The Republican establishment and the media would like you to believe that Trumpenstein was created by Donald Trump. This is not accurate. For years those who attended CPAC and other Republican “bitch fests” applauded wildly and cheered Trump as he spoke the same lies and attacked the same groups he rails against today.
There is little doubt that Trump is a Fascist. He uses the tactics of Hitler and Mussolini as he incites his crowds with fear and hatred to the very edge of physical violence. He refuses to accept anyone’s opinions but his own, and is unable to accept even the slightest criticism.
But, contrary to what Republicans would like you to believe, he is not new; he is the culmination of years of Republican movement to the far right. The racism, bigotry, and xenophobia have always been there; Trumpenstein is simply the sum of the many deviant parts of the GOP.
Republicans like to throw around the term ‘conservatism’ with reckless abandon, but today’s Democrats are the true conservatives. The GOP has become so extreme that they have become reactionaries. There is no comparison between the Republican Party of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Reagan, or Bush 41 and today’s “Republicans in name only.”
Conservative: “One who supports the importance of personal responsibility and traditional values and opposes dependence on government for social services.”
This is more apropos to today’s Democrats. Social programs proposed by progressives today are intended for short range use. The goal is to help every American achieve independence and become less dependent on government.
Reactionary: “A person who is opposed to political or social change or new ideas.”
This is the new and devolved Republican Party. Its focus is to remove the gains for the working class accomplished in the last 60 years. Its Puritanical position on issues accepted by every other developed nation in the world is unforgivable, and is the principle reason our nation is moving backwards instead of forward.
This is the party of old, mostly white, men and women who refuse to accept social changes in the 21st century. It chooses to ignore the working class, and denies the existence of poverty in America.
Trumpenstein is all about adulation and power. His rhetoric is boisterous, annoying and is intended to create an emotional response. There is no logic; there are no solutions. But to be fair, Trumpenstein can be the label of the new GOP. They are a group of Fascists who seek the destruction of democracy and would replace it with a plutocracy.
This is not a group of men and women who sought a political career to serve the people of our once great nation. These are ambitious, self-serving individuals who discovered an easy way to join the wealthy class.
The greatest illusion created by Republicans is the idea that all Republicans would fail to support Trump’s nomination. Today’s Republicans always place the party before their country. They have no loyalty to America or the American people. If Charles Manson received 1,237 delegates, Republicans would support him.
Sadly, Republican voters act in the same manner as those they elect. They will vote for any candidate who has an “R” next to his or her name, regardless of qualifications, or lack of moral character.
I am proud to be a member of the 42 percent who call ourselves ‘Independents.’
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
The Truth With No Restrictions 