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On the same day that seven Republican Party officials quit in Maine, an Iowa county co-chair quit because Republicans have, “declared war on science and common sense.”

Polk County (Iowa) GOP co-chair Chad Brown wrote about his disappointment with the party in his resignation letter, “Having spoken with a pastor and having prayed about this for hours, I came to the conclusion that this is my only recourse. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the National level. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the Statewide level. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the Countywide level. I find it increasingly difficult to defend issues and statements made by Party leaders and officials from all three levels.”

Brown expanded on his reasons for quitting the Republican Party in an interview with The Des Moines Register:

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Brown said in a phone interview that he became disgusted by a party he believes is being run by the Christian right and the National Rifle Association. He cited Congressman Steve King’s recent, controversial comments on illegal immigrants as an example of his philosophical conflict with the party.

“No one’s really stood out to really fight him on those. I think they’re hateful statements,” he said. King made national news with his comment that illegal immigrants were more likely to be drug traffickers “with calves the size of cantaloupes” than valedictorians.

Brown said he also believes the party “has declared war on science and common sense,” by denying global climate change. He said he also was offended by statements from some party leaders that he felt glorified gun violence.

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The seven party officials who quit in Maine left the GOP because it wasn’t conservative enough for them. Brown had the complete opposite problem. He thinks that the Republican Party has moved too far to the right. The fact that officials can quit the same party on the same day for completely opposite reasons is indicative of an organization with no identity.

However, Brown’s criticism of his former party is more based in the reality of the times. The fact is that the Republican Party has declared war on common sense, and any Republican who is unable to suspend the ability to use their common sense will find the GOP intolerable.

What Mr. Brown confirmed on his way out the door is that in order to be a Republican today, one has to leave their brain at the door. Anyone who uses common sense to come to the conclusion that maybe hating minorities isn’t the best way to win future elections has no place in this Republican Party.

Immigration, climate change, healthcare, the economy, and women’s rights all areas where Republicans are fighting against science and/or common sense.

If Republicans win their war on common sense, the only thing that will be certain is the future loss of many elections. http://www.politicususa.com/2013/08/20/iowa-county-co-chair-quits-part
y-gop-has-declared-war-common-sense.html

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I am writing to inform you that I changed my voter registration to Independent today – severing all ties to the Republican Party. Having been a Republican all my life, I did not take this decision lightly.

Having spoken with a pastor and having prayed about this for hours, I came to the conclusion that this is my only recourse. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the National level. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the Statewide level. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the Countywide level. I find it increasingly difficult to defend issues and statements made by Party leaders and officials from all three levels.

I decided to get back in this arena following the “contentious” 2012 Polk County GOP Convention. I was upset by what happened at the conventions, and I entered into the arena with the intent to help fix the problems. However, I think this level of dysfunction is not going to be fixed any time soon.

I donated time and financial resources to the Polk GOP and haven’t had a good return on my investment. In the 2000 Presidential Election, the Polk GOP lost Polk County by about 16,000 votes. In fall of 2000, the Polk GOP had no headquarters. The Polk GOP had no paid staff. The Polk GOP didn’t even have a working telephone number. Fundraising was minimal.

In 2012, the Polk GOP lost Polk County by over 32,000 votes. Until 2002, Republicans were elected to the State House from Des Moines. In 2012, Republicans lost 2 State House seats in suburban, Republican-leaning districts and came two dozen votes from losing a third. Facts are stubborn things. I think we are now headed in the wrong direction on several fronts and regretfully must step aside.

It’s my opinion that rather than fix the problems that led to such a massive 2012 defeat, the GOP does not seem to seriously want to fix the issues. I think helping a dysfunctional Party that does not want to address its problems is enabling. I do not believe in enabling. I debated this for weeks and am certain this is the only course.

I wish you the best of luck,

Chad Brown

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