In the realm of “headlines that shouldn’t have to be written,” this one might seem like the most obvious. But in recent weeks, some online conservative influencers have actually suggested that Republicans who are upset with the inaction of the GOP Congress or certain Trump administration policies should stay home or even vote Democrat out of spite in this year’s midterm elections.
It seems wise to refrain from calling out anyone in particular here to avoid giving any more oxygen to the purveyors of this terrible “strategy” (if you can call it that). But suffice to say, this is a very real sentiment among some corners of the conservative base – and if it continues to spread, it could well affect the balance of power in Washington, D.C., and state capitals.
It goes without saying that Republicans voting Democrat, is the surest way for the GOP to lose elections – but that’s exactly what the proponents of this strategy want. The idea is that if the Republican base shows the party leaders just how upset they are by abandoning them at the ballot box, it will lead to major changes in the party’s policies and priorities that the saboteurs have been demanding.
There is also something of an anarchic thread running through this argument. The implicit assertion is that even the Republican Party is so far gone that the best course of action is to hand power to the radical Democrats, allow them to destroy the country, and then supposedly build something better from the ashes.
That likely sounds extreme to most Americans, and it is. But that is a view held by a sizable number of disaffected voters “on the right,” and confronting it head-on is the only sensible response.
To be clear, no one is suggesting that conservatives owe their allegiance to any individual politician or political party. To the contrary, it is justified and indeed patriotic to hold leaders accountable to their promises. In a healthy republic, the voting population should maintain a degree of skepticism and “show me don’t tell me” when it comes to elected officials.
In our current moment, it is perfectly legitimate to be upset with congressional Republicans for failing to do more on election integrity, housing affordability, or healthcare. It is also well within reason to be frustrated at the lack of progress on the skyrocketing national debt and deportation numbers, or foreign interventionism.
But to suggest that the past two years – or even the past ten, since Trump first burst onto the political scene – have been so disastrous as to justify conservatives voting for the party that is committed to destroying everything conservatives believe in is utterly delusional and childish.
Laments about what the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have not accomplished conveniently leave out what they have accomplished. The Working Families Tax Cuts passed last year are not trivial – they represent real savings for working Americans. That bill also prevented the largest tax hike in history that was looming with the expiration of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. Real wages are up, inflation is down, and violent crime is down.
The Trump administration also secured the border with astonishing speed, and the flood of illegal aliens entering the country has ceased. While deportations are perhaps not occurring as quickly as some conservatives might prefer, there are more than three million fewer illegal aliens in the country today than when Trump took office.
There’s also Trump’s flurry of executive orders ending the regulatory war on the American energy sector, stopping the chemical and surgical mutilation of children, expanding protections for the unborn, defunding USAID, abolishing costly regulations, and so much more.
Consider the alternative had Kamala Harris won the presidency in 2024 and with it a Democrat Congress: the largest tax hike in history, endless lawfare against conservatives, a completely weaponized FBI, runaway inflation, DEI mandates throughout the federal government, millions more illegal aliens, and anything else that progressives could have dreamed up. All of that was avoided thanks to conservatives and independents – even many who may have disagreed with Trump and Republicans on certain policies – showing up and making the mature choice to vote for the party that wouldn’t drive the country into a ditch.
From a broader perspective, the “vote Democrat to spite Republicans” crowd also suffers from a shocking ignorance about history and the nature of political systems. The underlying assumption is that society operates according to the principles of fixed momentum, and that no matter how bad things get, the train will still stay on the tracks. The “burn it all down” mindset takes as a given that there will still be a foundation to build back on.
But history tells us this is not the case. The Roman Empire collapsed and never came back. The power vacuum it left plunged Western Civilization into a thousand years of darkness that was only ended through a shocking amount of bloodshed and struggle. The fall of the Weimar Republic produced the Nazis. The collapse of the old regime in China led to Mao and tens of millions of deaths. There is no guarantee that what comes out on the other side of a collapse is better than what preceded it.
If America falls, there is no fallback plan. As Ronald Reagan put it so eloquently, himself quoting Abraham Lincoln, America is “the last best hope of man on earth” – and if we fail to preserve it, we will sentence our children to take “the last step into a thousand years of darkness.”
Regardless of how upset one might be with elected leaders, conservatives have a responsibility to vote for the candidates who best reflect their values. Criticize them, hold them accountable, and primary them if necessary. But voting for a party that is actively trying to destroy everything that conservatives believe in, everything that is good about America, should never be viewed as a viable strategy to build a better future.
Shane Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
Anyone who would vote blue just to spite red or even stay home is a traitor to this country. Voting for the Commie Dems will turn our Republic into a Communist Hell-hole. Is that what these grumbling Republicans want?? Why would anyone who loves our country even think this is a good idea?
The Democrats have already shown that they speak with a “forked tongue”. The voter staying at home and not casting their ballot, had better not complain of the consequences should the Democrats regain control of the US Congress and start reaping vengeance on the country such as persecuting Christians and conservatives. The Democrats have made it quite clear what their agenda is and will be. The safety of the nation is in the hands of the conservative voter. Beware of those Democrats who are switching their party affiliation — ARE THEY REALLY CONSERVATIVE OR ARE THEY A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING? JUST BEWARE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
Not voting is my main concern……If you are disgusted or disagree with our Congress now and sit out this election cycle, When the Democrats take back power in the midterms, expect a “scorched earth” policy where they will destroy America. Something is better than a one party Communist state.
Every elected democrat in my state voted to raise our taxes. I suspect the same thing has happened in your state too. STOP voting for democrats.
Never in many lifetimes would I vote for the Commiecrats!
Inevitability, we will see just how tolerant or intolerant those who claim to be conservative or Christian are when the next election rolls around.
This is the last stand for morality and decency.
Any “so called” American patriot who would allow the continuation of evil democrat governance is a traitor to the constitution and the Good Lord who led our founding fathers to establish this great nation.
The dems have always sold their platform under the guise of progress. Whether it was related to slavery, or supporting the KKK, Margaret Sanger and and Planned Parenthood, the riots in LA, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the hedonistic relationships with the media and the deep state who have allowed our government to be corrupted by foreign actors whose purposes are counterproductive to American freedoms and moral values, to them; it is an end to a particular mean.
Unbelievable!
As a lifelong Conservative, it is essential that one stand up for what you believe and never compromise your values and ideological foundations!
Put simply, NEVER, EVER VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT.
Voting Democrat is the equivalent of climbing up in a tree and sitting on the branch that you’re going to saw from the tree. Only one you’re going to hurt is yourself
Voting Dem or staying home is suicidal. Vote Republican to maintain the majority, then find candidates to primary out the RHINOS in subsequent elections. This action means getting involved in your state Republican Party to ensure they pick the right people to put up for election.
Equally disturbing to me is that we have a gubernatorial candidate here in Michigan who has changed from Democrat to Independent. He may well drag enough disgruntled Republicans to give the win to the Democrat candidate. And if he wins, he will no doubt apply past Democrat practices. Michigan cannot survive another Democrat governor.
The Democrats agenda is to make the American people totally dependent on the government for life needs…food, healthcare, shelter and education. Nothing comes free with no payment of any kind The payment is that own you…literally. They decide who and what needs…healthcare, food and shelter they think is valid for which person.
In other words, “Don’t Cut Your Nose Off To Spite Your Face”!
If you have republicans saying vote Democratic these online influencers are nothing but scams. Come on now “Online Influencers who won’t mention who they are” is nothing but a scam by Democrats hiding behind anonymous shields. The better party is always going to be Republicans never, ever the left-wing Democrats. It these influencers are so dead set on their agenda and hate America so much “Leave this country, turn in your citizenship and just get the hell out of the way”
Today’s republicans are yesterday’s democrats. Democrats are a motley crew of marxists, communists, socialists, anarchists, ultra left. Not one of them would emigrate to live under such regime but are pushing it at the rest of the country. Voter does not see the malignancy of their intent.
I am horrified that this is even being discussed
the democrats and American haters are I’m certain are cheering this on
I am an DINO i.e. Democrat In Name Only. I have voted for Trump the last two elections and I pray to God that a Demoncrat never gets into the WH. I’m also praying for state elections, too. Virginia conservatives got screwed by the governor. I wonder how many people voted for her because she gave the illusion of being moderate. I’m surprised no one is trying to toss her out of office. But that’s what they do: give the illusion of being a moderate then when in office, screw the electorate.
What upsets me the most about this is that it seems to be Republicans caving to Democrats despite Democrat filthy business in all areas including propaganda, media bias, on air pronouncements. etc. The Dems have been exposed as inciting violence, cheating (including the extreme measures of Southern Poverty Law… and like organizations), Democrat leaders spewing lies and handing them out like lollypops, etc. Why are Republicans NOT using all the red meat they have that Democrats provide to us every day? Why aren’t Republicans on the strong offensive? Why do we wait to defend against attacks instead of attacking first? Even after THREE assassination attempts, Republicans have not grown a spine, nor figured a smart, forward-looking way to attract more voters. They seem to be collapsing despite the great accomplishments of this administration in only a year. These should be shouted to the rooftops and Republicans should be targeting young voters, showing how these things are improving their own futures. They should be targeting minorities to show how their concerns are being addressed, etc. WAKE UP, RNC…Republican officials and ALL who really care about our country. Do NOT allow the Dems to take us down.
Proponents that say for Republicans to vote demoncrat to spite the Republicans for inaction are actually RHINOS, they want the demoncrats to take control again to stop the MAGA agenda.
EVERY AMERICAN & REPUBLICANS need to wake up and vote STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN IN THE MID-TERM elections.
We can’t afford to give the demoncrats and inch, they will reverse every conservative legislation and bring back their crazy socialist liberal lgbtqr agenda.
SO VOTE STRAIGHT RED
I haven’t voted Democrat since 1972, the first year I was eligible to vote for President. I found Nixon detestable, and I wasn’t familiar at that time with the third parties.
If there is a Republican I can’t vote for, I either vote for a third-party candidate, write someone in, or leave it blank. I will never again vote Democrat.
It was renegade Republican voters, I believe, who gave Barack Obama his first-term victory. I knew a number of them. What a disaster–registered Republicans voting for our first self-identified Marxist President.
“The implicit assertion is that even the Republican Party is so far gone that the best course of action is to hand power to the radical Democrats, allow them to destroy the country, and then supposedly build something better from the ashes.” Better hope that if this is the course the nation takes, the Dems won’t take our 2nd Amendment right and eliminate our ability to take it back and REBUILD the fine experiment the Founders created for us.
There are a few things I differ from in my republican party, s few, then I weigh these few against ALL the things I differ from in the democrat party. Since Jimmy Carter, I have been Republican. Jimmy just proved the intent of the democrat party, as it relates to the working for a living, class. Space prevents my mentioning all of them.
Ronald Reagan with his leadership, opened my eyes, and many members of my family. Now President Trump has so made up for all the party errors, and he has the perfect cabinet to support we the people. Please, honestly vote your values, and I believe strong borders, safe schools, and law and order, should be tops on your list.
Conservative/Republicans or 5th column Dem/Socialist/Communists? Been there and done that or do we forget Biden and Obama so quickly. I live in a state with NO REAL REPUBLICAN voice in its governance nor in its Congressional delegation. but am still in the FIGHT. In the words of the old song: “If you don’t stand for something then you will fall for anything!” The only real alternative is to fight and as DJT said after Butler, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!
I wont vote for a Democrate period (even those who say the change parties). Can a leopard change his spots?
Vote out the Democrats and vote for a Republican super-majority then replace the RINOs with real Republicans!
Well written and thoughtful article. Sadly, too many ungrateful, fair weathered and often spineless Republicans can’t see the forest for the trees. I ask them What have YOU done to fire up the few turncoats and worthless /RINOs in CONgress to get off their hypocrite, lazy asses and start backing trump, making laws from many of his EOs, and start passing legislation???
I too am frustrated with MANY so-called Republican (RINOs): Tillis, Paul, Collins, McConnel, Murkowski, and many other cowardly backstabbers, who have prevented critical and major America-FIRST legislation (which is what Trump campaigned on and that Americans overwhelming voted for), from passing. This is inexcusable. Their TDS has made their actions the same thing as if they had spit in the faces of MAGA patriots.
But even with these hypocritical setbacks, voting for Democrats, who are known well as being America’s true, and unquestionable ENEMIES WITHIN, have a relentless agenda to destroy America, and to never rest until it becomes a full-fledged socialist country. A country completely over-run with illegals, communists, terrorists, unlimited corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse, the highest crime rate in history, the highest taxes in history, and the highest unemployed and homeless in history.
Bottom line, TWO CHOICES (staying home is NOT one:
1. Vote for Republicans (some of which are less desirable for sure).
OR
2. The alternatives are the Democrats, who are synonymous with lies, corruption and endless schemes and scams against their political opponents, and a pure hatred for over half of the American people. Democrats also support ALL illegals over Americans, and their decades of lawlessness, lack of any form of integrity, siding with America’s foreign enemies, etc… has more than demonstrated that they are PURE EVIL and can NEVER BE TRUSTED. They are America’s true ENEMIES WITHIN.
Don’t let frustration cloud your mind from what is pure evil. Do NOT vote for any Democrat in November (or ever for that matter).
Democrats in Pennsylvania under the guidance of Josh Shapiro are mailing voter registration forms and hard copy mailers to Republicans and independent voters to get their vote, they are printed in English and Spanish, Please warn Pennsylvania voters not to fall for this, Dems may change registration to Democrat without your knowledge!
I don’t know how anyone in their right mind would vote Democrat, but most of them are NOT in their right mind and have no common sense, they look like a bunch of Freaks. Most of them are lazy, disrespectful, ungrateful people, they want to sit on their lazy butt, do drugs, smoke pot while someone else (tax payers) take care of them. They want a Free Ride!
No need to switch parties. I vote Republican at the local level but sometimes their or more than 1 for Republican party. I vote for who I feel has done a better job. If we dont like a Republican candidate for higher positions then we need to get him out of office and replace with a new Republican candidate. Never a Democrat.
Voting for democrats is voting for the destruction of America. Millions of Americans are going to be killed. All those on the right will be eliminated and people from all over the world will be brought here to do the bidding of the billionaires and millionaires will be in charge. The courts will see to it that the communist doctrine takes over. The constitution will be eliminated. Guns will be taken away from law abiding citizens and given to a militia who will shoot a white person on sight. Mandate after mandate will be implemented by the dictator in the White House. Freedom of speech which is dangerously on the brink of being eliminated now will be totally gone. MSM will be the only news outlet to bring the news as told by the leaders. Our military will be abandoned. DEI and CRT will rule. Trans surgeries will be ordered every day to eliminate the white race. And slavery of the white man will be implemented. Don’t think this won’t happen. The dem leaders in this country are Satan worshippers. They love all these assassins who are going after the current regime. It’s not just President Trump anymore they are trying to eliminate. This has become a race war. To eliminate the white race. It’s the millionaires that want to rule the world in order to do that they need sheep and nonthinking people. Common sense and intelligence is their enemy.
These so-called Influencers do not influence me a bit. Yes, I agree that some Rinos exist in congress. The answer is not to vote for a democrat, but to primary their butts, find a true conservative that will do as he/she promised, and organize an attack on the rino’s failure to represent the costituents who voted for him. Even if the rino still wins, if the voting in the primary is close enough, the message will be sent. We need to own the House and Senate to get anything done.
Never let Perfect be the enemy of Good.
I can hardly believe USA has citizens who would not agree whole heartedly with this piece.
If you are not satisfied with a Republican in office, one of the things you can do is vote in the Republican primary for the Republican candidate you prefer. If enough voters agree with you, you can make a change.
No worries. I’m NEVER voting “Dumba$$ocrat again. EVER!
And once upon a time, “I were one”. For DECADES even….
I can’t believe that any conservative would be upset enough to throw your vote at the democrats.I am in my middle eighties and have voted most of the years that I could.At one time years ago I voted for the person that I felt was the best candidate for the job.Now over the last few decades I can’t believe what the democrats have done to our country.They have a destroy AMERICA and rebuild it according to their obamba/soryos marxist or maybe even an islamic agenda.Either one would destroy AMERICA and the people in it.We conservatives need to toughen up and meet fire with a hotter fire,or AMERICA loses.
Who are the Republicans cited in this article as telling GOP voters to vote Democrat? I’d like to know because no honest-to-goodness Republican would be preaching that garbage.
You are so right, Shane. The Trump administration has accomplished an amazing amount of good in a short time. DJT has long term goals for the country and the world. Most people are too impatient to wait. My hope is that before the midterms we will be on more solid ground. Even if not, I can’t think of a worse scenario than the democrats being in control.
Well put, Shane. Thank You.
The only thing more insane than a Democrat is someone, who is not a Democrat, who votes for one. Conservatives will be hunted down if the Democrats get back in power. We have injured the bear, and, it will come after us with a vengeance if it ever has control again.
If you want to show you are dissatisfied with your representative or senator get a Maga candidate to run against them in the primary. Try to replace the leadership of your state’s republican party with Maga leaders.
Stupid to vote for the Commie demonrats. Only time I didn’t vote was years ago when I was in a rigorous training program and didn’t have time to vote. Once done, I’ve voted in every election, national and local ever since. Never a democrat either.
With the way things are going, the democrats should never be in a power again. I hope this doesn’t happen. If the democrats get into power, the Country as we know it is dead.
Voting for DemocRATS, or not voting, or voting for “third-party” or “write-in” candidates, is generally a wasted vote. It does not help the country, nor does it send a useful signal to the Republican Party leadership. The GOP machine in DC and most states is still dominated by “go-along-to-get-along” moderates, who are Progressives who just want to slow the rush towards what they see as “progress” so everyone will just “be nice” and not “make waves.” Not voting Republican fuels their mistaken beliefs rather than change them. If you want to send a clear signal to the “mugwump” GOP machine politicians and staffers, make sure you vote MAGA in the primaries, and donate directly to candidates you support or PACs that promote your values — DON’T donate to the RNC, RNSC, or other parts of the GOP machine.
Sooooo… we are upset because the republicans are not backing our leaders and not passing conservative bills fast enough to please them. And they think the answer is to hand over more democrats?!?! The answer is bring more and stronger republicans NOT to hand them more power.
There used to be an expression that my grandmother used, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.” You cannot burn something down and build anything from the ashes, you have to spend a great deal of money for the materials to make something that probably won’t be as good as what you had, at least not in your lifetime and, most likely, the lifetime of your grandchildren. “Once in motion tends to remain in motion” may be Newton’s first law of motion, but the Dimocrats first law of office says that, “Once in office, do whatever you can to stay in office” Cheating is one subset.
Childish is understatement. Spoiled silly brats would even consider this action as an option. The democratic platform has left off all that is good. The youth of our day need to be reprogrammed as they are the ones who are believing the biased garbage of the leftist media and will finish the job of the mandamis of the world. Groan!
People should take time to realize that the democrat cities and states are in serious trouble. .What is it going to take for the democrat support to accept the democrats don’t have plan to improve our country. Get real people !!!
This is the stupidest thing anyone could do because it falls right into the hands of the Mitch McConnell like Republicans (RINOS). The Turtle built his empire and his vast fortune by being the “opposition” leader. He was inept at being leader of the party in power and when people started to realize this he quickly passed the baton to his hand picked replacement John Thune.
Please get over yourself if you think this strategy will work…………..
I didn’t really read the entire article. It is April 29, just after noon on the east coast. The Dow is down about 400 points, slowly eroding some nice gains in April. Oil us up about 5 bucks today alone, and we are seeing about another 30 to 40 cents a gallon for gas, which will equal more for everything else. We are now another day closer to losing the most important mid term election in our lifetime. I personally will never vote for a democrat, but…. Affordability… people vote with their wallets and the media is doing their job. Anyone??
One’s VOTE is the most important weapon that one has. You only get ONE shot; DON’T WASTE IT!