Trump as the GOP’s presidential nominee would require Republicans to make that choice

Now that the 2024 New Hampshire Primary is in the rear-view mirror, what can be said of it?

On the Democratic side, the actions of the national party, ostensibly at the behest of President Biden, were just plain dumb. As indicated by the write-in effort staged by smarter NH Democrats led by former party chair Kathy Sullivan and others, the President easily garnered two-thirds of the votes.

Had Biden and the party not snubbed New Hampshire, his margin would have been greater, but by trying to replace the primary, they blurred what would have been his singular New Hampshire victory. Add to this that right after the primary he ignored, Biden named one of the leaders of the write-in as head of his reelection effort here, and the scent of hypocrisy arises.

On the Republican side, the exits of candidates Chris Christie and Ron DeSantis before the balloting occurred, left only Nicky Haley to challenge Donald Trump. After a strong effort, led by Gov. Chris Sununu after he endorsed her, Haley had a credible second-place showing.

An analysis of the vote showed that while Trump won, with over half the vote, his performance among independents who took GOP ballots, and among more moderate Republicans, was worse than he did in prior attempts, indicating that while he may be strong with his base, it is a shrinking base.

To this observer, the 2024 primary contest seemed to lack the intensity and constant presence of other years. The absence of debates, local candidate offices, and constant action in Manchester and elsewhere, made this year tame, notwithstanding the presence of national press and foreign observers, interested in our democracy in action.

To this Republican, several aspects of the election were very concerning.

First, candidates and others supporting those other than Trump, stated that if he is the nominee, they will vote for him. All the candidates except Chris Christie, and even Gov. Sununu, who had Trump pegged as disruptive, weak and defective as a candidate, promised to vote for him. Many Republicans say something to the effect of, “Out of loyalty to my party, I have to vote for its candidate.”

This faulty logic fails for a number of reasons. It is not the voter who should be loyal to a party; it is the party that should be loyal to its principles. An American should be loyal to the country, not a party that has lost its way or been captured by a defective candidate. When one’s party is not loyal to the good of the country, a voter is not bound to vote for its candidates.

Second, an analysis of the probable candidate of the Republican Party should have its prior leaders rolling over in their graves, and any thoughtful current adherents, fleeing.

Look at the person who probably is going to be the nominee:

He is under indictment in multiple federal and state criminal cases. He has been found liable for sexual abuse and ordered by a jury to pay the plaintiff over $80 million in a case where his actions in court were bizarre and contemptuous. His questionable business practices are the subject of a major civil case in which he already has been adjudged to have committed fraud. He has demonstrated a lack of respect or understanding for our democratic institutions, the results of a fair election, and the processes of transfer of power, exhorting a mob to attack the capitol.

He reportedly has instructed GOP members of the House not to approve measures to control the border, not because the measures are not helpful in containing that mess, but because to approve them might take an election issue away from him; and, worse, threatened them with primary opposition if they do not do his will.

Worst, these weak and misguided politicians are cowed to do what he says, since apparently being in office is a higher good than properly representing their constituents and doing their jobs.

His personal actions — like his actions on election night, when he was doing fine until he opened his mouth, and then made inappropriate remarks about Gov. Haley, threatened others and was anything but statesmanlike — demonstrated the real person.

He has not reputed his threats to use the Justice Department to pursue his enemies, if elected, or to take other vindictive actions.

And yet, for reasons totally unknown to those who cannot support him, Trump continues to have the support of a large part of the Republican Party, including those who claim to be religious conservatives, whose values do not appear to match his.

If Trump is the GOP candidate, loyalty to principle and country requires me to vote for someone else. What does your loyalty require?

Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.