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Gratuitous Hatred is Destroying The Republicans (And FreeRepublic)
National Review ^ | 3/1/2016 | Dennis Prager

Posted on 03/03/2016 4:52:15 AM PST by LouD

Gratuitous Hatred Is Destroying Republicans — Just as It Did the Ancient Israelites By Dennis Prager — March 1, 2016 I have been a radio talk-show host for 33 years, nationally syndicated for 18. I have never experienced anything similar to what I am experiencing now. Until recently, the only hate mail I ever received was from a small number of people on the left. The major reason for this, I am convinced, is that I don’t yell at callers and I treat callers who disagree with respect.

Reading my e-mails these days is a brand-new experience. I receive hate mail, sometimes laced with obscenities, from Republicans. Most of it comes from Trump supporters, even though whenever I explain my opposition to Trump, I also explain that I understand why so many people support Trump, and even though I ask anti-Trump listeners to respect these Trump supporters.

To show how widespread the hatred among Republicans is, here are excerpts from an e-mail sent by a Cruz supporter in Michigan. He was livid at my having suggested that Cruz consider announcing that he will now back Rubio in order to give Republicans a unified opposition, which is the only chance to stop Trump. I might add that I have said many times that if I could simply appoint a Republican president, it would be Ted Cruz, since he is a true conservative and he doesn’t care whether people love him. However, I believe that Rubio – at least until this weekend and his imitation of Trump’s high-school-level personal insults – has been the Republican with the best chance of defeating Hillary Clinton.

The listener’s e-mail read in part:

Dennis, I can’t tell you how p**sed off I am at you for suggesting Cruz drop out in favor of the back stabbing, lying Rubio. You have compromised your own principles. . . . Despicable! A*****es like you . . . lie about “if I could appoint a president, it would be Cruz.” Screw you and all your Salem colleague’s [sic] for pushing the false narrative ‘Rubio is more electable.’ . . . I am no longer a faithful listener and have switched back to Rush after many years. You have lied by obfuscation, and tried to manipulate your listeners, and for that, I despise you and the other Salem turncoats. You all can go F*** yourselves!

As noted, I have quite a few e-mails from Trump supporters who, after years, even decades, of listening to my show, have decided that I am no longer worthy of being listened to. If one doesn’t support Trump, they believe, one is a traitor to the cause.

It is important to point out that I have said over and over that I would vote for Trump if he were the nominee, because it is difficult to conceive of even Trump being worse than four more years of a left-wing president and decades of a left-wing Supreme Court. But to more than a few Trump supporters that is not enough: If you don’t support Trump, you are the enemy.

RELATED: The Worrisome Implications of 2016’s ‘Insult Campaign’

In a nutshell, the hatred and contempt some of the Republican candidates have shown one another is reflected among rank-and-file Republicans. I understand why: Most Republicans view this election as the last chance to save America from becoming the opposite of what it was founded to be. The Left has been eating away at America’s foundational values for nearly a century, and it has been largely successful. Two examples: Seventy percent of college students do not believe in freedom of speech if the speech might hurt someone’s feelings, and many young Americans support a socialist for president.

Meanwhile, many Republicans believe that only their candidate can turn things around. Therefore, Republicans who oppose their man are regarded as no different from Democrats — indeed, perhaps worse.

So this is where we stand today: Many anti-Rubio Republicans regard Rubio as a traitor on the immigration issue and therefore have contempt for his supporters. Many anti-Cruz Republicans regard Cruz as an extremist conservative who is, moreover, a misanthrope, and therefore have contempt for his supporters. And many anti-Trump Republicans – perhaps most – regard Trump as a dangerous fraud, and therefore view his supporters with contempt.

Needless to say, with these attitudes, there is little chance any Republican can win.

RELATED: Stop Defending Trump’s Poisonous ‘Middle-Finger Politics’

So, then, despite eight years of failure under a Democratic president, and with Hillary Clinton — widely regarded as a completely untrustworthy woman who has put pursuit of money and power above the interests of her country — as the Democratic candidate, Republicans will still lose.

And Republicans will have no one to blame but themselves.

In Jewish tradition, there is a famous explanation for the destruction of the Jewish state by the Romans in 70 a.d. The ancient rabbis did not blame the Romans. They blamed the Jews. And the reason, they said, was “gratuitous hatred” — Jews hating one another for no good reason.

Bear in mind: Not all hatred is gratuitous. The hatred of evil, for example, is actually the only moral response to evil.

But gratuitous hatred is utterly destructive. And that’s what many Republicans now have for one another — and what will therefore enable today’s Romans, the Democrats, to destroy our country in the year 2016.

— Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. His latest book, The Ten Commandments: Still the Best Moral Code, was published by Regnery. He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com. © 2016 Creators.com


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: absolutism; boohoolou; dennisprager; gop; happy2losewithcruz; losewithcruz; purges; tedthebestloserever
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To: bigtoona

Really? You think that this is the election God’s going to take an active role in? So he just kind of Sat out the last couple? Perhaps he was sleeping, or on vacation.

I’m sure glad that God could pitch in this go round.


161 posted on 03/03/2016 12:03:34 PM PST by LurkLongley (Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam-For the Greater Glory of God)
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To: LouD

162 posted on 03/03/2016 12:14:31 PM PST by AAABEST (Got Traditional Catholicism? - Angelqueen.org)
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To: LouD

I’m not OK with the backstabber Rubio. It took him about 10 seconds in DC to do a 180 on illegal immigration and push amnesty. Fortunately Trump will win the nomination and then we’ll see what’s what and who’s who.


163 posted on 03/03/2016 1:05:54 PM PST by Hugin (Conservatism without Nationalism is a fraud.)
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To: Hugin

Trump supports “touchback” amnesty.


164 posted on 03/03/2016 1:23:23 PM PST by LouD
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To: LouD

No he doesn’t. All he said was some of the “really good ones” could get in line to come back after they go home. He didn’t promise any special treatment.


165 posted on 03/03/2016 1:25:28 PM PST by Hugin (Conservatism without Nationalism is a fraud.)
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To: LouD
I also got suspended recently, for the 1st time in 17 years, but I deserved it. I got sloppy in a post. I'm glad you're still here. This too shall pass.

Proverbs 25:19
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

166 posted on 03/03/2016 1:32:56 PM PST by Theophilus (Always vote. Always vote your conscience. God wins every election.)
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To: LouD
Cruz and Rubio both have strengths, but Cruz has shown a strong commitment to the Constitution, and is a committed constitutional conservative - and I believe that is what is needed most right now.

Amen.

I was NeverRomney long before I was NeverTrump.

167 posted on 03/03/2016 1:49:28 PM PST by Theophilus (Always vote. Always vote your conscience. God wins every election.)
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To: gg188

Bttt!


168 posted on 03/03/2016 1:56:47 PM PST by monkeywrench (Deut. 27:17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark)
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To: LurkLongley

Yes, I think God is directly involved in this election, that is why it’s the best election year ever!!


169 posted on 03/03/2016 4:47:54 PM PST by bigtoona (Lose on amnesty, socialism cemented in place forever Trump is the only hope.)
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To: Hugin

Think if you look up what he and his son both said they would be

‘expedited’. Not get in line.

Take care.........pilgrim


170 posted on 03/07/2016 1:25:07 PM PST by pilgrim
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To: LouD

Bullcrap

Hate Trump threads posted by Cruziacs are all day long everyday posted by a half dozen folks

They’re obnoxious and outnumber obnoxious Trump folks by a wide margin


171 posted on 03/07/2016 1:27:21 PM PST by wardaddy (Ted Cruz endorser of Rubio is off my Christmas list......both beloved by donor class unlike Trump)
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To: wardaddy

Some of those claiming to be pro-Cruz might not be at all for him but simply want to create discord - perhaps Hillary’s or Romney’s people.


172 posted on 03/07/2016 1:33:47 PM PST by Dante3
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To: bigtoona

Trump has come at the right time thru divine providence.


173 posted on 03/07/2016 1:35:08 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: wardaddy
I agree. But how many of them are Cruz supporters? I have noticed a pattern. The same posters who trash Trump also have trashed Coulter, Palin and others who have taken a strong stand against amnesty. While they claim to support Cruz, they do not sound like conservatives.

Awful how they attacked Palin and Coulter was attacked not for any specific views but mainly with vicious name calling and slurs against her appearance.

174 posted on 03/07/2016 1:50:08 PM PST by Jane Austen (Marco Rubio, the White Obama)
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To: Jane Austen

Yes and they openly attack female posters ruthlessly and call Ann Coulter a whore

It’s turned me largely against Cruz

His sneakiness and preachy tone and the arrogance of his supporters


175 posted on 03/07/2016 2:19:41 PM PST by wardaddy (Ted Cruz endorser of Rubio is off my Christmas list......both beloved by donor class unlike Trump)
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To: Jane Austen

Like this

A Cruziac who pretends he’s ambivalent but posts a mistitled thread to dampen Trump support

This is how they roll

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3406206/posts


176 posted on 03/07/2016 2:22:09 PM PST by wardaddy (Ted Cruz endorser of Rubio is off my Christmas list......both beloved by donor class unlike Trump)
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To: wardaddy
And don't forget those da#€ money begging emails 😜
177 posted on 03/07/2016 2:24:06 PM PST by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: wardaddy

Looks like they fixed title?


178 posted on 03/07/2016 2:27:58 PM PST by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: bigtoona
God handed us a lifeline in Trump.


179 posted on 03/07/2016 6:41:11 PM PST by EveningStar (It's a cult.)
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To: LouD
However, I believe that Rubio – at least until this weekend and his imitation of Trump’s high-school-level personal insults – has been the Republican with the best chance of defeating Hillary Clinton.


180 posted on 03/07/2016 6:48:49 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Stick a fork in America; she's done.)
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