With the Republican Party at the national and state levels increasingly off the rails – including against democracy itself – it’s loooong past time for Republicans who actually believe in the oaths they took to support and defend our constitution to speak up. To date, it’s mostly been a deafening silence – or worse – from most of them, sad (and disturbing) to say. Which is why it’s good to see this:
Alongside dozens of prominent Republicans, ex-Republicans and independents, we are announcing “A Call for American Renewal,” a nationwide rallying cry against extremist elements within the GOP, and highlighting the urgent need for a new, common-sense coalition.
We urge fellow Americans to join us.
Our alliance includes former governors, members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, state officials, seasoned political strategists and grass-roots leaders dedicated to offering a hopeful, principles-based vision for the country — and ensuring that our votes have decisive impact in key elections across the United States.
We want to give voice to the millions of Americans who feel politically homeless and mobilize them to help chart a new path forward for our country.
For a list of principles and founding signatories, see here. Among the principles expressed are ones that *should* be glaringly obvious, but clearly are NOT to much of the Trump GOP(Q). Principle such as…
- “We seek the preservation and betterment of our democratic republic and the endurance of our self-government, free from interference and defended against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We support reforms that make our system more accessible, transparent, and competitive, oppose the disenfranchisement of voters, and reject populism and illiberalism, whether of the right or the left.”
- “…We, therefore, condemn all forms of bigotry such as racism, religious intolerance, sexism, and persecution based on sexual orientation.”
- “We uphold the Constitution…”
- “We recognize truth and reason as essential to a free and just society…”‘
- “We maintain that the impartial rule of law is essential to a free and just society…”
- “We reject the notion that America should be characterized by the races, birthplaces, religious affiliations, or partisan identities of its citizens.”
- “We consider vital our shared stewardship of America’s resources – natural, environmental, and financial.”
Again, all of this stuff should be glaringly obvious, American Civics 101 stuff. And yet…again, it’s most certainly *not* for Donald Trump and his minions, who are clearly anti-science, anti-reason, anti-democracy, anti-rule-of-law, etc.
Again, it should be needless to say, but in this battle, there really can only be one “side” that anyone who loves America should be standing on. Not “both sides,” which the media loves to spew out, or false equivalence between a pro-democracy party and an anti-democracy party. In that context, it’s very interesting – and revealing – to see which Republicans, including from here in Virginia, signed on to the Call for American Renewal and which did not. First, let’s note – and applaud – the ones who signed on:
- Former Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA02)
- Former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA05)
- Former Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA10)
Now, note which Virginia Republicans did NOT sign on: 1) anyone who is a *current* officeholder or candidate, including current Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA01), Bob Good (R-VA05), Ben Cline (R-VA06), Morgan Griffith (R-VA09); or 2) former Reps. Scott Taylor (R-VA02), Thelma Drake (R-VA02), Randy Forbes (R-VA04), Tom Garrett (R-VA05), Robert Hurt (R-VA05), Virgil Goode (R-VA05), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA06), Dave Brat (R-VA07), Eric Cantor (R-VA07), Frank Wolf (R-VA10), Tom Davis (R-VA11), etc.
Hello? Where the f*** are you people? Are you more cowards or do you actually *agree* with the anti-democracy, anti-science, anti-rule-of-law Trumpists? The time for choosing is *now*.
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