Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 07:20 pm
Republican Sen. Susan Collins didn’t just refuse to support Donald Trump. The wildly popular Maine Senator likely cost Trump an electoral vote that he desperately coveted in the state.
Sen. Collins made all of the arguments that Paul Ryan should have made for not supporting Trump.
The Senator penned a piece in The Washington Post that was loaded with integrity:
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Mr. Trump did not stop with shedding the stilted campaign dialogue that often frustrates voters. Instead, he opted for a constant stream of denigrating comments, including demeaning Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) heroic military service and repeatedly insulting Fox News host Megyn Kelly.
With the passage of time, I have become increasingly dismayed by his constant stream of cruel comments and his inability to admit error or apologize. But it was his attacks directed at people who could not respond on an equal footing — either because they do not share his power or stature or because professional responsibility precluded them from engaging at such a level — that revealed Mr. Trump as unworthy of being our president.
My conclusion about Mr. Trump’s unsuitability for office is based on his disregard for the precept of treating others with respect, an idea that should transcend politics. Instead, he opts to mock the vulnerable and inflame prejudices by attacking ethnic and religious minorities. Three incidents in particular have led me to the inescapable conclusion that Mr. Trump lacks the temperament, self-discipline and judgment required to be president.
The problem for Trump is much larger than a Republican rejection of his candidacy. According to a Morning Consult poll, Sen. Collins is the second most popular senator in the United States. Sen. Collins has a 79% approval rating in Maine, and she hails from the state’s second congressional district. This is an important fact because Maine splits its Electoral College votes by congressional district.
Donald Trump has been eyeing one of Maine’s Electoral College votes, but Collins’ move effectively destroyed any chance that Trump has of winning the second district’s Electoral College vote.
Responsible Republicans like Susan Collins still exist, and she helped the nation take a big step towards denying Trump the White House by speaking out and refusing to support the unfit GOP nominee.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
