Thread: 30 former GOP lawmakers sign anti-Trump letter

30 former GOP lawmakers sign anti-Trump letter

By Dana Bash and Tal Kopan, CNN
Updated 2:39 PM ET, Thu October 6, 2016

Story highlights

Some will vote for the Democrat, while others will vote for the Libertarian or write someone in
The letter makes no mention of Hillary Clinton

Washington (CNN)More than two dozen former Republican members of Congress released a letter Thursday saying they cannot vote for Donald Trump because he "makes a mockery" of their principles.

Though the letter makes no mention of Hillary Clinton, organizer Andrew Weinstein said some of the members will vote for the Democrat, while others will vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson or write in a candidate.

"Given the enormous power of the office, every candidate for president must be judged rigorously in assessing whether he or she has the competence, intelligence, knowledge, understanding, empathy, judgment, and temperament necessary to keep America on a safe and steady course," the lawmakers wrote. "Donald Trump fails on each of those measures, and he has proven himself manifestly unqualified to be president."

The letter was circulated by former Oklahoma Rep. Mickey Edwards and former Missouri Rep. Tom Coleman.

Many of the 30 signatories, including former New Hampshire Sen. Gordon Humphrey and former Minnesota Rep. Vin Weber, have already been vocal in their opposition to Trump, but other members were expressing concerns for the first time publicly.

Signatories include influential former congressman from key battleground states -- Bill Clinger of Pennsylvania, Jim Leach of Iowa, Tom Petri of Wisconsin and G. William Whitehurst of Virginia.

Clinger also chaired the Government and Oversight Committee that investigated the Clintons for the Filegate and Travelgate issues.

"In nominating Donald Trump, the Republican Party has asked the people of the United States to entrust their future to a man who insults women, mocks the handicapped, urges that dissent be met with violence, seeks to impose religious tests for entry into the United States, and applies a de facto ethnicity test to judges," they wrote. "He offends our allies and praises dictators. His public statements are peppered with lies. He belittles our heroes and insults the parents of men who have died serving our country. Every day brings a fresh revelation that highlights the unacceptable danger in electing him to lead our nation."

It is not the first time a group of Republicans have written a letter against Donald Trump, and several officials from the George W. Bush administration have also spoken out against him.

The complete list of congressman who signed:

Steve Bartlett (R-TX)
Bob Bauman (R-MD)
Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY)
Jack Buechner (R-MO)
Tom Campbell (R-CA)
Bill Clinger (R-PA)
Tom Coleman (R-MO)
Geoff Davis (R-KY)
Mickey Edwards (R-OK)
Harris Fawell (R-IL)
Ed Foreman (R-TX, NM)
Amo Houghton, Jr. (R-NY)
Gordon Humphrey (Senator, R-NH)
Bob Inglis (R-SC)
Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
Steve Kuykendall (R-CA)
Jim Leach (R-IA)
Pete McCloskey (R-CA)
Connie Morella (R-MD)
Mike Parker (R-MS)
Tom Petri (R-WI)
John Porter (R-IL)
Claudine Schneider (R-RI)
John "Joe" Schwarz (R-MI)
Chris Shays (R-CT)
Peter Smith (R-VT)
Edward Weber (R-OH)
Vin Weber (R-MN)
G. William Whitehurst (R-VA)
Dick Zimmer (R-NJ)

http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/06/politi...-trump-letter/

"In nominating Donald Trump, the Republican Party has asked the people of the United States to entrust their future to a man who insults women, mocks the handicapped, urges that dissent be met with violence, seeks to impose religious tests for entry into the United States, and applies a de facto ethnicity test to judges," they wrote. "He offends our allies and praises dictators. His public statements are peppered with lies. He belittles our heroes and insults the parents of men who have died serving our country. Every day brings a fresh revelation that highlights the unacceptable danger in electing him to lead our nation."

LOL!!! Sooooo, not a word on policy, just a reprint of the Hillary for President ad campaign and talking point lies. Well, gee, guys, you've really shown your stuff here, Silly Globalists.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't insult women, he insults anyone who insults him.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't want religious tests for entry into the US, he wants to protect the United States from importing Radical Islamic Terrorism.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't want ethnicity tests for Judges, de facto or otherwise, he wants unbiased Judges who know the law on the Federal Bench.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't "mock" the disabled, he mocked a groveling liar.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't belittle our heroes, he honors them.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't urge dissent be met with violence, he tells police to get dissenters out of a venue he paid for.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't praise Dictators, he tells the truth about them as he sees it, same as everyone else.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't insult parents of our men who died for our country, he responds to their hateful attacks on him.

For the record, Donald Trump doesn't offend our allies, he tells them to honor their agreements and pay their damn bills they owe the USA.

Silly Globalists. I hope you all rot in a hot, hot place, you no-good, low-down, lyin-ass, scum-bag, traitors.

GO TRUMP GO!!!

BEAT THESE TREASONOUS GLOBALISTS!!!

VOTE FOR DONALD J TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!

It should henceforth be noted on the record of every former this or that and every official of this or that, when they oppose Trump in this election, they are supporting:

1. amnesty and open borders, all candidates EXCEPT TRUMP
2. free trade treason bankrupting our country, all candidates EXCEPT TRUMP

This should be noted by every educated woman in the suburbs, every Hollywood celebrity, every black, Latino and Asian in any city or town, every union member, business person, retired person, millennial, government worker, Independent, Republican, Democrat or other, not already on the Trump Train.

AFTER Trump is elected there are gonna be a lot MORE has beens... They still don't get that most people are behind Trump BECAUSE of people like them in Congress. WE are sick and tired of being sold out so they can line their pockets at our expense!

Former Congressman seems to be the theme here. There is a reason that they no longer hold office.

It's interesting that in none of these reports they ever report what they're doing now, who they're working for now, what special interests they're serving now.

Who cares???

Their opinions are worthless!

So was their public service. Otherwise, we wouldn't be in this mess with our citizens impoverished and our nation in shambles.