LETTER: What does Republican Party stand for?

The Trump candidacy for president and what he stands for has created a certain amount of confusion on the part of independent voters. As the flag bearer of the Republican Party, he symbolizes the principles by which the party espouses, but does he? Donald J. Trump has demonstrated a number characteristics that make me wonder.  

The Republican leadership has been mysteriously silent during this campaign so I have to ask: What about Donald Trump is the Republican Party endorsing? Is it the fear and hatred of immigrants (building a Mexican wall and preventing Syrian refugees and Muslims from entering our country)? Is it the bigotry of people of color (Latinos and African Americans in the inner cities peacefully protesting)? Is it the elimination of free trade (opposition of recent trade agreements)? Is it nuclear proliferation (the use of nuclear weapons in the Middle East)? How about torture or war crimes (killing families of terrorists)? Or how about a narcissistic sociopath dictator who threatens our country while captivating the following of the KKK and white nationalists?

It has become clear to me that the Republican leadership in Congress either endorses these characteristics of their party’s candidate, or they are demonstrating complete and utter cowardice by not standing up to their candidate and the principles that the Republican Party used to stand for. Either way, the Republican Party will own the results of this election. And maybe that’s the point: Republican congressional leaders are in it for the power they can acquire, not to “make America great again.” —David R. James, Eureka