It turns out there are a few Republicans left so ashamed over Donald Trump's treatment of the Khan family that they're no longer willing to be a part of it. Well—one, anyway.
"This election cycle is a test," [top Jeb Bush adviser Sally Bradshaw] said. "As much as I don't want another four years of (President Barack) Obama's policies, I can't look my children in the eye and tell them I voted for Donald Trump. I can't tell them to love their neighbor and treat others the way they wanted to be treated, and then vote for Donald Trump. I won't do it."
She says she's leaving the party, calling Trump a "narcissist," a "misogynist," and "a bigot," and says "if the race in Florida is close, I will vote for Hillary Clinton."
This stands in sharp contrast to every other Republican you can name, from Mitch McConnell to Paul Ryan to John McCain, all of whom have muttered about the misogynistic narcissist's bigotry now and in the past but will be voting for him anyway because, apparently, none of those things are disqualifying for a president. At least, not for a Republican one.
With every rightful condemnation of Trump, his supporters' tolerance of his actions becomes more conspicuous. His surrogates are now smearing the Khan family—letting the incident pass without making it even worse will not do, apparently—and still they stand behind him and grouse that while he may be a bigot who promotes and engages in vile attacks against even the families of fallen veterans, in addition to his usual parcel of conspiracy theories and narcissistic ignorance, they will still support him for the presidency.
It's a remarkable level of cravenness even for a party that’s long dabbled in bigotry, both under the table and on an institutional level. There are just no sufficient words for this anymore. Sally Bradshaw showed what needed to be done when dealing with the prospect of a misogynistic, ignorant, openly bigoted president: You say no. You find that last moral line that he cannot cross without losing your support and, if crossed, you say no.
As for the rest of Trump's party? In their eyes, Trump hasn't crossed their own moral lines. They may say they do not support his words, but they still support the man. Still.
"[...] This is a time when country has to take priority over political parties. Donald Trump cannot be elected president."
You would think. Then again, Sally Bradshaw, maybe it’s because you’re just not a Republican—anymore.