The Republican Party that was a part of my life’s investment over the last 25 years continues to kill itself, and I saw more evidence of that on Saturday night.

The party is populated by some really great people, but it's underserved or misled by too many in leadership positions - and I think President Trump and his approach has exacerbated this. Saturday night fit the pattern of what I have seen here. I was at the Londonderry GOP annual candidate spaghetti dinner. Midway through seemingly the whole world speaking in this three hour event, the woman sitting beside me said, “I'm going to go and ask that you have your turn too.” I thanked her, but she eventually came back with the news that it wasn't happening.

No huge surprise, but here is the interesting part…that is surprising and disturbing.

After the event I went up and thanked the chairman of the event for my time there. He struck me as an affable and fair gentleman, and it turned out we had met twenty years ago at a political function. Somewhat sheepishly he said he was sorry he couldn't work out time for me to speak, but the Trump vice-chair of the New Hampshire campaign was in attendance. He thought it wasn't worth offending him and the Trump campaign by allowing me to speak.

Are you kidding me? In a state where the motto is "Live Free or Die"? Being scared of someone being offended because someone else had a different viewpoint at a small local county event? It mirrors the cancelling of primaries, and it makes me ask what has come of the Republican Party?

What bothered me most was the fear expressed in the chairman’s voice. That's new. Politics can always be conniving. I well remember when I first ran for Congress and after driving two hours up to Loris the chairman said, “Well, you weren't on the schedule..so we would love for you to come back next month.” They could have easily given me five minutes for my four hour drive, but they had picked their horse and were using the tools in place to protect him. Believing in the debate of ideas, I don't like that, I don't agree with it...but I get it.

Saturday night was different. It wasn't the “game” that too often accompanies politics. It was fear of retribution. That's something new...and it disturbs me.

I’d love to get your thoughts on the above…
Sincerely,

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SANFORD 2020
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Mark Sanford was ranked one of the most conservative members of Congress by the Club for Growth, Freedomworks, Heritage Foundation, and the National Taxpayers Union, and has been recognized as the most financially conservative Governor in the country by the CATO Institute, calling him "a staunch supporter of spending restraint and pro-growth tax reforms." Mark lives in Mt. Pleasant and stays busy trying to keep up with his four boys.
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