"... it no longer appears to resemble my values, especially evidenced by the rise of Mr. Donald J. Trump. With Trump at the helm, I see no possibility for membership. I defect."

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As 21-year-old quits GOP: 'My Country, Right or Left or Wrong'
By Jordan A. Pino, August 18, 2016

Last week, and after much consideration, I unregistered from the Republican Party of Florida. I used to see in it an avenue for the development of a third way — a "progressive conservatism" for our time. But today, it no longer appears to resemble my values, especially evidenced by the rise of Mr. Donald J. Trump. With Trump at the helm, I see no possibility for membership. I defect.

Just this week, after having slid in the polls, Trump has been overhauling his campaign management, as he focuses on doing what it takes "to win." Political expediency for Trump, but I refuse to condone such positioning with any sense of legitimacy — while the campaign's messaging may very well change in the near future, "a tiger never loses its stripes." Trump will not become anyone different from who he is.

Simply put, Trump is a danger to the country. He holds no respect for our constitutional republic and the rule of law. He is a counter-example for moral decency and aspirational leadership. And, of lesser importance (given the preceding premises), his policy priorities are ludicrous.

Of course, Trump emerged on the political scene last summer as he made headlines for his allegations that Mexicans are criminals and rapists, and that, therefore, a wall should be built across the border. Since then, his remarks have only continued to be as outrageous and as obscene.

Earlier this summer, Trump insisted that Judge Gonzalo Curiel should be disqualified from hearing the case against Trump University on account of the judge's Mexican heritage. A few weeks ago, he encouraged Russian spying on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which is nothing short of condoning foreign espionage, also known as treason. And, just this past Tuesday, he insinuated that gun-owners should "take action" against Clinton, as if armed revolt were acceptable to stoke against an opponent.

But, the evidence against Trump and his campaign of lunacy is hardly new or original. I am leaving the party not just because Trump fails to represent my values, but also because of my disappointment in Republican leaders to stand up. Take Speaker of the House Paul Ryan for example.

I used to revel in Ryan as the future of the party — a leader of more-or-less centrist providence who was willing to transform the party into his Jack Kemp ideal. But, in the face of a rhino of racism, he shrinks from his principles because Trump is somehow a better alternative than a Clinton administration, or "four more years of Obama." I used to take stock in the argument that his re-election in Wisconsin and his responsibilities as speaker necessitated endorsement, ostensibly unifying the party. But, at what cost? He and other Republicans are certainly between a rock and a hard place, but this election cannot be understood as the traditional competition between policy ideas: This is about the survival of the values of our democratic republic.

The writer Eric Blair, who worked under the sobriquet of George Orwell, once wrote an essay entitled "My Country, Right or Wrong," in which he strove to reconcile his politics with his passionate patriotism. The essay came at a time when most of his colleagues advocated pacifism and appeasement in response to the militant rhetoric of the Nazis. They saw the fascist regime's ethno-nationalism as a danger to democracy itself. By contrast, Orwell argued that love for one's country, its people and values — patriotism — could be embraced as a wider value to save democracy from its own woes.

This idea has much to offer Republicans and Democrats in our country, today. And, it offers a lens that refracts an important point — patriotism is this country's most powerful asset. There is hardly an American who does not shiver at the thought of leaving this country for good and who does not gaze wide-eyed at the sight of the White House and our other symbols of power. The patriotic narrative is being monopolized unjustly by the Trump campaign. It must not be.

And further, such a narrative should be the very means by which courageous veterans like Sen. John McCain or public servants like Speaker Ryan can ground their withdrawal of support for Trump. It is the duty of the patriot to denounce what is morally wrong, even if that enjoins empowerment of a political adversary, Clinton.

I hope for a better tomorrow for this party; I really do. And, I will work toward that goal. But, I believe I can no longer do so as a Republican. I don't recognize this party any more. Do you?
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