Lately, the GOP seems to have more and more lawmakers speaking out against Trump. It’s no longer just members of Congress who have been critical of Trump since day one (like John McCain and Jeff Flake). Even Trey Gowdy, who will not be seeking reelection, is starting to express how suspicious he is of the Trump camp’s questionable actions and statements.
Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy:
“The President’s attorney frankly does him a disservice.”
“If you have an innocent client, Mr. Dowd, act like it.” pic.twitter.com/KA3RapnqxC
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) March 18, 2018
The latest Republican to finally say they can no longer support Trump, nor the GOP who continues to enable his behavior, is Hawaii Senator Charles Djou. Citing not only Trump’s actions but his own party’s cowardice in not speaking out against it, Djou announced that the party is no longer one he wishes to be a part of.
Ex-Republican Rep. Charles Djou: “I can no longer stand with a Republican Party that is led by a man I firmly believe is taking the party of Lincoln in a direction I fundamentally disagree with, and a party that is unwilling to stand up to him.” https://t.co/O7uldqTbum
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 19, 2018
In a statement published by newspaper Honolulu Beat entitled “Why I’m Leaving the Party,” Djou laid out his mounting issues with Trump and the Republican party.
‘Today, after much consideration, I abandon my party because I am unwilling to abandon my principles. I can no longer stand with a Republican Party that is led by a man I firmly believe is taking the party of Lincoln in a direction I fundamentally disagree with, and a party that is unwilling to stand up to him.’
One of the reasons Djou cited was his party’s recent pivot to an anti-immigration stance, one that Trump has inspired his own party members to support Trump’s accusations of a prevalence of violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants in an attempt to demonize them and feed into the racism of too many of the party’s voting population. Speaking as a citizen of a country founded by immigrants, a country with no official language or religion, Djou called his fellow party members “hostile.”
‘It disturbs me that the Republican Party under President Donald Trump is now defined as a party hostile to immigration.’
Lindsay Graham just demanded emergency Senate Judiciary hearing over Trump’s McCabe’s firing – https://t.co/wt4x7kU3PU
— Blue Wave Resister (@schiperose) March 18, 2018
Most importantly to Djou is a need to call out the deplorable character of Trump and, particularly, his treatment of women.
‘Most of all, I have long believed that our government leaders must lead by example. Character counts…This is also why I roundly condemn the immoral behavior toward women by Democrats like Al Franken and Bill Clinton, as well as Republicans such as Roy Moore and, yes, Donald Trump. It should not matter if you are conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, a breach of public trust is a breach of public trust.’
Calling out the president’s “childish” and “uninformed tirades,” as well as the GOP’s complicity in their refusal to call him out on his behavior, Djou delivered a final blow in his statement.
‘I am most disappointed by the failure of the GOP to clearly and consistently condemn Trump’s childish behavior. Sadly today, too many Republicans either applaud Trump’s tirades or greet them with silent acceptance. This leads to an implicit ratification by the GOP of Trump’s undisciplined, uninformed, and unfocused leadership as a core part of the Republican Party. This is something I cannot accept and will not be a part of.’
"A democratic society becomes decadent when its politics become morally and intellectually corrupt."#ProtectMueller #FireTrump #GOPComplicit https://t.co/G07ueQajav
— kat smith (@KatSmith310) March 19, 2018
It is truly a shame that more members of the party refuse to follow Djou’s lead and, instead, continue to allow Trump to destroy them.
Featured image via Getty/MANDEL NGAN
