Michael Gerson-GWB Speechwriter-Pens Amazing Anti-Trump Piece: 'It Might Be Better to Vote Hillary'

[kpete]

Michael Gerson, the former chief speechwriter to President George W. Bush, has penned an amazing new piece not only against Donald Trump — but against any Republicans who might support him.

Gerson wrote Thursday on Facebook:

Michael J. Gerson
23 hrs ·

I feel bad, on one hand, to be so focused on (some would say, obsessed by) the Trump phenomenon. And it is my intention to write my next column or two on different topics. There is, in fact, a world outside of the GOP primaries. Two Republican friends I talked with yesterday told me they are taking a break from cable primary coverage for the sake of their mental health. Might be a good idea.

On the other hand, Trump pretty much represents the negation of everything I've argued about politics and ideology for the last 30 years. What he is attacking is not just "the establishment." He is attacking a way of doing politics based on persuasion, consensus, compassion and inclusion. Those who argue that conservatism is fundamentally at odds with these values know nothing of conservatism. But Trump represents the confirmation of the worse conservative and Republican caricatures -- a belief that cultural and religious minorities are threats, a belief that America should abandon its deepest values in the conduct of global affairs, a belief that the values and institutions of our government have failed, and that the times require a strong hand.

When Trump supporters say, in effect, "Tear it all down," they are proposing to destroy things that I and others love about this country. At its best (and, God knows, it has not always been at its best) America shows a welcoming spirit, an example of how a great nation can be united by ideals instead of bloodlines, a place, as George Washington said, where "there shall be none to make him afraid." We should love American traditions and institutions enough to repair them, not hand them over to an authoritarian wannabe, who is too ignorant to even understand the inheritance he is casting away.

Trump's magical policy thinking, setting goals with no serious thought of how they might be achieved; his menacing encouragement of political violence; his disdain for ethnic and religious minorities, which has unleashed and emboldened racists and anti-Semites of every sort; his penchant for conspiracy theories, including a very dangerous vaccine denialism; his promises to conduct the war on terrorism by ordering war crimes, which would set up a constitutional crisis when the US military honorably refuses; his cynical manipulation of gullible religious leaders with tactics that border on blasphemy; his casual use of lies, which he defends even when exposed.

How does any of this return lost greatness to our nation? Sometimes I want to shake people (intellectually,not physically) who favor political "disruption" and ask: Disruption in favor of what? Look at what you are doing! Look at what you have done! The Republican Party is now firmly harnessed to the wild, uncontrollable horses of fear and exclusion. It has already sustained damage with Latino voters that may take a generation to undo. And now many Republicans will find rationalizations to support Trump. That is natural -- the reality of politics in every time. Many people simply go with the winner. But this isn't a normal time. I believe that the decision to support Trump, like an embarrassing tattoo, will follow them the rest of their lives. Republicans are not merely making a choice; they are looking into the abyss.

I also believe that men and women who opposed Trump with all the influence available to them -- a political column, a primary vote, a serious, civil talk with a neighbor -- will look back on this terrible time with some satisfaction. They will be able to tell their children they did all they could, at a time when it really mattered. Whatever the outcome, there is value in standing up -- now, when it might still shape events -- and saying: I am not reconciled to Donald Trump, and will never be.

At any rate, it seems that I have written another column on Trump, without intending it. But I hope you'll read my column today and pass it around. I've written better things, but I don't think the topic could be more important.

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelJGerson/posts/10154175580408394

In a separate column at The Washington Post, to which Gerson also linked in the Facebook piece, he concluded that voting for Trump would be so immoral, he might even have to do something truly outrageous — vote for Hillary Clinton: “All this leaves completely horrible options: sitting the election out, supporting a third-party candidate, contemplating a difficult vote for Clinton. But these are the only honorable options.”

All this leaves completely horrible options: sitting the election out, supporting a third-party candidate, contemplating a difficult vote for Hillary Clinton. But these are the only honorable options. As one Republican friend wrote me of Trump: “He would destroy everything Hillary Clinton would destroy, plus one more thing: the Republican Party.”

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/michael-gerson/michael-gerson-the-stain-of-accommodating-trump/article_da51b86b-16bd-5332-bce3-7c809e462f6d.html

MORE:
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/03/17/former-george-w-bush-speechwriter-epically-blasts-republicans-for-supporting-trump/
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/guess-who-just-unleashed-the-most-scathing-damnation-of-trump-loving-republicans/

[djean111]

1. Well, it looks like there is certainly an area of agreement here -

As one Republican friend wrote me of Trump: “He would destroy everything Hillary Clinton would destroy, plus one more thing: the Republican Party.”

Both would destroy. And, IMO, both would destroy their respective parties.

He doesn't think Hillary would be better, he just wants to save his own party.

[bahrbearian]

2. Of Course!

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[Hortensis]

3. Thank you, Kpete. Version wrote a powerful piece that

I suspect reflects the fear and near-despair over the degradation of the Republican Party of many decent, responsible conservatives. It is definitely time for them to decide on an honorable course.

[pampango]

4. "The Republican Party is now harnessed to the wild, uncontrollable horses of fear and exclusion."

At least Gerson is right about one thing in his life.

All this leaves completely horrible options: sitting the election out, supporting a third-party candidate, contemplating a difficult vote for Hillary Clinton. But these are the only honorable options. As one Republican friend wrote me of Trump: “He would destroy everything Hillary Clinton would destroy, plus one more thing: the Republican Party.”

I am sure the "one friend" hates Hillary and Bernie fearing they would 'destroy' what republicans hold dear. That is hardly surprising. This "one friend" seems to be losing some sleep over Trump, however.