WA Post conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin: The moral rot of the GOP is the problem

[pnwmom]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/07/14/the-gops-moral-rot-is-the-problem-not-donald-trump-jr/?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-b%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.12c88932031e

The key insight from a week of gobsmacking revelations is not that the Russia scandal may finally have an underlying crime but that, as David Brooks suggests, “over the past few generations the Trump family built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil.” (Remember when the media collectively oohed and ahhed that, “Say what you will about Donald Trump, but his kids are great!”? Add that to the heap of inane media narratives that helped normalize Trump to the voters.) We now see that, sure enough, the Trump legal team (the fastest-growing segment of the economy) has trouble restraining its clients, explaining away initial, false explanations and preventing self-incriminating statements. (The biggest trouble, of course, is that the president lied that this is all “fake news” and arguably committed obstruction of justice to hide his campaign team’s misdeeds.)

Let me suggest the real problem is not the Trump family, but the GOP. To paraphrase Brooks, “It takes generations to hammer ethical considerations out of a [party’s] mind and to replace them entirely with the ruthless logic of winning and losing.” Again, to borrow from Brooks, beyond partisanship the GOP evidences “no attachment to any external moral truth or ethical code.”

Let’s dispense with the “Democrats are just as bad” defense. First, I don’t much care; we collectively face a party in charge of virtually the entire federal government and the vast majority of statehouses and governorships. It’s that party’s inner moral rot that must concern us for now. Second, it’s simply not true, and saying so reveals the origin of the problem — a “woe is me” sense of victimhood that grossly exaggerates the opposition’s ills and in turn justifies its own egregious political judgments and rhetoric. If the GOP had not become unhinged about the Clintons, would it have rationalized Trump as the lesser of two evils? Only in the crazed bubble of right-wing hysteria does an ethically challenged, moderate Democrat become a threat to Western civilization and Trump the salvation of America.

Indeed, for decades now, demonization — of gays, immigrants, Democrats, the media, feminists, etc. — has been the animating spirit behind much of the right. It has distorted its assessment of reality, giving us anti-immigrant hysteria, promulgating disrespect for the law (how many “respectable” conservatives suggested disregarding the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage?), elevating Fox News hosts’ blatantly false propaganda as the counterweight to liberal media bias and preventing serious policy debate. For seven years, the party vilified Obamacare without an accurate assessment of its faults and feasible alternative plans. “Obama bad” or “Clinton bad” became the only credo — leaving the party, as Brooks said of the Trump clan, with “no attachment to any external moral truth or ethical code” — and no coherent policies for governing.

SNIP

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. I am furious that both Bush's have not gone on record that this is WRONG

and for that matter it is time For Bill and Barack and Jimmy to make headlines.

They need to come together, hold a press conference, hopefully with The Bush family, and tell the American people we are losing our country and it is NOT about left vs right, it is about right vs Putin/Trump.

[Mr. Ected]

2. +1000

That's exactly what America needs right now. A little wake up call.

[pnwmom]

3. I think it may be premature for that. There will come a time when the evidence

is overwhelming -- much much more than now -- and yet still the GOP leadership will be resisting.

We have to hold our fire for now because we will need it then.

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. The Bush's need to be telling other cons to STAND up and demand

justice and thorough investigations and an end to Russia coddling by trump.

Later they need to do more, agreed.

[pnwmom]

5. Yes, they do, and any other Republican who still has some integrity.

Will Mitt Romney finally speak up? Governor Kasich? We shall see.

[Eliot Rosewater]

6. Anything you wanted to know about McCain and Graham and their bona fides is now answered

They could show great patriotism anytime, so far, nothing.

[pnwmom]

7. Yup. McCain did one good thing, and nothing since.

He met with a British intelligence person who told him about Christopher Steele's dossier, and then he sent a staffer to Britain to pick it up and hand carry it to the FBI.

So I'm grateful for that but disappointed that he's been such a wimp ever since.

[Corgigal]

8. Normal thinking, regular wealthy republicans

must be starting to worry we're going down. By the time the racist trump voters figure it out, it might be too late or a long ride into that good night. Maybe they are worry about their investments, or they might have to sell a house in America to move into a non fascist country.

Wish they worried about this a year ago, this include the TV media. Thankfully, print media still exist because without their investigations we wouldn't know much.

Sweat it normal republicans, were all together now dumb asses.

[Blue_true]

9. Conservatives like Rubin.

Should look in the mirror to see a person who greatly assisted the moral rot of the modern Republican Party. Those people need a come to Jesus moment.

[Va Lefty]

10. Could not agree more!

[malaise]

11. Sure took her long to see this

She gave them a pass

[pnwmom]

13. Unlike many Rethugs, she didn't support DT. n/t

[Roy Rolling]

12. Self-Incriminating Statements

Or, just statements. When you are guilty, your words are incriminating.

[Initech]

14. Democrats are just as bad? Bullshit!

WE. DID. NOT. COMMIT. TREASON. FOR. PARTISAN. POLITICS. End of debate.