Republican former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman is continuing her campaign to persuade her fellow party members to stand up to President Donald Trump and get him to resign from office.
In an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, Whitman said that the president “isn’t fit to remain in office,†writing:
“Trump’s turn toward Russia is indefensible. I am a lifelong Republican. I have campaigned and won as a member of the party, and I have served more than one Republican president. My Republican colleagues — once rightfully critical of President Obama’s engagement strategy with Russian leader Vladimir Putin — have to end their willful ignorance of the damage Trump is doing both domestically and internationally.”
‘We must put aside the GOP label, as hard as that may be, and demonstrate the leadership our country needs by calling on the president to step down.â€
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Whitman, who also served as former President George W. Bush’s EPA administrator, has been highly critical of Trump’s actions as president, and at his performance during Monday’s press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. Earlier in the week she was on CNN saying the president should resign.
“When you’re the President of the United States … what you say matters,” says former NJ Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who called on Trump to resign after the press conference in Helsinkiâ€
"When you're the President of the United States … what you say matters," says former NJ Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who called on Trump to resign after the press conference in Helsinki https://t.co/4PFdhfZo4R pic.twitter.com/PiXfOsstpL
— CNN News Central (@NewsCentralCNN) July 18, 2018
In her piece for the Times, Whitman called Trump’s behavior “indefensible†and said that he should rename his “America First†platform “Russia First.â€
During the Helsinki press conference Trump did not confront Putin over Russian interference in the 2016 election, but rather cast doubt on the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies. Whitman said Trump’s comments were “deeply disturbing.â€
Trump later claimed he “misspoke†when he said that he did not see any reason why it “would be†Russia who interfered. Whitman said that was no excuse:
“If the president did genuinely misspeak on Monday, it demonstrates his inability to articulate accurately U.S. foreign policy at the highest level, for the highest stakes. As the leader of the free world — as ridiculous as that title sounds when applied to Trump — his words matter.â€
“If he cannot take his place at a podium next to an adversarial foreign leader and stand up for America’s interests and principles, he should not be president.â€
Whitman prevailed upon her fellow Republicans to take action, and offered several suggestions for what they could do. They include implementing tougher sanctions against Russia and ensuring the protection of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
“Those members of the party in Congress who have stood up to the president should be commended,†Whitman wrote. “More must follow, with more than private talk and tepid tweets. Invoking the need to choose country over party is an overused trope. But it is essential now,†she added.
Whitman also said that Trump supporters must put their country ahead of their loyalty to the president.  She said that she’s grateful for the Republicans who have been brave enough to speak out but asked that more demand action from their leaders.
“Only bold leadership can put the United States back on a path that values freedom and democracy, and truly puts America first,†she wrote in conclusion to her shocking editorial.
Christie Todd Whitman is a highly respected Republican leader, as a former governor and former Bush administration official. There is no guarantee that Republicans will listen to her message, but there is a chance that she will influence some within her party to be more bold in confronting Donald Trump.
She recognizes that it is time for American patriots to step up to protect the country from the very serious threat of the Trump presidency. She recognizes that it is time for Donald Trump to resign, and hopefully many other Republicans do too.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
