Grassley is doing his party a disservice

The Gazette reported that Sen. Chuck Grassley refused to directly comment on Rep. Steve King's criticism of Joni Ernst, who admitted that President Donald Trump's tweet that week was, in fact, racist ('Grassley staying out of King-Ernst spat over Trump tweets,” July 18).

I can excuse Grassley's refusal to criticize King. King is not Grassley's representative. However, I cannot understand or justify Grassley's refusal to publicly call Trump's comments what they were - racist.

Trump is Grassley's president, and he must not tolerate racism from our president. Grassley is our senator, and we must not excuse his silence. Grassley's public denunciation of President Donald Trump's comments would help resuscitate American ideals and may help save the soul of the Republican Party.

Ed Flaherty

Iowa City