This article is not an endorsement of Donald Trump. If I ignore the outrageous statements and the ‘clown-like’ antics, he remains unqualified to lead our nation. However, whether or not he wins the GOP nomination, Trump has exposed the truth about the direction in which the Republican Party wants to take our country; and that’s not forward.

GOP candidates have expressed cowardice since 2000. They refuse to alter their positions on key issues which can only be labeled ‘sacred cows.’ Trump is not supported by mainstream Republicans, and therefore owes no loyalty to the party of obstructionism.

Let’s begin with religion. No one is allowed to seek office in the Republican Party unless he or she accepts Christianity. No other religion is acceptable for fear of losing the support of the Christian religious right.

Trump received criticism from the ultimate representative of the Christian faith; the Pope. Pope Francis said that Trump could not be a Christian unless he ceased his plans to build a wall between Mexico and the United States. Trump did not have a direct response; he began to talk about ISIS. Guess what? It hasn’t harmed his poll numbers.

At a town hall meeting on Wednesday evening, Trump was asked about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Although unquestioned support for Israel has been part of the party doctrine for decades, Trump didn’t see it exactly that way.

“Let me be sort of a neutral guy,” he explained. “You understand a lot of people have gone down in flames trying to make that deal. So I don’t want to say whose fault it is—I don’t think that helps.”

Republicans have rejected any suggestion that Palestine should be recognized in the same manner as Israel in 1948.

Immigration has been Trump’s cornerstone. He also spoke about Cubans and what he labeled their ‘special treatment.’

“I don’t think that’s fair,” Trump told The Tampa Bay Times. “You have people that have been in the system for years [waiting to immigrate to America], and it’s very unfair when people who just walk across the border, and you have other people that do it legally.”

Last Saturday during the ninth Republican debate, Trump hammered George W. Bush for the illegal invasion of Iraq. He also questioned Bush’s national security policy. Speaking to Jeb Bush, he said: “The World Trade Center came down during your brother’s reign. Remember that.”

Previously, not a single Republican has dared to criticize our failed 43^rd president.

Trump was loudly booed during each remark in the debate. It was later exposed that the crowd had been stacked with Bush supporters, and recordings show that the ‘boos’ began before Trump spoke his first word.

The reality is that Trump retains a huge lead in the polls. Trump’s approval is at 35 percent; his closest competitor is Cruz at 18 percent. Jeb Bush is barely on the chart.

Trump has violated every Republican ‘standard,’ and that appears to resonate well with right-wing voters. Contrary to the belief of Republican leadership, the electorate is not stupid. For 16 years they have witnessed their party move from a moderate and effective governing body to a group of extremists who fail to represent the people, and are the reason for gridlock.

Trump may be the only true Republican in the race. He speaks for past leaders such as Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and is willing to work across the aisle to take our nation forward.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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