Photo credit: Gage Skidmore
Congratulations, Trump supporters! (especially those who cling to the self delusion that they are “conservatives”) He just shot you on 5th Avenue, and as he predicted, he hasn’t lost a single one of you.
On Thursday, March 30,2017, the Republican President of the United States, a man who is supposed to be a staunch supporter of the GOP platform, small government, and individual liberty, took to social media the attack the Freedom Caucus for their unwavering commitment to keep the conservative promises they made to their constituents.
The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017
In his Tweet, he lumped the Freedom Caucus in with Democrats, and vowed to fight both in 2018. While this was a stunning announcement on his part, it reveals that he was indeed, speaking from the heart, when he said he doesn’t want or need conservatives during the campaign.
Justin Amash’s response was a simple: “I don’t respond to bullies”. That simple, 5 word response, while brief, is one that more American’s need to emulate. This President is rapidly turning governance of the country, into an epic reality show. But that’s just a minor annoyance, and a mere symptom of the larger disease. The GOP’s rapid lurch to the left is putting true, conservative principles on life support and Donald Trump has a knife held to the oxygen line.
While I’m not surprised at his utterance, given his track record of supporting liberal causes, I AM surprised that his supporters continue to turn a blind eye to the increasingly obvious fact that at best, Donald Trump is a Moderate Republican. At worst, a Moderate Liberal.
I’d like to ask his supporters…”What’s you’re line in the sand? What line can Mr. Trump not cross, that would cause you to hold him accountable?” Many of you said that you were going to “hold your nose and vote for him, but still hold him accountable”. The rest of us are waiting for you to do just that.
He fired a round to your chest when he stated that “Planned Parenthood does great things”.
He fired a round to your chest when he left Obama’s DACA EO in place.
He fired a round into your chest when he extended Obama’s EO giving employment preferences to the LGBT community in the private sector.
He fired a round to your chest when he proposed “border adjustment taxes” (otherwise known as tariffs).
He fired a round to your chest when he agreed with Hillary in the debates, that 2nd Amendment rights should be banned from people on government watch lists without due process.
He fired a round to your chest when he tried to shove Obamacare-Lite down your throat.
And now, he’s fired the lethal round to the chest of conservatism, by declaring Congressional conservatives, and their dedication to their constituents, the enemy.
You can either twist yourselves into pretzels, making excuses for his actions and words in order to justify your vote for him, or you can continue to claim to be conservatives.
But you can’t do both.