Anecdote on the Republican Party

May 13, 2021

The Republican Party is at a crossroads. It seems to be in a civil war that could turn the party to two different directions – the first, towards what it has always prided itself in – upholding freedom and the constitution, limiting the role of government and enabling the American Dream. The other path, which it continues to plod towards, is unwavering loyalty to the whims and impulses of Donald Trump.

The old Republican party used to uphold the correct values quintessentially. Their identity was clear and their character allowed them to take the moral high ground on many issues. Their leaders were great, humble, frequently willing to work with the other side, leading by example and not by fear. The rich history of bright lights in the Republican Party includes such luminaries like Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp, Colin Powell, George Shultz, James Baker, William Bennet, and many others. But today’s Republican Party would not welcome such public servants.

The path the Republicans have turned towards seems to me a completely different, foreign direction. They’ve elevated a person who contradicts much of the GOP’s values of the past 50 years. With Donald Trump leading the party, Republicans have lost all their moral high ground. They have lost their dignity; no, worse, their identity. The party has become a self-serving, fear mongering, deceptive hoard who participate, in the words of Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb) in “the weird worship of one dude.”

What surprises me the most is the incredible, unwavering support of Mr. Trump that so many conservative Christians demonstrate. They have been so blinded by their idolatrous worship of him and his politics that they can’t see how immoral Mr. Trump is. Or worse, they see it but justify it somewhere along the lines of “God can use even the worst of sinners for his purposes.” They conveniently shut out the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, of the book of Hebrews, and of apostles John and Peter; who all warn against false teachers, against leaders who serve only themselves and not God.

The present leaders of the historical Republican Party’s policies, such as Sasse, Utah Sen. And 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, and Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger are all facing massive criticism inside their own party for standing up to Mr. Trump. Rep. Cheney could not hold her leadership position, and I worry that Mr. Kinzinger will be taken down in the 2022 primary election. Their only crime was to call out Trump on his BIG LIE. They speak truth to a party that does not wish to hear it. The top Republican politicians calling for their removal in the name of party unity aren’t covering themselves in glory. No, they are demonstrating what Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan recently described as a “circular firing squad.” The party needs strong leaders; honest politicians willing to stand up for what is true and real as opposed to what they know to be the false narrative of Mr. Trump and his most die-hard supporters.

Being abroad, I receive endless input from those on the outside. These are people who have no loyalty to either U.S. political party, but watch and read what goes on and draw their own conclusions, not those of any party line. Let me tell you Republicans - never has America been regarded so lowly abroad as when Mr. Trump was president. Many friends were horrified and deeply concerned about what happened on January 6th. They couldn’t believe something like that could happen in the country that is the greatest example of democracy and freedom in human history (their words, not mine!) By and large, there is zero respect for Mr. Trump. Most people abroad, and I refer to people who love and admire America, can’t believe the unwavering support behind such a dishonest and immoral man. Many are not even Christians (!), yet they see right through his lies. Is that verdict not damning enough?

I can’t bring myself to support the Republican Party anymore. Not while they are “led” by phonies, liars, hypocrites, and dare I say it – ingrates. This may be blasphemy to some – but I will actively vote against them until they humble themselves and get rid of the corruption and dishonesty that permeates through the GOP. How does one become humble? Often by being humiliated. How does humiliation translate to politics? By Republicans losing in consecutive elections, and subsequently taking a hard, internal look at themselves and why they continue to underperform. The future of America under a Donald Trump-led Republican Party is worse than one led by a neo-liberal socialist (which Biden is not!).

One last thing to point out. I know plenty of staunch conservatives who share my concerns about the Party. It very much seems like we are a minority within the right leaning base; or maybe we aren’t? Republicans complain about how they are victim to cancel culture – and they do have a point – but ironically, it’s Mr. Trump and his supporters, both the average constituent and Republican leadership, who are engaging in cancel culture upon their own ranks. Some examples are: the removing of Liz Cheney from leadership, the exclusion of many prominent Republicans from CPAC, and the declarations of “treason” to others. I could go on.

Could the majority of Republicans actually share the same opinion about the GOP as I do? Have they already left the party, like I am prepared to do? The leadership is shooting itself in the foot by silencing dissent and demanding unwavering loyalty to their Lord and Savior former President Trump. That could backfire in the upcoming midterms, as it already has in Georgia.

Republicans, do something before it’s too late. History will not look kindly upon you if you don’t.