There are many decent republicans in this country. There are also many decent republicans in my life who I would call ‘my friend’.
Unfortunately, only a rare few have expressed any amount of horror, dismay, or outrage at the indecency of their political party. Not that I’d expect to hear anything from the likes of McCarthy, McConnell, or Pence. But even among the decent people I know, I haven’t heard much.
Back in the day, I remember hearing ‘nothing’ when racist comments were made about Obama being a Kenyan-born Muslim by gop pols and pundits. Nor did I hear any condemnations when Obama effigies were found ‘lynched’ from trees and on ‘bus tours’ in many gop strongholds.
[Note – The lone exception to this nonsense was John McCain who, in multiple town halls, had to repeatedly tell republican voters that Obama was a good and decent man, not someone to be feared. He was roundly booed every time he did so.]
On a personal level, the only acknowledgment I ever received came from a high school buddy who I once considered a very good friend. It came in the form of, “Well the Democrats do these things too.” After one too many times listening to him feign outrage for any Democratic act, comparable or incomparable, I gladly let that friendship go.
If someone can’t acknowledge and condemn actions that we all know to be indecent or morally reprehensible, then the only thing I can do is question the content of their character and respond accordingly. This is NOT about both sides. If any ‘friend’ reading this piece equates actions between Democrats and traitorous republicans, I will gladly let that friendship go as well.
Fast forward to the trump era and the amoral indecency of the current republican party…
Over 100 attempts to strip healthcare from millions of other Americans. A sociopathic ex-president who, as their standard-bearer, mocked the disabled. Who disparaged women and minorities on a daily basis from the Oval Office. A party platform based on the demonization of non-white immigrants. Children taken away from their parents at the border and put up for adoption. White supremacists given prominent roles in crafting public policy directly from the White House.
To say that it was a shitshow would be an understatement, and yet their self-inflicted debasement continued…
Using the office of the Presidency for personal gain? Sure. Public siding with a Russian leader over one’s own national security teams? No problem. Using foreign aid as a bargaining chip in order to secure political dirt against a Democratic rival? Not guilty.
Under a continuous stream of moral, ethical, and national security indecencies, not a single word of condemnation was uttered by fellow republicans to denounce these actions. As a matter of fact, many gave full-throated support in order to curry favor from their leadership as well as the base.
Still I waited for signs of acknowledgement or condemnation from those I consider friends. Anything at all.
And I got nothing
On January 6, 2021, the ex-president of the United States, spurred on by those around him who were unwilling to relinquish the power they’d amassed over the previous four years, incited a riot at the Capitol that he hoped would disrupt and derail the transfer of power to President-Elect Joe Biden.
Five people died as a result. Capitol police officers were injured, some badly. Millions of dollars of damage done to the seat of our government. Rioters chanted their desire to hang Vice President Pence, and shoot Speaker Pelosi. Congressional staffers hid in mortal fear of their lives. Urine and feces were smeared on the walls. Our nation was traumatized.
Still I heard nothing. Not one single word about what happened on that day from any of my republican friends regarding the traitorous attempt by trump republican rioters – not tourists – to stage a coup in order to keep him in power. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but the content of your character has been suitably judged.
I scoff at the notion that we will hear any condemnation of the ex-president’s “Hitler did some good things” remark. No matter how ugly or indecent the act, it will never matter. Any semblance of decency or humanity that republicans ever possessed is gone.
The irony is that many republicans excuse their behavior by claiming that they are doing God’s work. All I’ll say about that is may their God have mercy on their hateful souls.