Racification of the Republican Party

This is a re-post of a letter to the editor I sent to Sarasota Herald Tribune, I am again posting as it seems timely. As impeachment looms on the horizon. I am posing questions to many republicans, includingfamily and friends. Hope you will read and consider.

Last year, I saw something extraordinary, George Will, left the republican party and called on fellow GOP voters to vote democratic in the 2018 mid terms. He did so because the U.S. Congress was not doing its oversight responsibility as outlined in Article (1) vs Article (2) of the constitution. They've also politicized Article 3. He is NOT alone, I compiled a list of 25 other Republican writers and commentators who attack Trump and the policies of his administration. (See list below)

As a life long democrat, I have over the years disagreed a number of times with my party's direction and voted accordingly. My differences with republicans have always been about policy, never values. But, if the democratic party did something so extreme or egregious that my values could not except, I would leave with VALUES INTACT.

For example, if I thought my party was trying to restrict voting rights based upon color of skin or religious preference, I would leave that party. If my party demanded loyalty through an oath, I would leave the party. If my party's leader spewed hate, and other party leaders stood silent, I would leave the party. Over these many years, I have pledged allegiance to the UNITED States of America and swore an oath to it's constitution, and supported its institutions of government, not the democratic party constitution. The rapid rightward turn of the republican party and the “Embarrassment of Charlottesville, Helsinki” and abandonment of the Kurds has turned this always measured with my words, moderate, centrist democrat into someone constantly “calling out” for all of America and republicans in particular to “Wake Up”. Thinking, even the most timid republican should see this and be concerned.

To republicans, I ask to what allegiance did you swear? Was it to the Constitution or to a man? I always thought we were supposed to be a “Country of Laws, Not Men.” I am sad to say, The party of Lincoln, aka, the Republican Party we grew up with no longer seems to exist and as I SADLY reflect on that. Many are now calling it the “Trump Party.” Based on that, I have coined a couple new words,

I see it now as the “Trumpification” of the Republican Party, which now, has turned into the “Racification” of the Republican Party. It is now a party that faults those that don't look like the white majority or fall in line with the white majority group think. I ask those small percentages of former moderate, reasonable republicans, especially its black or brown skinned followers, to take a long look. How long do you think it will be until they squeeze you out or put you in your place because of skin color, religion or simple moderation. Me? Born blonde haired, blue eyed, of Nordic descent, my only failing in that model, “moderation and understanding the aspirations of our founders.”

Recently, we have seen similar things happening around the world, but never thought it could happen here. The fact that it is happening here, is frightening for our country and frightening for the world, as we were once seen as a beacon of hope for fledgling democracy's around the world. That in the U.S. and our governing bodies kept people free and prosperous by always investing back into its people through the institutions of government and the private sector.

Now we're being seen as a nation closing its' doors and itself off from the rest of the world. Falling into nativist and tribal factions, and following an “America only mentality”. Where government is willing to block entry into U.S based on race and religious factors, willing to look at “Europe as Our Foe” and “Russia as Our Friend”. Even more frightening is that a recent poll found 55% of Republicans supported taking children from mothers at the border as frightened people fleeing for their lives seek asylum. Like most countries of the world, asylum seekers should treated with dignity and go through a process to determine their eligibility. The U.S. has traditionally done so.

I am opposed to illegal immigration and this is NOT about immigration, smart people can figure out how to fix and balance the immigration system. It is about the very essence of the U.S. Our nation was founded based upon “Rule of Law” and “Due Process.” Will we be what we have always been, or become what is reflected in every authoritarian nation on the planet, where a family of haves rule and the rest take their place in the hierarchy. If the current trend continues, values will be seen through party identification, I pray that doesn't happen. There is one reason public discourse is what it is and that is the Racification of the Republican Party, which can be seen in institutionalization of cruelty and the callousness of its officials starting at the top. Because of bad policy and callousness in Syria, people have been displaced, many have died and I fear more will be coming as they continue to turn a blind eye to human suffering.

I am asking all my republican family members and friends to please keep their values intact. I am NOT asking you to become a democrat, “I do not want a one party system.” In-fact, I wish more political parties were viable. I only want all parties to support values dating back our country's founding. And people voting in a way that reflects theirs. Also hoping thoughtful republicans will take their party back. Just a reminder,“The Press is the Enemy of the People in Russia, N. Korea, Turkey, and Philippines” Not the U.S!. In addition to George Will and recently, even Brett Baier, Neil Cavuto, Chris Wallace, Shepard Smith and First Lady, Laura Bush have called out this administrations craven policies. Below are republicans and conservatives that seem to have left or share my view, and among the people who Trump referred to as “Human Scum”.

The late, Charles Krauthammer, David Frum, Brett Stephens, Max Boot, Erick Erickson, Ross Douthat, Michael Gerson, David Brooks, Anna Navarro, Michael Steele, Nicole Wallace, Joe Scarborough, Rick Wilson, David Jolly, Steve Schmidt, Kathleen Parker, Bill Kristol, Susan Del Percio, Richard Painter, Mike Murphy, Jennifer Rubin, Charlie Sykes, Rich Galen, Niall Ferguson, Rick Tyler.

So, Republicans, did you stop reading, viewing or listening to them, do their opinions still matter?

But first, as a premise and something I am opinionated on. The working class and middle class have every “F...ing” reason to be angry, and need to find out with whom, in our political and economic to be angry. Forces more influential than the political leanings of a white factory worker decide election outcomes, things like gerrymandering, super PACs, corrupt officials and voter suppression.

As income inequality has swept our nation, maybe anger, should directed at bosses who exploit labor and governments that punish the working poor, which seem to be the two sides of a “Capitalist Democracy” that bleed people dry. Is it “Corporations”, at the point of the movement that’s killing us. Or a trifecta of negative energy that has been manipulated to great political effect by a conservativemedia, private interest and a celebrity that we might call Fox, Koch and Trump.

I have no sympathy and not interested in calls of white Americans who spout or abide hatred and try take away the political power of those who have little. I know millions of white working-class people have refused to be pulled into the trap. In fact, they have resisted racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and nationalism and voted those feelings. But, in too many cases, some felt powerless and didn't vote. For example, in Kansas, the Secretary of State blocked 30,000 voters from casting ballots.

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