Quitters and Losers Do Not Deserve Support

Sarah Palin

When Sarah Palin resigned her job as Alaska Governor, I lost respect for her. I’m very sorry; but I did. She offered no particular hardship. She ran for a four-year term, accepted it, but one day decided she no longer wanted the job and quit, with very little explanation, to do something else.  Okay, Fine.  But I call a person who does that a “quitter.”  Quitting a public office one campaigned for, elicited contributions for, and indeed swore an oath before God to execute, is not a trait I admire.  Now that does not mean I don't like Sarah Palin or that I don’t agree with her on certain other matters. But on that matter, plainly she violated the public trust and her highest oath. Her supporters and voters were entitled to expect that she would fulfill the term of the public office she sought, her promise to do so she necessarily implied by running.

Hunter Hill

Now we have both Hunter Hill running for Georgia Governor, and Geoff Duncan running for Lieutenant Governor, both of whom violated the same implied promises and same high oaths as Ms. Palin. Both Mr. Hill and Mr. Duncan put their personal ambitions to run for higher office ahead of their present obligations to fulfill elected offices they sought, and which the people entrusted them with their votes to serve. What makes a politician imagine that the voters should elect him for a second, even higher office, when he voluntarily deserted the first office to which he was elected? Asking that question around here may not make me very popular with their supporters. Still, what am I missing?

 And in the first case before us, last week former Georgia State Senator Hunter Hill's desertion of public responsibility allowed the opposing party to claim his seat, erasing the Republican super majority in the Senate.  Would a "true conservative" volunteer to hand his seat over to a liberal? Really?

Geoff Duncan

Furthermore, former Georgia House member Geoff Duncan’s desertion of office required the people of Forsyth County to pony funds for a special election in the 26th District.  Were there no higher uses for those funds?

By contrast, State Senator Michael Williams, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, all running for governor, have chosen to satisfy their obligations and remain executing their responsibilities as the voters should rightly expect, even though presently seeking higher office. There is nothing wrong with seeking more responsibility in government. But how can voters possibly approve that one who deserted his present elected responsibilities and powers should be handed additional responsibilities and powers?  Again, what am I missing?
 
Now I have friends online who say it’s just fine for these candidates to quit the offices and responsibilities they campaigned for, and importantly, for which they elicited campaign contributions from trusting supporters.  Those supporters gave them hard-earned money, and they accepted it.  If I give you money to run for office, you better not drop out of the race, and you better serve the full term of the office I helped you win, or I will not trust you again.
 
But I suppose that’s just me.  One online friend says, “That’s the good thing about America, we can all have our own opinions and still be friends.”  Yes, that’s true.  But somehow, I expect that my friend’s favorite candidate for governor is one of those who quit his responsibilities.  Now how would my friend feel if his favorite candidate elicited a sizable campaign contribution from him, only to quit the race after receiving the funds?  You see, there is no difference here.  When I cast my vote, I will not be voting for a known quitter.

On another front, an interesting set of events occurred last week during President Trump’s visit across the Pacific Ocean.  America and its president were welcomed with utmost respect by the representatives of the Pacific rim nations. The South Koreans hailed Trump as, “the leader of the world.” While in China, President Xi Jinping invited President Trump to dine inside the Forbidden City, the first such honor handed a foreign leader since modern China came into existence in 1949.  Whenever the American National Anthem was played, the peoples of the Pacific nations stood in reverence and respect for America and its president.  All that happened while here at home, during Veteran’s Day weekend no less, a local university’s cheerleaders “stood in unity,” but not for our flag; various NBA and NFL players knelt or stood in united disrespect for the same, and Colin Kaepernick won the GQ Citizen of the Year Award. American veterans who fought and died for us all, and America’s president received more respect in communist China than from those I cited and many others here at home.

Friends, there is something seriously wrong with this entire class of losers in our country who call themselves “Americans,” but who consciously and publicly disrespect everything America stands for.  I do not know if it is mental illness or what.  But their actions disrespecting our country and all that it stands for is disquieting.  Fortunately, those parties severely overestimate popular support for their public disrespect of the American Flag, and all it represents.  America is not pleased.  That is a good thing.