Sane Republicans exist, and they're ditching the Trump Train for Clinton

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday August 03, 2016 · 10:39 AM PDT

2016/08/03 · 10:39

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 02: Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard, gives a television interivew on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after ringing the opening bell on November 2, 2015 in New York City. Hewlett Packard officially split into two companies, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, focused on businesses and HP, Inc, focused on consumers. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) — Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard

Note to Republicans with a shred of self respect and patriotic impulse: “Jump! Save yourselves! Save the country!” That's exactly what some people formerly committed to the Republican Party have begun to do. Take, for example, Meg Whitman, a prominent tech exec who ran for California's gubernatorial seat in 2010 as a Republican:

“I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her,” Ms. Whitman said in a telephone interview.

Using remarkably blunt language, she argued that the election of Mr. Trump, whom she called “a dishonest demagogue,” could lead the country “on a very dangerous journey.” She noted that democracies had seldom lasted longer than a few hundred years and warned that those who say that “it can’t happen here” are being naïve.

Whitman said she had many policy disagreements with Clinton, but that was totally beside the point: "she would be a much better president than Donald Trump.” And while Whitman isn't leaving the GOP over Trump, some Republicans are. Former Jeb Bush adviser Sally Bradshaw is one:

She told CNN's Jamie Gangel in an email interview that the GOP is "at a crossroads and have nominated a total narcissist -- a misogynist -- a bigot."

"This is a time when country has to take priority over political parties. Donald Trump cannot be elected president," Bradshaw said.

But Whitman's approach—staying Republican and vehemently rejecting Trump anyway—is attracting a growing number of party loyalists. New York's GOP Rep. Richard Hanna, who is not seeking re-election, called Trump "a national embarrassment," becoming the first sitting GOP Congressional member to say he'll vote for Clinton this November.

Head below for a list of other Republicans who have declared Trump just a bridge too far.

The Washington Post is keeping track of GOP defectors who will be voting for Clinton. Here's a partial excerpt of that list:

Bush administration officials

Henry Paulson, treasury secretary

Richard Armitage, deputy secretary of state and adviser to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush — Trump "doesn't appear to be a Republican, he doesn't appear to want to learn about issues. So I’m going to vote for Mrs. Clinton."

Brent Scowcroft, chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board and adviser to three previous GOP presidents — "The presidency requires the judgment and knowledge to make tough calls under pressure.... [Clinton] has the wisdom and experience to lead our country at this critical time.

Officials in previous GOP administrations

Doug Elmets, former Reagan spokesman — "I could live with four years of Hillary Clinton before I could ever live with one day of Donald Trump as president." Elmets spoke at the Democratic National Convention, along with other Republicans now backing Clinton.

Jim Cicconi, former Reagan and George H.W. Bush aide — "Hillary Clinton is experienced, qualified and will make a fine president. The alternative, I fear, would set our nation on a very dark path.”

Charles Fried, former U.S. solicitor general under Reagan and current Harvard Law professor -- "Though long a registered Republican, this will be the third consecutive presidential election in which my party forces the choice between party and, in John McCain’s words, putting America first.

Foreign policy leaders

Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, former Reagan State Department aide and adviser to the presidential campaigns of John McCain and Mitt Romney

Max Boot, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and adviser to GOP presidential candidates — "I'm literally losing sleep over Donald Trump. She would be vastly preferable to Trump."

Political operatives

Mark Salter, former top adviser to John McCain — "Whatever Hillary Clinton’s faults, she’s not ignorant or hateful or a nut. She acts like an adult and understands the responsibilities of an American president. That might not be a ringing endorsement. But in 2016, the year of Trump’s s campaign, it’s more than enough."

Maria Comella, former spokeswoman for two of Trump's top backers, Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani -- "Instead of speaking out against instances of bigotry, racism and inflammatory rhetoric whether it's been against women, immigrants or Muslims, we made a calculus that it was better to say nothing at all in the interest of politics and winning elections."

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