Maine Senator Susan Collins became the latest GOP lawmaker to announce she will not be voting for Republican nominee Donald Trump.
In an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post, Collins noted:
“I will not be voting for Donald Trump for president. This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country.”
Collins also said that three incidents in particular had led her to make the decision she made:
- Trump mocking a reporter with disabilities
- The GOP nominee’s comments on Judge Gonzalo Curiel
- Trump’s attacks on the Gold Star parents of Captain Humayun Khan
Later in the column, Collins writes:
“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 op-ed concludes with this exceptionally damning statement:
“Some will say that as a Republican I have an obligation to support my party’s nominee. I have thought long and hard about that, for being a Republican is part of what defines me as a person. I revere the history of my party, most particularly the value it has always placed on the worth and dignity of the individual, and I will continue to work across the country for Republican candidates. It is because of Mr. Trump’s inability and unwillingness to honor that legacy that I am unable to support his candidacy.”
Don’t be surprised if more Republicans join Senator Collins in the weeks ahead.
Featured Image Via CNN Screengrab
