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Alex Little Published 4:08 p.m. CT Jan. 29, 2017 | Updated 2 hours ago

Protests flared as President Trump's executive order blocked refugees from entering U.S. airports, including travelers who already had valid visas. USA TODAY NETWORK

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Hear the chants protesters belted out at San Francisco International Airport on behalf of refugees banned under President Trump's executive order on immigration. USA TODAY NETWORK

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In the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration Friday, many critics quickly took up a familiar rallying cry, lifting words from the Statue of Liberty that have for decades represented American immigration. Time

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President Donald Trump has barred all refugees from entering the United States for four months, and indefinitely banned all refugees from Syria. USA TODAY NETWORK

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Lawyers say dozens of travelers from countries named in President Trump's recent executive order were held at John F. Kennedy International Airport and other airports Saturday amid confusion about whether they could legally enter the country. Time

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Shortly after signing documents in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump said his crackdown on refugees and citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries "is not a Muslim ban." (Jan. 28) AP

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Iran says U.S. citizens are no longer welcome in the country. Buzz60

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Activists protested on Saturday the detention of two Iraqi citizens at New York City's JFK airport, one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the US. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES Video provided by AFP Newslook

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US President Donald Trump unleashed a wave of alarm Saturday with his order to temporarily halt all refugee arrivals and impose tough controls on travelers from seven Muslim countries. Video provided by AFP Newslook

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Lawyers are taking action against President Donald Trump's immigration policy. Veuer's Keleigh Nealon (@keleighnealon) has the story. Buzz60

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President Donald Trump's signing of an executive action to bring sweeping changes to the nation's refugee policies is causing fear and alarm for immigrants in the U.S. whose family members will be affected. (Jan. 27) AP

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Confusion, worry and outrage grew Saturday as President Donald Trump's crackdown on refugees and citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries took effect. (Jan. 28) AP

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Protests erupt at U.S. airports over refugee ban

Protesters: 'We are people; we are not illegal'

'Give me your tired, your poor': Statue of Libertys immigration poem

Trump's refugee screening takes immediate effect

Protestors rally at JFK Airport over President Trump's executive order

Trump says refugee crackdown 'not a Muslim ban'

Iran says U.S. citizens are no longer welcome in the country

Activists protest Trump's immigration policy at JFK airport

Sudanese react to US control on travelers from Muslim countries

Refugees detained at U.S. borders challenge Donald Trump

Immigrants with affected family fearful of ban

Trump refugee ban prompts outrage

Alex Little(Photo: File)

Thomas Paine wrote in the dark winter of 1776 that "these are the times that try men's souls."

In those early days of our country, when its birth was not assured, Paine observed that "the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country."

These words describe well our Republican politicians in Washington, including Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.

Make no mistake: We are facing a crisis in the United States. We have placed a disturbed, authoritarian charlatan in the White House, and the Republican Party's leaders are more interested in using his election to aggrandize themselves than to serve the people of the United States.

On Friday, on a day marked to remember the horrors of the Holocaust, President Trump closed the country's borders to women and children fleeing a regime in Syria who slaughters them indiscriminately. Anne Frank and her family were denied entry as refugees into the United States during World War II; 75 years later, a young Syrian girl is likely to suffer the same fate for the same reasons.

It gets worse. In the same executive order, President Trump established a litmus test for refugees that explicitly placed members of one religion at the front of the line for entry into our country, while barring access to those of a different faith.

Not even the spouses of American citizens are spared. Under the Republican Party's policy, our government will now block husbands and wives of some American citizens from reentering the United States, even if they hold a green card and have lived here legally for decades, once they travel outside of the country for any reason.

And that was just Friday. Earlier in the week, President Trump repeated the lie that there was massive voter fraud in the 2016 election. He personally called the director of the U.S. National Park Service to request aerial photographs to support the observably false claim that a million people attended his inauguration. And he proposed paying for a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico by imposing a staggering 20 percent tariff on Mexican imports, signalling a trade war with our third largest trading partner on his sixth day in office.

What did Tennessee's senators say about these matters?

Not a word.

At a time when our country needs what Paine might describe as "winter soldiers," who stand up when weaker men and women stand down, Senator Alexander and Senator Corker sit by the fire and smoke cigars.

They have chosen to acquiesce to partisan motives, unwilling to muster even a gesture of support for religious equality, the moral righteousness of protecting refugees, or the baseline expectation that a President should behave more like a statesman than a Kardashian.

The unwillingness of our Senators to stand up to President Trump is a personal moral failure. (The history books their grandchildren read will judge them harshly, and rightfully so.) But more troubling is the impact of their cowardice on others in Congress.

Only a year before Thomas Paine decried the "sunshine patriot," then-General George Washington confirmed a court-martial for cowardice by a soldier in the Continental Army, declaring it "the most injurious (crime) to an Army, and the last to be forgiven; inasmuch as it may, and often does happen, that the Cowardice of a single Officer may prove the Distruction of the whole Army."

By failing to act courageously, Alexander and Corker give aid and comfort to other weak-willed Republicans in Congress. We cannot afford their silence much longer.

Alex Little is a lawyer in Nashville.

Response from Sen. Bob Corker

Editor's note: Sen. Bob Corker's office sent his response to The Tennessean Sunday regarding President Trump's executive order on refugees.

We all share a desire to protect the American people, but this executive order has been poorly implemented, especially with respect to green card holders. The administration should immediately make appropriate revisions, and it is my hope that following a thorough review and implementation of security enhancements that many of these programs will be improved and reinstated.

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The cowardice of Republican partisanship - The Tennessean

House Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, questioned aspects of President Trump's order banning some refugees but generally supports Trump.(Photo: MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA)

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. The Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Sunday questioned President Trumps move to sweep up green card holders in his temporary ban of visitors from several predominantly Muslim countries, but praised Trumps aggressive actions in the opening days of his presidency.

I support generally what hes doing, Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, told reporters. Hes off to a roaring start. I think its surprising a lot of people that he is actually doing what he said he was going to do, but there are those of us that actually support that.

Chaffetz said he did not understand why Trumps executive order to temporarily ban visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries also included permanent U.S. residents. People that have a green card supposedly already have been vetted, so there needs to be some further clarification, he said

Chaffetz is one of 11 elected officials attending a three-day summit of wealthy conservative donors aligned withbillionaire industrialists Charles Koch and David Koch. He met with reporters to tout his work with the Koch network to overhaul the criminal-justice system.

Another Utah Republican, Sen. Mike Lee, also joined the Koch gathering but declined to answer questions about Trumps immigration order, which has been met with legal challenges and protests in more than two dozen cities.

Chaffetzs comments came as a key Koch official publicly opposed the ban.

USA TODAY

Koch brothers network aims to raise $300M to $400M for conservative causes

"We believe it is possible to keep Americans safe without excluding people who wish to come here to contribute and pursue a better life for their families, Brian Hooks, a co-chairman of the Kochs seminar network said in a statement Sunday.

The travel ban is the wrong approach and will likely be counterproductive, he said.

A day earlier, Koch officials had reserved judgment about the ban, saying they had not had time to review it.

USA TODAY

Protests against Trump's immigration plan rolling in more than 30 cities

Trumps executive order, signed Friday, suspends entry of all refugees for 120 days, stops admission of refugees from Syria indefinitely and bars entry for 90 days to residents from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

Asked about the protests that have erupted following the immigration order, Chaffetz said protesters are in a bit of shock that Donald Trump is the president of the United States.

They are free to protest and exercise their First Amendment rights, he added, but so far, I think the president is on the right track."

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Prominent Republican at Koch event questions Trump order - USA TODAY

in his Holocaust Remembrance Day statement, President Donald Trump did not mention the approximately Jewish people at all. | AP Photo

Jewish Republicans on Sunday castigated President Donald Trump over decision to not mention Jews in its statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day with one prominent group calling on the White House to immediately rectify this painful omission.

On Friday, the president released a statement saying: It is with a heavy heart and somber mind that we remember and honor the victims, survivors, heroes of the Holocaust.

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Trump went on to pledge to do everything in my power throughout my presidency, and my life, to ensure that the forces of evil never again defeat the powers of good. Yet, he did not mention the approximately six million Jews that perished.

On Sunday, a pair of influential Jewish Republican groups pushed back.

The Republican Jewish Coalition, a group that is heavily funded by GOP mega-donor and Trump supporter Sheldon Adelson, released a statement from a spokesman, Fred Brown, noting: "As supporters of President Trump, we know that he holds in his heart the memory of the six million victims of the Holocaust, and is committed not just to their memory, but ensuring it never happens again.

"The lack of a direct statement about the suffering of the Jewish people during the Holocaust was an unfortunate omission. History unambiguously shows the purpose of the Nazi's final solution was the extermination of the Jews of Europe, said the statement. We hope, going forward, he conveys those feelings when speaking about the Holocaust."

Also weighing in was Mort Klein, the national president of Zionist Organization of America.

Especially as a child of Holocaust survivors, I and ZOA are compelled to express our chagrin and deep pain at President Trump, in his Holocaust Remembrance Day Message, omitting any mention of anti-Semitism and the six million Jews who were targeted and murdered by the German Nazi regime and others, he said.

The administration has defended the decision, telling CNN over the weekend that "despite what the media reports, we are an incredibly inclusive group and we took into account all of those who suffered" in the Holocaust.

It pointed to an article which noted that non-Jewish people were also killed by the Nazis.

Appearing Sunday on NBCs "Meet the Press," White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said he did not regret the wording of the statement. He also noted that some members of Trumps family alluding to son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, and daughter, Ivanka are Jewish.

I mean, everyone's suffering in the Holocaust including obviously all of the Jewish people affected and the miserable genocide that occurred is something that we consider to be extraordinarily sad and something that can never be forgotten, Priebus added.

Klein said his organization was shocked by Priebuss decision to defend the statement and called it disgraceful.

In interviews over the weekend, several other prominent Jewish Republicans said they were concerned by Trumps Holocaust message.

Ari Fleischer, who was press secretary in the George W. Bush White House, said Trump officials missed an opportunity to clarify Trumps comments during their appearances on Sunday morning news programs.

I wish they fixed it on the shows this morning. Obviously they didnt, he said. The omission was a mistake. I hope they learn from this and not repeat this omission in any future statements they make.

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Jewish Republicans chide Trump on Holocaust statement - Politico

New York Times

In Private, Republican Lawmakers Agonize Over Health Law Repeal New York Times WASHINGTON Congressional Republicans, meeting behind closed doors this week in Philadelphia, expressed grave concerns about dismantling the Affordable Care Act on the urgent timetable demanded by President Trump, fretting that, among other ... Behind closed doors, Republican lawmakers fret about how to ...Washington Post The Republicans' overdue realization: Health care reform is hardMSNBC Republican split on Obamacare strategy evident during private meetingPolitico Huffington Post -Los Angeles Times -CNBC all 1,164 news articles »

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In Private, Republican Lawmakers Agonize Over Health Law Repeal - New York Times

RICHMOND On a day when antiabortion activists were marching in Washington, a Republican running for governor in Virginia attacked one of his rivals as soft on the issue.

Ed Gillespie and Corey Stewart, two of the four Republicans in the race, both call themselves pro-life and took part in the annual March for Life on Friday. On the eve of the march, each was asked about his stance on a bill before the General Assembly that would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks.

Stewart told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that as governor he would sign it. Gillespie said he would support such a ban if it made exceptions for rape, incest or when the mothers life was in danger. The bill before Virginias legislature calls for an exception only for the life of the mother.

In response, Stewart posted a video on Facebook accusing Gillespie of supporting late-term abortions and calling on him to drop out of the race.

[Trump win shakes up race for Virginia governor]

My opponent, Ed Gillespie, Establishment Ed, just came out that he would not sign a bill prohibiting late-term abortions in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Stewart said on the video. I believe that life is sacred from the moment of conception. There should be no exceptions. ... I just am having a hard time understanding how Ed Gillespie can call himself a conservative, how he can call himself a Catholic, how he can call himself, frankly, even a good man.

Stewarts attack drew swift condemnation from some of Virginias most prominent antiabortion voices. Among them was Del. David LaRock (R-Loudoun), who sponsored the bill calling for the ban on abortions after 20 weeks.

@CoreyStewartVA, this is patently false, LaRock tweeted. You should be ashamed.

Republican delegates Jackson H. Miller, Timothy D. Hugo and Kathy J. Byron all vocal antiabortion legislators also rallied around Gillespie

@CoreyStewartVA you are a good friend of mine, but you know this is simply not true, Miller tweeted.

State Sen. Mark D. Obenshain (R-Rockingham) summed up Stewarts attack as: More of the same crazy, divisive and self-serving hyperbole from @CoreyStewartVA that got him fired as Trump Chair.

Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, also served as chairman of President Trumps Virginia election campaign. He was ousted before Election Day for his role in an unauthorized protest outside of Republican National Committee headquarters.

Gillespie, a former RNC chairman and counselor to President George W. Bush, did not respond directly, but he tweeted a picture of himself taken with Vice President Pence, who addressed antiabortion marchers Friday.

Was honored to be with my friend @VP @mike-Pence after his historic speech at the #MarchForLife, Gillespie tweeted.

Shaun Kenney, a former executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, paired that tweet with one from Stewart that said: Vice President Pence just drove by at March for Life!

Thats gotta hurt, Kenney said. Wonder if @CoreyStewartVA waved at @EdWGillespie when he did.

Gillespie also appears in a photo tweeted by Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the antiabortion Susan B. Anthony List.

With my friend #prolife #Catholic @EdWGillespie at the #marchforlife, she wrote.

In an interview, Stewart stood by his criticism of Gillespies position.

How can you possibly support exceptions on late-term abortion? he said. This is at 20weeks. And an exception is a gaping wide-open hole. ... Anybody who would allow an abortion under any circumstance for a baby thats five months old 20 weeks old cannot call themselves pro-life.

Stewart was dismissive of the tweeted photo of Gillespie with Pence, calling it proof that his rival is a classic Washington insider, not an antiabortion crusader.

He knows everybody, Stewart said. He always has.

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One Republican running for Va. governor attacks another on abortion - Washington Post