Why it matters that a sitting congressman is abandoning the GOP

[babylonsister]

Why it matters that a sitting congressman is abandoning the GOP
The GOP's democratic attacks should leave a stain that lingers. Paul Mitchell's resignation is a small part of what should be a larger rebuke.
Dec. 15, 2020, 8:40 AM EST
By Steve Benen


snip//

In an interview with CNN, Mitchell said last week was the breaking point: nearly two-thirds of the House Republican conference signed their names to an anti-democracy lawsuit, asking the Supreme Court to reward Trump with power he did not earn.

"As I saw that amicus brief, as well as the discussions over the weekend in the national media, it became clear to me that I could no longer be associated with the Republican Party," the Michigan congressman explained. He added, "I've had enough."

Mitchell is the third lawmaker to change his party affiliation over the last year and a half, following Michigan's Justin Amash, who left the GOP in July 2019, and New Jersey's Jeff Van Drew, who joined the GOP exactly one year ago this week.

By all accounts, yesterday's announcement was far more unexpected than the other two. While there are occasional rumors about assorted members and their commitments to their parties, Paul Mitchell represents Michigan's most Republican congressional district, which he's served by voting with Trump more than 95% of the time.

If Capitol Hill observers were drawing up a list of GOP members likely to jump ship and disassociate themselves with Republican politics, Mitchell isn't one of the names that would likely come up. And yet, here we are.

more...

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/why-it-matters-sitting-congressman-abandoning-gop-n1251240

[Mz Pip]

1. Mitchell is retiring

Glad he’s speaking out but since he’s leaving Congress he doesn’t face any consequences.

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, that's pointed out in the article. nt

[stillcool]

3. Amazing how they find their ..

voice on the way out the door. Of course, they themselves did nothing wrong. Just innocent bystanders to the destruction of the United States.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. That is the part that's really disgusting and infuriating.

They wear their blinders for a full career and then allegedly, suddenly look around and decide there's too much destruction or dogma.

[llmart]

5. "Mitchell represents Michigan's most Republican congressional district"

I actually never knew this fact. I'm in this district and the only reason it's now GOP is because of the gerrymandering. He's quite a bit farther north than I am and it's much more rural than where I live. During the impeachment he received quite a few emails from me and yet he still justified voting against impeaching Trump.

As I posted in another thread about him, don't be too impressed with his decision since he had announced he wasn't running for reelection quite awhile ago. Also, I believe he stated he still voted for Trump this time.

I think I'll give him one parting email.