To explain the disaster which has become the Republican race for the party’s presidential nomination, I must go back to the beginning.

After President Barrack Obama was sworn in, in 2009, Republican leaders in Congress promised not to do anything. Before the President had time to meet with his cabinet, or propose a single piece of legislation, then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell openly stated that he didn’t care about the business of the Senate; Republicans only goal was to make Mr. Obama a one-term president. If this wasn’t purely based on racism, I can’t imagine what it might have been. Nothing like this had ever happened before in our government.

In 2010 ill-informed Republican voters elected members of the TEA Party. These unqualified men and women were given their seats in Washington by the Koch brothers for a single purpose; to disrupt the way our government worked. Led by Ted Cruz in 2013, all compromise was rejected by the ‘party of no.’ By 2014 Congress was in total gridlock.

In the midterm election Republican and Independent voters gave Republicans control of both houses. McConnell and Speaker John Boehner held a news conference and promised that Congress would ‘get to work.’ This turned out to be a blatant lie. McConnell has joined the extremists and once again promised to do nothing until after the November election.

When Donald Trump declared his candidacy last summer, most Americans considered it a publicity stunt; understanding Trump’s past and his need for attention. By August it wasn’t funny anymore; he was leading the other 16 wannabees by double digits in the polls. No one could accurately explain this phenomenon. But that’s because the media refused to tell the truth.

Here we are today; Trump continues to lead in nearly every state and federal poll. Although Trump has broken every rule, openly displayed his bigotry and racism, and denounced his own party and fellow candidates, his support has not diminished. Voters say that they are angry and are renouncing those serving in Washington.

The Republican establishment is both livid and frightened. Although all original 17 candidates were unqualified to lead our nation, leadership would have accepted anyone but Trump or Cruz.

When it was obvious that the race had shriveled down to three men, nearly every mainstream Republican rallied behind Marco Rubio. Although he is a TEA Party darling, he was considered less extreme. Rubio has one win in the primary season.

Unless the polls are drastically wrong, after Tuesday, Trump’s lead could become insurmountable. How can he be removed from the Republican Party and be refused the party’s nomination?

There are ways to prevent Trump from being the party’s standard bearer. But that would create even more problems. It is highly unlikely that loyal Trump supporters would vote for Cruz. The GOP would lose more than 40 percent of its voters. It’s too late to take rash action; the only choice is to rally behind Trump and support the party’s front runner.

Let’s tell the truth here. If Republicans truly had leadership in the last eight years, they would have removed the TEA Party from its ranks. It does not believe in centuries of Republican ideals and principles. It has no ability or desire to deliberate and compromise; policies which have effectively served the American people.

Some are now suggesting that Trump be expelled from the GOP; big mistake. He would surely become a third party candidate and remove any chance of anyone but the Democratic candidate from winning the election.

Republicans have created serious problems for which there is no viable solution; they must cease placing the blame on Trump and for one single moment tell the truth.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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