I consider myself a big tent NeverTrumper.
There are voters who will never vote for Trump and will never vote for a progressive Democrat.
There are also right-of-center voters (like me) who see the unique danger of a Trump second term and are willing to support Biden. 1/
There are voters who will never vote for Trump and will never vote for a progressive Democrat.
There are also right-of-center voters (like me) who see the unique danger of a Trump second term and are willing to support Biden. 1/
Attempts to bully and hector the first group into voting for Biden won't work, and might even be counterproductive.
However, it's odd that the first group takes such offense at the idea that they'd be even asked to consider supporting Trump's main opponent. 2/
However, it's odd that the first group takes such offense at the idea that they'd be even asked to consider supporting Trump's main opponent. 2/
If you press them hard enough, they'll say they're staying home or looking for a conservative protest candidate. But mostly they're pretty quiet about their decision not to support the president's re-election 3/
Which is odd for a group of people, especially those who work in politics and media, who are usually pretty vocal about their political opinions. 4/
They'll complain endlessly about people forcing a "binary choice" on them. They'll call NeverTrump activists grifters or fake conservatives. 5/
But what you probably won't hear from them is a sustained argument for why Trump shouldn't be re-elected.
You won't see them trying to persuade Trump voters to either stay home or vote for a protest candidate. 6/
You won't see them trying to persuade Trump voters to either stay home or vote for a protest candidate. 6/
Which, again, is odd. You could be forgiven for wondering if these shy NeverTrumpers are more worried about being seen as imperiling the president's re-election. Or even if they *want* the president to win a second term... but would rather he do it without their visible help. 7/
The NeverTrump movement is multi-flavored and raucous, which isn't surprising given that it's built around a negative rather than a positive agenda.
Because of that, we should welcome those who take different approaches, or maybe aren't as willing to go as far as others. /8
Because of that, we should welcome those who take different approaches, or maybe aren't as willing to go as far as others. /8
But at a minimum, you should be willing to say that you won't support the president's re-election and also want to actively persuade others.
Otherwise, your personal stance looks more like a pose, a way to get the benefits of Trumpism without paying the price. /end
Otherwise, your personal stance looks more like a pose, a way to get the benefits of Trumpism without paying the price. /end
