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First let me put my cards on the table.I was a convert to the Republican Party and it's been said there's no truer believer than a convert. But then again, I've always valued loyalty and I don't do anything halfway. When I was a Democrat, I was an ardent, involved, committed Democrat. Then, Ronald Reagan won me over and made me a Republican. There was never a time when I kept one foot in one party and one foot in the other or when I pretended to be part of one party while surreptitiously (or even cautiously or teasingly) supporting the other.
When I left the Democrat Party I made a clean, open and complete break. When I switched to the Republican Party, I embraced it fully. I expected no special treatment from the GOP and I received none.
From 1980 onward, I've supported every Republican presidential candidate as well as down ballot aspirants. I worked for, contributed to and advocated for Reagan, H. W Bush, Dole, W. Bush, McCain, Romney and Trump. I stood with the party's nominee in every election. Was the nominee always my first choice for the nomination? Of course not! But I wholeheartedly supported the party's choice in every case.
In the last three presidential election cycles, each time around, there have been people who say they're Republicans and yet stidently refused to support Donald Trump, even going so far as to campaign for Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. Shame on 'em -- all of 'em -- those who rushed into the arms of the Democrats, those who supported third party candidates and those voted for "none of the above" but nonetheless trashed Donald Trump.
Yes, I believe in a Big Tent GOP. And I think President Trump is finally making us the party of inclusion by welcoming new Republican voters who are working class people, Hispanic people, Black people, Asian Americans, young people, gay people and others who may not have previously felt at home in our party. And they are joining with the rest of us in a great new movement -- a new American coalition that's finally putting America first.
But the question remains: what about those who strayed; those who betrayed our party again and again in its hour of greatest need -- indeed, in an hour of great need for America? What about them?
Betrayal has been compared to a deep knife wound. And, it doesn't heal easily as it comes from those you have trusted. Or, as someone once said, "better to have an enemy who slaps you in the face than a friend who stabs you in the back."
So, what to do with those who have been traitors to the Republican Party? Right now, the simplest policy is to set them aside and give them time to contemplate the consequences of their dastardly deeds. Mind you, I'm not saying we should ignore them. Far from it, as they must continue to be observed and viewed warily.
For us, to the victor belong the spoils -- and the responsibility. So we must now be busy about the business of governing -- governing boldly with a new battle-tested family of treasured compatriots. Inasmuch as the opposition has not killed us (this time, almost literally) they have most assuredly made us stronger.
We won a big victory. But that doesn't mean we can now afford to be magnanimous and forgiving to those who betrayed us. Oh, hell no -- certainly not now! Much time will have to pass before that can even be considered. And, if and when the time for that arrives, it seems to me that those who have strayed must, at the very least show contrition and a willingness to undertake penance. For, how else can we ever trust them again?
