Franklin Cody is a Bennington native, a student at the University of Vermont, and vice chairman of the Vermont Federation of College Republicans, an undergraduate organization with chapters at UVM, Middlebury College and Norwich University.
It’s pretty evident the Vermont Republican Party is in the middle of a raging civil war.
Petitions for Phil Scott to leave the Republican Party. The recent resignation of Kolby LaMarche, the former Burlington GOP chair. Calls from state representatives Scott Beck and Anne Donahue for Vermont GOP chair Deb Billado to resign.
The Vermont Republican Party is at an impasse, and for the future of the ideals of an affordable Vermont, retaining youth in Vermont, and promoting civility, it is paramount for moderate conservatives to prevail in this fight.
The party leadership’s support of the former president and deafening silence over false claims of a “stolen election” display how the party has prioritized its own selfish interests over the reality of the former president’s rhetoric and actions. Donald Trump incited the riots on Jan. 6 by telling the crowd, “We will never give up, we will never concede. It doesn’t happen. You don’t concede when there’s theft involved,” and “As you know, the media has constantly asserted the outrageous lie that there was no evidence of widespread fraud.”
Manipulative and deceitful statements like these are a threat to our democratic institutions. “And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” There is no place for provocative and violent language like this in political discourse. Donald Trump has been a clear example of failed leadership for the entire nation to witness over the past four years.
We are seeing the same issues emerge in the Vermont Republican Party. Deb Billado, Ronald Lawrence, Ellie Martin and other state leadership have consistently shown they are not in sync with the values of principled Vermont Republicans.
We need to address the bitter reality that the Vermont GOP, as an organization, is only damaging the reputation and viability of future conservative candidates because of its own selfish interests.
Vermont Republicans cannot stand for morally bankrupt leadership. Those who are silent on the future of the state party are complicit with the status quo of embracing the divisive populism that has grown unchecked for the past four years.
We need a party that leads by example and is rooted in integrity and principle.
We need a party that looks to engage younger generations of Republicans through civil and informed discourse, not divisive and hateful rhetoric.
We need a party that Vermonters trust have their best interests in mind.
If we as a party cannot meet these basic requirements, we must then need to fundamentally reconsider what it means to be a Vermont Republican.
The commitment to a small government cannot be the only unifying principle of the party. The Vermont Republican Party must distinguish itself as an empathetic and understanding party. This is a key distinction. The discrepancy between the party’s platform and the actions of its leadership have become quite apparent recently. The Vermont GOP has to live by the values of the party platform, not hide behind them or gloss over unacceptable rhetoric. The party leadership’s polarizing comments and their continued support for the former president are evidence of its tarnished integrity and willingness to put politicians before policy.
During this embroiling civil war it is imperative we ask ourselves: Why should we identify as Vermont Republicans if the organization continues to empower right-wing extremists?
I, like many other younger Vermonters, believe there is no room for divisive and polarizing rhetoric within our state governance. This same sentiment holds true when considering how to engage youth in the political process. The Vermont GOP will not win over the next generation of Vermont voters by supporting organizations like Turning Point USA, which party leaders are currently pushing to establish and equip in the state. Turning Point USA already has damaged relationships with local campuses, is rife with racism, engages in illegal campaign practices and is bent on advancing polarizing and divisive rhetoric.
There needs to be serious refocus on the issues that are important to the betterment of Vermont. The Vermont GOP cannot be a platform for the most radical and reactionary conservatives to further ostracize Vermonters from the ideals of small government, opportunity and freedom. If the status quo remains, the Vermont Republican Party will see an exodus of moderate voices and its candidates will struggle to acquire the trust of the next generation of voters.
