I'm a Republican. I'll vote Democratic until my party regains its dignity.

[babylonsister]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/im-a-republican-ill-vote-democratic-until-my-party-regains-its-dignity/2017/03/31/4de5ddc0-1553-11e7-bb16-269934184168_story.html?utm_term=.c841f46cad3b

I’m a Republican. I’ll vote Democratic until my party regains its dignity.

March 31

Former congressman Tom Davis’s March 29 Washington Forum commentary, “Republicans are risking their majority,” hit home. I am a lifelong Republican (and son of two lifelong Republicans), worked on my local Republican committee and supported Mr. Davis in his campaigns in Northern Virginia. But in November, I split my vote and, for the first time ever, voted for a Democrat for president.

I do not disagree with many of President Trump’s policies, but unless Republican elected officials stand up to Mr. Trump’s outrages, especially the alleged collusion with Russia, which would be horrible if true, there is only one thing I can do to send a message, and that is vote Democratic until the Republican Party finds its courage and regains its dignity. I cannot support any elected official who thinks he is supporting Mr. Trump but actually is supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin in his effort to destabilize American democracy.

Paul B. Terpak, McLean

[roamer65]

1. Thank you for putting country above party, Mr. Terpak.

[Jonny Appleseed]

2. Probably would work better if he just said "vote against them"

After all, you can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Water is the democratic party and the horse is republican voters for all you metaphorically challenged folks.

Also in line with the metaphor is that horses, like all living things, would die without water.

[Warpy]

3. Good job, Mr. Terpak, but don't hold your breath while waiting.

Your party lost its dignity many years ago, thanks first to Nixon and his gang of bigots and dirty tricksters, followed by Reagan handing the party over to the worst religious lunatics in the country. Yes, it got you all into office, but your ideas have been tried and found to fail for most of us and you're plumb out of things to try except the same old stuff that didn't work for Coolidge and Hoover, either. You're just not drawing top notch talent any more, a look at the debate stage during the party primary that saw an orange boor come out as the nominee should tell you that.

The truth is that you've missed most of the signs of what was happening to your party as it swung wildly to the lunatic far right, propelled mostly by religious dogma and partly by corporate and individual greed. However, thanks for finally noticing what has been obvious to Democrats for years and welcome back to sanity.

[luvMIdog]

4. I know a republican that voted for Hilary because he feared Trump would ruin America

and also said he's voting democrat from now on

[lostnfound]

5. I miss having a Republican Party I didn't like

Instead of having a Republican Party that is terrifying, undignified, anti-intellectual and unprincipled.