It takes very little effort to see how the Republican Party has changed. Today it appeals to a single demographic; middle class, white, older, Christian men and women. When and why did the party of Lincoln begin its decline? Why has the GOP lost the morality and work ethic of Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower?
Some politicos believe it began immediately after the ‘Emancipation Proclamation,’ when many Republicans continued to harbor racist beliefs. Although they were obligated to support Abraham Lincoln, they continued to believe in the inferiority of black Americans.
The most blatant action by a Republican, which revealed intent to exclude all Americans other than a single demographic, was evidenced by the ambitions of Richard Nixon. Nixon pandered to racists in the South; desperate to acquire votes which would secure him the presidency. This tactic is responsible for the existence of ‘red and blue states’ today.
Future Republican candidates embraced Nixon’s strategy, and not only supported racists, but also aligned themselves with Southern Baptists who began efforts to influence governmental actions in the legislature. The Christian religious right was born.
Republican leadership failed their party. They refused to seek the support of other demographics. The GOP only supported legislation which favored its base, while alienating the demographics of a changing America. Women became a large voting bloc, but Republicans continued to support the attitudes of red state voters where women are expected to be subservient to their male counterparts. Desperate to secure the Christian religious right, they denounced the rights of women to control the health of their own bodies, or receive equal treatment to men in the workplace.
The LGBT community grew as the American people displayed less prejudice towards gays and lesbians. Although most Americans supported same-sex marriage, giving equal rights to all Americans regardless of their sexual preference, Republicans opposed it in support of the Christian Religious right.
Efforts by Republican governors to restrict the voting rights of minorities have virtually eliminated support from blacks and Hispanics.
When Barrack Obama was elected President in 2008, Republican leaders were incensed. Their base would never support a black president. The minority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, immediately declared that he would order his constituents to do nothing with the exception of insuring that the black man in the White House was a one-term president.
Today the Republican Party has strengthened its belief in exclusivity by nominating an unqualified and openly racist, bigoted, misogynistic, and Islamophobic man as its candidate for the presidency. Donald Trump is the sum of all past evils supported by Republican leaders.
Not only has the Republican Party embraced the efforts of Richard Nixon, it has enhanced its support of its single voting bloc. It allowed a small extremist group to take control of the GOP and make it the “party of no.” They promised to do nothing, and their goal has been accomplished. If the Republican Party has become a club exclusively for white Christians, the TEA Party is the party of wealthy white Christians whose extremism has prevented our nation’s government from being functional.
This is a brief history of how the party of Lincoln moved completely away from its former principles and ideals. Trump is the creation long in the making.
Many Republicans have proclaimed that they will either vote for Hillary Clinton, or have renounced their party membership and are now Independents.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 