Republicans pan Trump's Orlando response: 'Saying nothing would have been better'

Donald Trump earned poor marks for his response to the massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando -- and not just from Democrats.

In a Politico report this morning, several Republicans wasted no time slamming Trump's response to the Orlando terror attack by fuming that they're sick of having to answer for all the outlandish things Trump says on a daily basis.

In case you missed it, Trump once again renewed his call to ban Muslims from entering the country; called out "the Muslims" for not turning in every Muslim whom they suspect to be involved in planning terror attacks; called on President Obama to resign for not saying the words "radical Islam"; and even insinuated that Obama secretly supports Islamist terrorists.

"Saying nothing would have been better," said a Republican National Committee who wished to remain anonymous. "Every Senate candidate will be forced to answer for Trump's bizarre response... His lack of empathy is jarring."

"[Trump] just blows up everything we want to do," said an anonymous GOP lawmaker. "Every time you turn around, he's said something new. It's impossible for us to keep up."

While these anonymous Republicans gave Politico the juiciest quotes, some of Republicans went on record to more gently chide Trump for his demagoguery.

Tom Rath, a veteran New Hampshire Republican strategist, tells Politico that Trump's red-meat response to Orlando casts fresh doubts on whether Trump has "the kind of sensitivity or understanding of... a president’s role."

"I think you have to be a little careful with the rhetoric," said Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. "You don’t want to inflame or help the recruiting efforts."