Compromise has a valuable place in the political process. Two sides aiming toward a common good have different goals, differing approaches to solving problems. They meet and, after a little give and take, find common ground that neither thinks perfect, but which accomplishes an overall good, a somewhat utilitarian ideal as it were. They compromise incidentals, not principles.
Deal-breaking conditions on both sides make the process – sometimes likened to making sausage – difficult at best. Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford rose to the occasion this spring by helping to craft needed bi-partisan border control legislation. But, it was scrapped, not because any of the conditions were unacceptable, but because former President Donald Trump told supporters in Congress that he wanted to run against the lack of a border policy – which he was enabling.
Trump deliberately exacerbated the problem, and Republicans fearing his bullying wrath caved into him. Cowardly capitulation has been a constant among Republicans who don’t agree with Trump’s xenophobic, misogynistic, racist, incoherent ramblings, but fear him and the squadron of “fascist bullies,” Thom Hartman says Trump has unleashed upon the country.
But, in unguarded moments, many prominent, pro-Trump Republicans have let slip what they really think of their current presidential nominee.
Back before joining Trump’s cult was a GOP necessity, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance opined that Trump was an “idiot” and “reprehensible.” As reported by CNN in July, Vance emailed a friend in 2016: “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon…or that he’s America’s Hitler.”
But, the prospect of power has cured Vance’s flirtation with integrity. For some reason he now directs his vitriol toward American women – who constitute a majority of the people in this country.
Trump recently announced that former Hawaiian Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (also a former Democrat) would be part of his transition team.
While running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2018, Gabbard remarked:
“Look, Donald Trump is corrupt — he is unfit to serve our country as president. He is unqualified to serve our country as commander-in-chief.”
And, when Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after evidence emerged that the Saudi gave direct orders to murder Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, she posted: ” being Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not ‘America First.’”
Ted “Cancun” Cruz? Trump insulted the Texas senator’s wife and hinted that Cruz’s father was complicit in the assassination of President Kennedy. Cruz once characterized Trump as “a sniveling coward,” and a “pathological liar.”
And, in what has proven to prophetic about Trump’s bumbling stumbles since Vice President Kamala Harris received the Democratic nomination, one old Cruz comment resonates: “We don’t want a president who trafficks in sleaze and slime. We don’t want a president who seems to have a real issue with strong women.”
Other previous assessments from Trump supporters include:
• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell.” But, then Graham was bothered as he now is not that Trump is “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot”
• Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): “Donald Trump has been perhaps the most vulgar – no I don’t think perhaps – the most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency in terms of how he’s carried out his candidacy.” What do you really think of him, senator? “He is a con artist….He runs on this idea he is fighting for the little guy, but he has spent his entire career sticking it to the little guy — his entire career.”
• Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the country’s only Black senator and once considered a Trump Veep candidate: “If Donald Trump can’t take a stand against the KKK, we cannot trust him to stand up for America against Putin, Iran or ISIS.”
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, the last challenger to oppose Trump’s nomination summed up the lack of will on the part of her party in May:
“In politics, the herd mentality is enormously strong. A lot of Republican politicians have surrendered to it. … Of course, many of the same politicians who now publicly embrace Trump privately dread him. They know what a disaster he’s been and will continue to be for our party. They’re just too afraid to say it out loud.”
And, in July, the brave Gov. Haley announced: “Donald Trump has my strong endorsement.”
Compromising on policies to achieve a solution is part of the political process. Compromising on one’s basic principles reveals a lack of character.
But, Republican leaders are not alone in their unwavering support of someone they know to be less than desirable. In the 2016 Oklahoma presidential primary, before the canceling effect of Trump’s primary loyalists was recognized, Cruz received 34.37% of the vote to Trump’s 28.32%. He barely edged Rubio at 26.02%.
Yep, Oklahoma Republicans once knew what Trump was and what he stood for. If they need a refresher course, they can reference some of the party’s other leaders’ previous remarks.
Stephens County Democrats will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in Room 512 of the Morris Building at Red River Vo-Tech on West Bois D’Arc.
(Gary Edmondson is chair of the Stephens County Democratic Party.)