The 2016 election-turned-reality-show just took a new twist. Again.
Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released a statement that they’re teaming up to throw the Republicans into a brokered convention and deny Donald Trump the nomination. Cruz will focus on Indiana, and Kasich will focus on Oregon and New Mexico.
“I’m not campaigning in Indiana, and he’s not campaigning in these other states,” Kasich told reporters in Philadelphia. “That’s all. It’s not a big deal.”
Organizing with your opponent to deny the frontrunner the nomination isn’t a big deal? OK. I guess “Lemonade” wasn’t a big deal either.
The 2016 cycle on the Republican side is almost completely defined by Republican politicians coming out against Trump: Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Lindsey Graham, New Mexico’s governor and Massachusetts’ governor, to name a few.
They all more or less say that they don’t want Trump as the nominee because of his rhetoric against Mexicans, Muslims and women. They claim that he doesn’t represent the Republican Party’s values. I’m calling foul on that claim.
Republicans have been using anti-immigration rhetoric for years now. They’ve restricted access to women’s healthcare across the country, and don’t get me started on the Islamophobic rhetoric they’ve been spewing for the past few years.
Words are powerful, and ideas spread. When you imply that all Muslims are part of the Islamic State, people will believe you. When you say that all Mexicans are rapists and drug dealers, people will listen. They’ll take it to heart and, if you’re not careful, they might just run for president.
Cruz and Kasich’s last-ditch attempt to keep a delusional reality star from the White House might be futile. If none of these other politicians could keep Trump from winning as many primaries as he already has, what makes them think they can?
Cody Sibley is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Opelousas, Louisiana.