John,
It isn’t easy to criticize your own party in the midst of a heated presidential race, but New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu had the courage to do that this week. He published a timely opinion piece in The New York Times calling on his fellow Republicans to “stop the trash talk” and focus on real solutions that respond to the concerns of the American people.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have recently ramped up their insults against each other, with Trump calling Harris “crazy” and “dumb as a rock,” while Harris has framed her campaign as a fight against a “criminal” who is “weird.” Gov. Sununu—who has won four elections in a swing state—believes these “attacks are unlikely to bring a single new voter onboard” for either candidate, and the vast majority of Americans agree.
According to recent research from Pew, 65 percent of Americans feel exhausted when thinking about politics. Only 10 percent of Americans feel hopeful for our political outlook. Meanwhile, with every dehumanizing insult to the other side, the percentage of Americans who view political violence against their opponents as acceptable goes up.
Insults don’t just set a bad example; they’re bad politics, too. As Gov. Sununu points out, the swing voters who determine the outcome of elections seek leaders who offer concrete solutions to the issues that matter most—such as the economy, inflation, and border security.
While Sununu is calling out Republicans in his op-ed, the No Labels community knows that both sides are culpable for the coarsening of our political discourse. Far-left Democrats have also resorted to extreme rhetoric, labeling Republicans as "genocidal" and "fascist."
I’m disgusted by it, and I am sure you are as well.
As we move toward Election Day 2024, it’s likely the nasty name-calling will only increase. We have two choices—stand by and let our political discourse sink deeper into the muck, or take a courageous stance in defense of our better angels.
To us, the choice is clear—demand better. We’ll be doing exactly that in Washington, D.C., on December 12 at our One Nation Conference. If you haven’t already signed up for this gathering that will feature some of our most important elected leaders and hundreds of our most passionate members, please register here.
Together, let’s stand with Gov. Sununu and oppose the hateful and divisive rhetoric that is driving us apart. We can do so much better—and we must.
Liz Morrison
No Labels
