DEBASE: Verb/transitive verb...

A fair assessment by Sen. Corker and Merriam Webster.

DEBASE
1: to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character; “debased himself by lying to his supporters”… “a constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to outlaw debasing the American flag.”
2a : to reduce the intrinsic value of (a coin) by increasing the base-metal content
b : to reduce the exchange value of (a monetary unit)
de·base·ment-ˈbās-məntnoun
de·bas·er-ˈbā-sər noun
Examples:
“The governor debased himself by lying to the public.”
“The holiday has been debased by commercialism.”
Synonyms: abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, 
deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate.