un-American. This is an example, if he was one-quarter of the man Sen. [John] McCain was, we would never have to have this conversation for example."

Trump said if he was approached by a foreign government he'd be open to hearing opposition research on his opponents, during a Wednesday interview with ABC News' George Stephanopolous.

Delaney claimed the GOP has deteriorated since the death of John McCain and lacks the courage to oppose the president on major issues.

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"No one has the courage of their conviction to actually step forward and say the right thing," he said. "Now is a moment where leaders need to step forward, whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, independent, it doesn’t matter, and say it is un-American for a sitting president to make an offer to collude with a foreign government."

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Delaney was asked if GOP leaders should also be considered un-American for supporting Trump, and he referred to them as "enablers."

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"Well, they’re enablers, let’s put it that way," he concluded.