Seemingly unhinged by dropping poll numbers, Donald Trump continues to spiral out of control. The pressure is growing on fellow Republicans to withdraw their support for their nominee.
In a piece titled, “GOP, Trump go from ‘unraveling’ to ‘break glass’ mode,” the NBC “First Read” political team writes, “Yesterday morning, we wrote that Donald Trump’s campaign seemed like it was unraveling over his inexplicable clash with the Khan family. Twenty-four hours later, the word “unraveling” seems like an understatement” (check out their detailed breakdown of all the disturbing Trump-related developments just in the past 24 hours here).
Throughout the week, we’ve been highlighting the insightful point from Greg Sargent of the Washington Post who noted, “If individual Republicans don’t break off their support for Trump’s candidacy now – by, say, withdrawing their endorsements – they run the risk of having no choice but to do so after Trump sinks further into wretchedness and depravity…At that juncture, their move will look unprincipled and desperate, leaving them stained – perhaps irrevocably – with their previous willingness to stick by him during much of his descent, and depriving their break with him of whatever moral force it might have had if done earlier.”
Today, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni makes an eloquent appeal directly to Trump’s fellow Republicans, writing a column titled, “Stop Indulging Trump”:
“John McCain, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and the rest of you: It’s time to stop suggesting that Donald Trump doesn’t represent you, because he does represent you. He’s your party’s nominee, with your endorsements. Until you withdraw those, he has your blessing. Your permission. And if you keep forgiving him and prioritizing your political survival over the country’s stability, he could wind up representing all of us.
… [T]here are bigger things at stake. That’s why so many loyal Republicans have already fled, to regroup over the next four years. I get it: If McCain and other congressional Republicans turn off Trump’s supporters, they might get turned out themselves.
… Trump is already giving those supporters license to do as they wish. Besides which, isn’t there a point at which principle must kick in? Aren’t there bounds to partisanship and personal interest? I ask that not in favor of Clinton or the Democrats but out of concern — no, alarm — for America, which needs a grown-up who honors our values, not a brat who shreds them.”
Over the past 24 hours, several new and prominent Republican voices have joined the ranks of fellow “I won’t vote for Donald Trump” GOP and conservative leaders to pledge that they will never support Trump – and outlining why we all must place patriotism and country over party, as Bruni appeals us to do. The new additions include:
Vin Weber, Republican lobbyist and ex-Member of Congress: Today, former Rep. Weber called Trump “a mistake of historic proportions” and noted, “I won’t vote for Trump … I can’t imagine I’d remain a Republican if he becomes president … I don’t know how the Republican Party survives if Trump becomes president.”
Meg Whitman, former eBay CEO and Republican gubernatorial candidate: Whitman announced her plans to support Hillary Clinton and called Donald Trump, “a dishonest demagogue,” who could lead America “on a very dangerous journey … Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well … [Trump already has] undermined the character of the nation.”
Maria Comella, former Chris Christie senior aide: Comella announced her plan to vote for Hillary Clinton and said, “Donald Trump has been a demagogue this whole time, preying on people’s anxieties with loose information and salacious rhetoric, drumming up fear and hatred of the ‘other.’”
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, “When will enough be enough for Trump’s fellow Republicans? The time is now to choose patriotism over party. History is watching.”
