My grandparents were Republicans. My dad, the former mayor of Paxton, was a Republican. I served 20 years as the Republican state’s attorney of Ford County.
For the past nine years, Donald Trump has exploited and manipulated the Republican party to the point where I no longer recognize our party. This is my opinion.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan aptly noted, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion — but not his own set of facts.”
These are the facts:
— Trump is 78 years old.
— Trump lost the 2020 election.
— Trump is a convicted felon awaiting sentencing.
— Trump is indicted in two other jurisdictions, most notably for conspiracy to defraud the United States.
— A jury found that Trump sexually abused then defamed writer E. Jean Carroll.
— Trump did not end the war in Afghanistan, Biden did.
— For months, Trump denied the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, then downplayed it and at one point suggested that people ingest Clorox.
— Trump did nothing for hours while his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
— Trump stated the Jan. 6 defendants were “heroes” and he would pardon them if re-elected.
— All Russian hacking, election interference and misinformation has been to assist Trump.
— Trump stated that Russia President Vladimir Putin should be able to do “whatever the hell he wants” with Ukraine.
— Trump tried to repeal To submit a letter to the editor, email will@fordcountychronicle.com Obamacare and has never set out an alternative healthcare plan, at the debate stating he had a “concept of a plan.”
— The crime rate for immigrants is lower than the crime rate for the U.S. general population.
— Immigrants are not eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio.
— Mexico did not pay for Trump’s wall.
— Trump has been through six bankruptcies.
— Trump’s administration increased the national debt more than any administration past or present.
— The current rate of inflation — 2.5% — is at its lowest level since February 2021.
— The stock market hit record highs twice in the last month.
— The U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs last month with the unemployment rate dropping to a near-record low of 4.1%.
— Trump would not debate Nicki Haley, declined interviews with “60 Minutes,” and to date refuses to do a second debate against Kamala Harris.
— While on a trip to Normandy, Trump stated that members of the military were “suckers and losers.”
— A significant number of former Trump cabinet members, staff and employees, as well as generals and other high-ranking military officials, have stated that Trump is unfit to be president.
Oblivious to all this, Republican leadership continues to bow down and cower before Trump and his torrent of lies and conspiracy theories. At least 23 of this year’s 51 Republican nominees for U.S. Senate, governor or state elections chief have rejected or contested the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump. This is insanity.
Trump is a grave danger to democracy, our constitution and the rule of law. His words and actions have shattered trust among millions of Americans in our legal and electoral systems.
The rest of the world is watching. Does Donald Trump truly represent who we are, what we stand for, what democracy is about?
In my heart, I believe a wave of Republicans outside the MAGA cult have finally had enough and are ready to turn the page on Trump. For those who think otherwise, I quote Liz Chaney: “To my Republican colleagues, there will come a day when Donald Trump will be gone, but your dishonor will last forever.”
I will proudly cast my vote for Harris and Tim Walz, and I urge my fellow Republicans to do so.
Tony Lee is a Paxton resident and former Ford County state’s attorney.