Surprise! Surprise! Former Illinois Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger has officially endorsed President Biden for reelection. He is not the first or even the most prominent conservative Republican apostate. The top honor goes to former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Runners-up in the dubious honor category include former Florida Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough, former Republican Florida Congressman David Jolly and former Illinois Republican Congressman Joe Walsh – and there are others.
There is a common thread with all these folks. Not only were they Republicans, but they were also seen as – more or less — conservative Republicans. They all say they broke specifically with President Trump. That does not explain why they all have abandoned the Republican Party and their once-claimed conservative principles.
I can understand why some conservative Republicans can have issues with Trump. I do – and I have expressed them in commentaries over the past six years. Like many Republicans, I voted for other candidates in the Republican primary. I would have preferred to have a different person heading the GOP ticket. But Republican voters across the nation gave the nomination to Trump – and I understand why.
The difference between me and the others is that I did NOT abandon my conservative principles and support for conservative issues.
When I cast my vote for Trump in the 2016 general election it was despite my reservation and because he – flaws and all — would likely bring to Washington more conservative policies. We would get more conservative Supreme Court Justices under a Republican president. And that turned out to be the case.
I voted for Trump in 2020 for the same reason. It was all about conservative principles over radical left-wing and woke policies. Trump lost that election and what did we get – radical left-wing and woke policies. And how well did that turn out for conservatives specifically and America in general?
For the third time, principled conservatives are facing the same problem – electing a flawed person with good policies over a flawed person with dangerous policies. I am among the majority of Americans who believe that Trump handled matters better during his term than Biden has in his.
Democrat strategist James Carville famously said, “It’s the economy, stupid.” I would broaden that to say that “it is the issues, stupid.” They are more important than the personal character of the candidates – although I would like to have both.
It is the devotion to conservative issues that makes me especially critical of Adam Kinzinger and the others of his ilk.
Kinzinger not only rejected Trump, but he has also rejected the entire Republican Party – including his self-proclaimed conservative issues. Like the others, Kinzinger absurdly claims to still be a conservative. But he has not only endorsed Biden, but he has also essentially joined and endorsed the entire Democratic Party and its left-wing agenda. To the extent he still claims to be a Republican and a conservative, he is a false flagger like the others.
Kinzinger’s now frequent paid appearances on CNN and MSNBC explain a lot. He sold out for money and prominence – the cash and the camera. Again, he is not the first. The group includes former GOP chairman Michael Steele, David Jolly, Joe Scarborough and a number of other one-time Republican operatives who are now highly paid “regulars” on left-wing media programs.
There is no greater evidence of that fact than Kinzinger’s shift to the Democrats and their left-wing ideology than his appearance in a Biden fundraising solicitation.
Under a large photo of Kinzinger, he states: “Hi, I’m Adam Kinzinger. I’m a proud conservative. And today, because of my unwavering support for democracy I have announced: I’m endorsing Joe Biden for reelection.” (His boldface.)
Kinzinger’s statement is an irreconcilable conflict. By definition, one cannot be a “proud conservative” and endorse Biden. Truth be known, Kinzinger was never a reliable conservative. He first ran to the left of a conservative Republican candidate in the primary and served in Congress as a malleable establishmentarian – not a conservative.
Kinzinger knows he is not a good conservative. When he was redistricted by Democrats into a more conservative district, he saw the writing on the wall and dropped out of the race.
In the Biden fundraising solicitation ad, Kinzinger went on to say:
“So, here I am, a Republican asking millions of Americans to rush a donation to help reelect a Democratic president. Will you donate $25 or even more to President Biden’s campaign before tomorrow’s debate? We desperately need President Biden in the Oval Office to protect what makes this country great: or democracy.” (The underscore is his).
Like conservative principles, Kinzinger rejects the Republican Party while claiming to be a member. In America, one can join any party they wish, but that does not mean they must hold to the values and policies of the party. (We see this kind of hypocrisy in posters at antisemitic rallies proclaiming, “Jews for Palestine.” But I digress.)
Kinzinger’s support has not been limited to Biden. He has endorsed a number of down-ticket Democrat candidates.
Kinzinger’s claim to being a Republican and a “proud conservative” is prima facie bogus. He is nothing more than the latest member of the cadre of apostates who have abandoned both the Republican Party and conservative beliefs.
If Kinzinger – and others – had held on to their conservative claims, they would not be supporting the Democratic Party and all its left-wing policies. To Kinzinger and the others I say, “It’s the issues, stupid.”
So, there ‘tis.