Longtime Republican operative Steve Schmidt, who became a nationally known figure as the head of Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid, renounced his membership in the party and declared himself an independent voter aligned with “the only party left in America that stands for what is right and decent and remains fidelitous to our Republic, objective truth, the rule of law and our Allies,” which he says is the Democratic Party.
In a thread on Twitter posted in the early hours of Wednesday, Schmidt said the GOP had become “the party of Trump” and wrote, “It is corrupt, indecent and immoral. With the exception of a few Governors like Baker, Hogan and Kasich it is filled with feckless cowards who disgrace and dishonor the legacies of the party’s greatest leaders.”
He cited the Administration’s so-called “zero tolerance” policy on immigration, which has resulted in more than 2,000 children being separated from their parents in just the past six weeks, as his primary motivation.
29 years and nine months ago I registered to vote and became a member of The Republican Party which was founded in 1854 to oppose slavery and stand for the dignity of human life. Today I renounce my membership in the Republican Party. It is fully the party of Trump.
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
It is corrupt, indecent and immoral. With the exception of a few Governors like Baker, Hogan and Kasich it is filled with feckless cowards who disgrace and dishonor the legacies of the party’s greatest leaders. This child separation policy is connected to the worst abuses of
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
Humanity in our history. It is connected by the same evil that separated families during slavery and dislocated tribes and broke up Native American families. It is immoral and must be repudiated. Our country is in trouble. Our politics are badly broken. The first step to a
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
Season of renewal in our land is the absolute and utter repudiation of Trump and his vile enablers in the 2018 election by electing Democratic majorities. I do not say this as an advocate of a progressive agenda. I say it as someone who retains belief in DEMOCRACY and decency.
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
On Ronald Reagan’s grave are these words. “ I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” He would be ashamed of McConnell and Ryan and all the rest while this corrupt government
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
Establishes internment camps for babies. Everyone of these complicit leaders will carry this shame through history. There legacies will be ones of well earned ignominy. They have disgraced their country and brought dishonor to the Party of Lincoln.
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
I have spent much of my life working in GOP politics. I have always believed that both parties were two of the most important institutions to the advancement of human freedom and dignity in the history of the world. Today the GOP has become a danger to our democracy and values.
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
This Independent voter will be aligned with the only party left in America that stands for what is right and decent and remains fidelitous to our Republic, objective truth, the rule of law and our Allies. That party is the Democratic Party.
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 20, 2018
Schmidt has been an outspoken critic of President Trump on several issues but has remained associated with the Republican Party until now.
