Republican state senator leaves party over Trump

[catsmate]

The repugnant racists rhetoric of the Trumpet has caused the first elected Republican office holder to leave the party.
Iowa state Senator David Johnson has served in the Iowa legislature for eighteen years; on Tuesday he changed his voter registration from Republican to "no party".
He compared Trump's campaign to the rise of Adolf Hitler and said that he couldn't stand idly by anymore. He also cited Trump's "racist remarks and judicial jihad" against Judge Gonzalo Curiel, whom Trump accused of being unfit to preside over the Trump University fraud case because of his Mexican heritage.

I will not stand silent if the party of Lincoln and the end of slavery buckles under the racial bias of a bigot. ...fascists took control of Germany under the same types of strategies [used by Trump].

If we're going to exclude Muslims from traveling to the United States, who's next? Are we going to come down on Jews?

Johnson also said that he wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton and that he'd "gladly re-join Republicans who are dedicated to equality and justice for all" if there's a split in the party.

 

[Tony Stark]

Good for him.

 

[applecorped]

He was a self Godwinning idiot, as is anyone reading anything more into it, good riddance.

 

[newyorkguy]

Can anyone recall another Presidential candidate who encountered this kind of resistance from his own party? I can't. The real idiots are those who refuse to see what is going on here. To do that takes some high-octane idiocy.

 

[catsmate]

He was a self Godwinning idiot, as is anyone reading anything more into it, good riddance.

 

[Foolmewunz]

He was a self Godwinning idiot, as is anyone reading anything more into it, good riddance.

What's anyone reading into it? There is no interpretation required. He stated his reasons for hating Trump. That dislike is strong enough that he's willing to give up his party membership to make a point.

And it may come as a surprise to you and other wits around here, but the whole world does not argue by Internet Debate Points Rules. No one out of a small handful know that someone created a Godwin's Rule. Foolish bastards, they think that comparing a fascist-leaning, self-aggrandizing bigot to Nazis might resonate with Republicans who actually remember what the party used to stand for.

Feel free to tell us what you have read between the lines. Your entire argumentation stinks of Trump. "What? He's a loser. Who needs him."

 

[NoahFence]

Can anyone recall another Presidential candidate who encountered this kind of resistance from his own party? I can't. The real idiots are those who refuse to see what is going on here. To do that takes some high-octane idiocy.

Such as one post above yours?

It's nuts that this orange tinged twat is still relevant.

 

[plague311]

What's anyone reading into it? There is no interpretation required. He stated his reasons for hating Trump. That dislike is strong enough that he's willing to give up his party membership to make a point.

And it may come as a surprise to you and other wits around here, but the whole world does not argue by Internet Debate Points Rules. No one out of a small handful know that someone created a Godwin's Rule. Foolish bastards, they think that comparing a fascist-leaning, self-aggrandizing bigot to Nazis might resonate with Republicans who actually remember what the party used to stand for.

Feel free to tell us what you have read between the lines. Your entire argumentation stinks of Trump. "What? He's a loser. Who needs him."

I saw this one Facebook and you should have seen some of the comments. It's outstanding. People can't get enough of Trump's nuts. Every person in the thread was talking about how this guy was a RINO, and how they wanted this to happen. They knew Trump would drive these "pathetic losers" out of the party so they could get the REAL Republican Party back.

Mind boggling. I can't believe people give that tangerine the time of day.

 

[sackett]

There may be some political hay to be harvested by repubblecans who repudiate Forrest Trump at the right moment. "I stood alone, defending the party's Great Mission, in that freighted hour when one man threatened us with disgrace!"

 

[JPK]

Good morning. What I find interesting is that Trump seems to be the perfect candidate for the GOP as of late. He is a product of the environment of fear that the GOP has been pushing for a very long time. The only difference with Trump, he doesn't have a filter in his brain. He doesn't know how to keep his ridiculous comments from spewing out of his constantly open mouth. (or tweets if there is not audience in front of him). This may also be due to the fact he isn't a politician with years of experience of being held accountable for things you say.

 

[Stacko]

There may be some political hay to be harvested by repubblecans who repudiate Forrest Trump at the right moment. "I stood alone, defending the party's Great Mission, in that freighted hour when one man threatened us with disgrace!"

Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham and Ben Sasse have already filled that position.

 

[Hlafordlaes]

@OP Well good for him! I love it when someone has real guts, of the kind needed to face the herd. Now that's a "Johnson," and not that fake bravery thingy in the form of gun barrels.

 

[Trebuchet]

Good morning. What I find interesting is that Trump seems to be the perfect candidate for the GOP as of late. He is a product of the environment of fear that the GOP has been pushing for a very long time. The only difference with Trump, he doesn't have a filter in his brain. He doesn't know how to keep his ridiculous comments from spewing out of his constantly open mouth. (or tweets if there is not audience in front of him). This may also be due to the fact he isn't a politician with years of experience of being held accountable for things you say.

Exactly. As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

 

[sackett]

High comedy? Low? Mid? 56%?

Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham and Ben Sasse have already filled that position.

And they'll each one of them kick, punch, claw, and eye-gouge to claim credit for being first.

Unless it turns out to have been bad tactics. Then they'll assail each other for being turncoats who betrayed the Grand Old Party in its Hour of Peril.

And point with pride & wiew with alarm.

 

[Mumbles]

Well, his choice, I suppose.

I'd kind of like to see more actual republicans openly go against Trump, but I can't fault him for simply walking away in disgust, either.

 

[pgwenthold]

I think the Senator from Illinois is more significant. He's running for re-election, and his strategy is to distance himself from the presidential candidate of their party?

 

[Denver]

I am beginning to hear that the GOP senate seats are being more contested this go around: that seats that had been locks in the past are looking more up for grabs. (It may be me cherry-picking the news, but I just get the sense I am hearing this more these days - we'll see over time).

If so, I would expect more senators to distance themselves from Trump and/or the GOP for their own political survival, regardless of their scruples on the issues.

 

[Jrrarglblarg]

I expect the remaining Republicans to divide like an amoeba on the floor of the convention hall, Trump Republicans one side, everyone else on the other, and run something like a Bush/Rubio write-in campaign.

The Republican Party can easily survive this infection, but only by amputating the gangrenous limb. This is just the first. I can respect him for standing by his principles. Mitch McConnell, not so much.

 

[Trebuchet]

I am beginning to hear that the GOP senate seats are being more contested this go around: that seats that had been locks in the past are looking more up for grabs. (It may be me cherry-picking the news, but I just get the sense I am hearing this more these days - we'll see over time).

If so, I would expect more senators to distance themselves from Trump and/or the GOP for their own political survival, regardless of their scruples on the issues.

There are also many more Republican seats up for election this year to start with.

 

[JoeB]

That's a pretty conservative part of a purple state which makes it a bit less like the IL Senator who has to run statewide in a solidly blue one.