'Take one less trip to Starbucks': GOP candidate's tone-deaf advice to 'help war effort'

Michele Tafoya, a conservative political consultant running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, argued that Americans should buy less coffee if they are concerned about the price of gas during President Donald Trump's war in Iran.

During an interview this week, conservative radio host Todd Starnes asked Tafoya about Minnesota voters' concerns.

"Well, yeah, you know, look, we've all been told that the word affordability is key, and it is," the candidate replied. "And right now I would say, you know, look, we had gas prices at a five-year low, and we were really enjoying watching that. And now here we are in a conflict in the Middle East, which is bringing gas prices up again."

"I know it's frustrating and I know it's hard for people," she admitted. "We can all, you know, it used to be during the past wars, especially World War II, Americans got behind our servicemen and women, and we did little things to show our support for them."

Tafoya suggested that Americans should be "helping the war effort."

"I think right now, at least just kind of keeping a stiff upper lip, maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks, and so that gas goes a little further until this thing is over and these gas prices come back down again," she added. "Let's just try to be patriots about this."

"Whether you agree with it or not, we're there, and we've got to support our men and women in uniform. That's a big one."