Yes, the 2016 campaign season has been historic; and most of it not in a manner which inspires pride in our nation’s political system. Republicans never debated; they simply engaged in name calling and personal attacks. Early in the season it was obvious that the GOP clown car had 16 passengers, but only one driver. A man who had no experience at any level of government; had multiple failed business ventures; was openly racist, bigoted, and a misogynist, left his competition in the dust. Thinly disguised efforts by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus to derail Trump’s campaign failed miserably, and the least qualified candidate for the presidency in American history became the nominee of one of our major parties.
There were a few positives from Democrats. Bernie Sanders revitalized Democratic voters. In July, Hillary became the first woman nominated by a major party.
Donald Trump won the nomination, but not the American people. Several prominent members of his own party have denounced him, and some have moved into Hillary’s camp. This is historical, but also very troubling for the Republican Party.
Carlos Gutierrez, the former Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush, has moved away from the GOP and will support and vote for Hillary Clinton.
Gutierrez said Clinton would “make a darned good president” and be better for the U.S. economy, calling Trump’s economic policies a “disaster” during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Mr. Gutierrez added: “I don’t want to go back fifty years.”
Every week we see a few true Republicans place their country ahead of their party. In 2016 “winning isn’t everything.” No individual who believes in America, the Constitution, and has real concern about the future our nation and its people, could possibly vote for Donald J. Trump.
In 2016 political parties are not the issue; the future of our nation is in the balance. Thanks to a Congress which did nothing for eight years, the United States of America faces serious domestic issues. Our place in the world is being threatened, and national security is more important than at any other time in our nation’s history. Not only is domestic terrorism a threat; our country also faces threats of new and resistant diseases. These are serious times. This is not a time when a ‘clown’ should be allowed to achieve his dreams of megalomania.
Slogans mean nothing; words mean nothing. Actions are the only important qualification to lead our nation and the world. What has Trump ever accomplished for the American people? What has he sacrificed for his country? There is only a single answer; nothing.
Mr. Gutierrez criticized Trump’s attitude towards immigration. He said that the ‘last straw’ for him was when he attacked Judge Curiel, the man who will hear the case against ‘Trump University’ in November, solely for being Hispanic.
Since the first “debate” in August of 2015, Republican leadership had the time and opportunity to deny Trump his ambition; they failed. The failure was best represented by the fact that the establishment was unable to find a single Republican candidate who was supported by GOP voters.
Is this representative of today’s Republican Party? Sadly, the answer is yes. The GOP has moved so far to the right, thanks to a small group of extremists, that it has become dysfunctional. The three key figures in the dismantling of the once Grand Old Party are Reince Priebus, John Boehner, and Mitch McConnell. They are the architects of “Trumpenstein.”
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of Neon Tommy
Follow me on Twitter: @jamesturnagenov
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