Flake deserves credit for standing up to president
Republicans are taking a page from Sen. Jeff Flake’s anti-Donald Trump book. But will they go so far to help the senator keep his seat?
Remember the “Conscience of a Conservative,” the playbook on how to save conservatism from Trump’s wrath?
Republicans across the nation are now rushing to stand up to Trump’s erratic handling of the white supremacists march in Charlottesville, Virginia. And that’s a good thing. Flake’s takedown of Trump also defends conservatism and criticizes the Republican Party, which let the train wreck that is Trump’s presidency turn us into a conflict-ridden nation.
It’s time to pick up that book, if nothing else, for inspiration on how to be brave when it matters — when you stand to lose it all and still say and do the right thing.
That’s what Flake has done with his book, which was released this month. And the national uproar this past week over Trump’s characteristically jawdropping display of ineptitude proves that the senator was on point.
One way or another, Flake will pay for his audacity. On Tuesday, Trump is stopping by Phoenix, where he’s widely expected to boost a Flake’s challenger in next year’s GOP primary. It could be Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWit or Trump wannabe Kelli Ward.
DeWit is reportedly saying running for Senate is news to him. I don’t believe that for a second, but let’s assume Trump backs Ward.
What type of Republicans would pick her over Flake? The Trump-type, of course. So, any decent Arizonan who can cast a ballot in the GOP primary should rush to Flake’s side.
Expectedly in the Trump era, Flake drew cheers for his audacity to write a critical book. And jeers, too, for his complacency — given that he has voted 93.5 percent with Trump in the seven months of the administration.
Flake has defended his voting record, saying they’ve been mostly on Trump’s nominees.
His two most substantive votes were to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court to replace the late Antonin Scalia and to back the “skinny repeal” health-care bill that failed.
But don’t forget that Flake is an unapologetic conservative after all and his voting record reflects that.
I can deal with philosophical and political ideologies. I can’t, however, accept the dehumanization of the American people as Trump and his neo-Nazi supporters are doing.
I can’t accept an “ethnic cleansing” crusade and neither should you.
This week, as the violence erupted in Charlottesville, with white-supremacists groups taking over the nation’s racial narrative, the uproar over Flake’s book faded.
The message of the book, however, took on new meaning for me.
More Republicans are calling out Trump’s disastrous handling of the Charlottesville protest over a Confederate monument that left three people dead. Instead of guiding the nation through the racial divide, Trump has been adding fuel to the fire with overtures to the neoNazi and the KKK.
We are now consumed over what to do with the brazenness of the white-supremacist movement and a president unwilling to truly disavow it.
Flake criticized Trump and defended conservatism when it matters. He spoke up at risk of losing his Senate seat and that has to be commended.
This is a defining moment. Speaking up, as Flake has done, is important. But truly disavowing Trump’s polarizing policies will be the real testament of Republican’s principles.
Republicans can still retake the Party of Lincoln. They can join Flake in redefining conservatism to appeal to a broader base because there is no doubt now that white-supremacist groups are part of Trump’s base and helped put him in the White House.
Supporting Flake over a Kelli Ward in the Trump era will define us as decent human beings; to do otherwise qualify us as cowering charlatans.
Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@ arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.