'Moral obligation': Conservative urges Republicans to recognize 'danger' of 2nd Trump term

11 October 2024

The threat former President Donald Trump poses to the future of the country if elected is far too great of a threat for Republicans still sitting on the fence to not speak out against him, according to a prominent conservative journalist and author.

On Friday, Charlie Sykes — the former editor in chief of anti-Trump outlet the Bulwark — made an urgent plea to his fellow centrist conservatives who haven't yet endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to do so. He told MSNBC host Alex Wagner that the former president poses an "emergency" that requires traditional Republicans to abandon partisanship and cross the aisle.

"This is the big divide," Sykes said. "At some point you have a moral obligation to make a choice: If you regard Donald Trump as a real danger to our constitutional republic, there's only one way to keep him from getting back into office."

Prior to her interview with Sykes, Wagner listed Republicans who had broken with their party and publicly endorsed Harris like former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. But she also named several high-profile GOP figures who have so far remained silent like former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Mike Pence and former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin).

Wagner went on to remind viewers that Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has publicly spoken out about being afraid for himself and his family should Trump return to office. However, he has so far not publicly said he would vote for Harris. She also mentioned that Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine penned an op-ed in the New York Times criticizing Trump's rhetoric about Haitian migrants in Springfield but still saying it hadn't changed his decision to vote for Trump in November.

Sykes acknowledged that 2024 was "not a normal election," and conceded that conservatives will have policy disputes with Harris. However, he pointed out that Trump's lengthy criminal record and disdain for the democratic process is a "crisis" that transcends normal partisan disagreement.

"This is not Bob Dole versus Bill Clinton. This is not Dukakis versus Bush," he said. "But the crisis is posed to the nation by the prospect that a man like Donald Trump will get back into office: Somebody who is a convicted felon. Someone who has been found via liable for sexual assault by a jury. Someone who tried to overturn a peaceful election, who incited a mob to attack the capitol, who botched a massive pandemic, who is running on an agenda of pure bigotry."

"I understand it is hard for many people to disenthrall themselves from these partisan loyalties, but I do think that this is the moment where you have to say 'okay, we do need to put country over party.' And I think that is the decision that the Cheneys have made," he added. "That is a challenge. I understand the incredible pressure that Republicans are under not to endorse a progressive Democrat, but sometimes you have to recognize the nature of the moment and of the emergency."

Watch Sykes' segment below, or by clicking this link.

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