In 2015 the most significant change in American politics occurred in the last 70 years. No, it wasn’t the advent of a real estate developer who dominated the Republican Party and became the driver of the clown car. It was the fact that “baby boomer” are no longer the largest voting bloc in America. That “honor” now belongs to millennials. While Bernie Sanders received enormous support from this group, only 20 percent align themselves with the GOP.

After the 2012 loss, Republican National Committee Chairman, Reince Priebus, claimed that the party would broaden its base. It has not. It remains the party of older white men, whose income levels are middle class and above, the Christian religious right, and the gun nuts who support the NRA gun lobby.

The GOP has many problems attempting to gain the votes of millennials. They do not watch television, and most of the GOP vote comes from misleading television ads. They support the rights of the LGBT community, women, and minorities. Possibly the worst fact about millennials for the GOP, is that they shun religious organizations. Sixty-five million Americans refuse to belong to these cults, and many of them are part of the 75 million millennials of voting age.

It’s time for real change within the Republican Party. It will continue to fail until it has forward thinking leadership. A complete overhaul of the establishment is necessary. Political parties must appeal to the majority of the American people. Special interests must be ignored. With the population of the United States at approximately 320 million, the one-percent, or 3.2 million, can take care of themselves; they are doing very well living lives of luxury and privilege. They are not “job creators,” they are hoarders.

Change within the GOP is inevitable. In 20 years, millennials will be in control of Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court. The Republican Party of today will be but a bad memory.

Trump did not destroy the Republican Party; he is simply the result of years of poor leadership. GOP leadership allowed a small group of extremists to control their party, and the result is a dysfunctional government.

Republican voters will no longer accept politicians who fail to work for them and for the future of our nation. For far too long those who call themselves leaders in the GOP have operated under the assumption that the voting public is ignorant. The reverse is closer to the truth.

Donald Trump is a protest banner. Supporting the worst possible candidate in history became a reality when millions of Republicans sought ways to display their anger with the GOP establishment.

It’s time for not only Priebus, but also McConnell, McCain, Graham, Hatch, both Kings, and many others to retire. These old white men have permitted the destruction of the Grand Old Party. A new party will be formed and hopefully will not include the extremists of the TEA Party or Freedom Caucus, whatever they are calling themselves today.

It’s time for real change; supporting men and women who seek to move the Republican Party forward instead of back to the ‘bad old days.’

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of shakey1694

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