THE GOP IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WINNING THAN THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATE

…Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, the canary in the coal mine.

 

Many of those that see Trump as the nominee want to be on the Trump gravy train.

 

The columnist Richard Cohen is usually considered a conservative American syndicated writer for the Washington Post.  I was somewhat surprised when I read a comment from this columnist where he stated, “Governors. Rick Scott of Florida and Paul LePage of Maine have looked at Trump and have seen a president. So have a former governor Jan Brewer of Arizona and a former senator, Scott Brown of Massachusetts and what looks like the touring cast of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”: staring Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter and Phyllis Schlafly.”

 

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t disagree with Mr. Cohen as the focus of his article was that he is seeing some Republicans that are seeing Donald Trump as being the presumptive GOP nominee. But these individuals are also saying they would support putting an ignorant demagogue in the White House because winning is more important than the quality of their candidate.

 

These Republicans are saying, “Who’s the best person to win in November?” This is apparently more important than who would make the best president.  We can see that Trump is the kind of candidate he’s been, which is probably the kind of commander-in-chief he would be.  Pretty frightening all in all.

 

I also agree with Mr. Cohen when he said that with the momentum that Trump has picked up with his recent wins, “He did not pick up any wisdom or, while we‘re talking miracles, any humility.”

 

I have also noticed that many out spoken conservatives are changing their minds about the possible GOP candidates.  Senator Lindsay Graham had referred to the choice of Donald Trump or Ted Cruz as "It's like being shot or being poisoned," the South Carolina Republican said.  But Senator Graham has now changed as he sees Trump as being a devastating choice, and he is now raising money for supporting Senator Cruz for president.

 

But there are those that see Trump as the possible nominee and they want to be on that Trump gravy train.

 

Republican Arkansas Governor, Asa Hutchinson had previously endorsed Mike Huckabee for the Republican presidential nomination and later he supported Marco Rubio.  He is now “without a candidate”.  But it seems he is without much in the way of political integrity as he still has not ruled out endorsing Donald Trump.

 

Hutchinson has set out his priorities. “Who’s the best person to win in November?”  As stated earlier, this is apparently more important than who would make the best president.

 

In the words of NPR’s Robert Siegel to Governor Hutchinson, “You spoke of temperament, circus atmosphere in the primary, salesmanship in place of serious discussions. Have your concerns about Mr. Trump diminished? Have they grown larger? Have they stayed the same?”  Hutchinson would only say he had questions about Trump, but if he could bring our party together, well……..?

 

Governor Chris Christie, who occasionally does act as the Governor of New Jersey, is now a Trump supporter.  In fact, Christie said that Trump was, "The best person to run against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a general election.”

 

Unfortunately, instead of being concerned who would be the best presidential candidate, it has become clear that many do not like Trump, but winning in November and Republican Party unity, these are the things that matter most of all.

 

Putting an ignorant bigot in the White House, that is not as important as party unity. Whenever these Republicans get together now, there is never a statement of revulsion and repudiation or even a denunciation of Trump and his bigotry.

 

Governor Hutchinson has now become one of the canary’s in the Republican coal mine. Of course he cannot abide by Trump, but then he cannot abide getting on the wrong side of the possible nominee either. Already, you see others inching ever closer to Trump, not necessarily endorsing but certainly not condemning. In fact, only one Republican member of the Senate, Ben Sasse of Nebraska has said he definitely will not vote for Trump.

 

The Republicans in the Senate are totally dumbfounded, and as Mr. Cohen stated, “Their spines are turning to Jell-O as Trump closes in on the delegates needed for the nomination.”  It’s true that more and more Republicans are straining to see some virtue in Trump.

 

It was pretty sad to see a seemingly strong individual like Governor Christie fawning over Trump after he announced his endorsement.  He really looked like a whipped puppy sucking up to his new master.

 

The one thing you can say about the Trump campaign.  It really is making a point of showing who those with strong beliefs are, and those that will just allow themselves to head whichever way the political wind blows.

 

It’s all pretty disgusting.

 

Copyright G.Ater  2016