This commentary is by David Delaney, an 18-year-old UVM student and a concerned citizen who lives in Burlington.
In any thriving democracy, every participating political party should have legitimate and sensible policy proposals, each party embraces certain values of civility, pluralism and free expression, and every party should be in touch with the people they seek to represent. This is no less true than in our individual American states.
Here in Vermont, I believe it’s important for our democracy and the health of our state to have a sensible, effective Republican Party, as we have had in the past. Republicans have led Vermont for much of our history with great success, and civil and sensible discourse between Republicans and Democrats in Vermont has been key to our state’s well-being.
It’s for that reason that I’ve followed the recent Vermont Republican Party contests with concern. I’m a Democrat and on the left, but the VTGOP’s long descent to base reactionary appeals and right-wing extremism concerns me deeply, and should concern us all.
VTDigger has recently reported multiple times on the Vermont Republican Party’s deliberations and elections for a new chairman. Former Chairwoman Deb Billado has led the VTGOP for the past four years. Her tenure was characterized by a combative right-wing, pro-Trump approach. She repeatedly praised President Trump’s performance in office, supported the actions of his administration, and refused to hold him personally accountable for the storming of the Capitol by his own supporters.
Her actions as chairwoman were extremely out of touch with the vast majority of Vermonters, and the state party has become more isolated and distant from the people during her time in office.
During that time, Vermonters repeatedly reelected a moderate Republican governor who embraced neither Trump’s Know Nothingism nor the divisive policies of the national Republican Party. Gov. Scott stood (literally) with Sen. Sanders and Sen. Leahy against the American Healthcare Act (the Obamacare repeal bill), he strongly opposed the draconian immigration policies of the Trump administration, and he led a muscular and remarkably effective response to Covid-19.
In doing so, Scott was in opposition to the views of the leadership of his own state party. And in the 2020 presidential election, President Trump performed very poorly in Vermont, not even receiving a third of the vote.
Vermonters spent the entirety of Billado’s tenure rejecting the attitudes of the state Republican Party. Now she is leaving her position.
With Billado’s departure, many (including me) hoped the Vermont Republican Party would return to its long tradition and proud history of competence and progress.
That tradition includes people like George Aiken, who as governor broke the monopoly power in Vermont and supported the New Deal, all while reducing the state debt. People like Governor Ernest Gibson Jr., who made great strides to modernize Vermont highways and our social welfare system. Robert Stafford, who in the U.S. Senate boldly advocated for land conservation, and Sen. Jim Jeffords, who made a principled stand against nuclear testing.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the VTGOP is at all interested in living up to that legacy. Paul Dame has been elected chairman and, even though he defeated a dangerous far-right conspiracy theorist in the intra-party contest, Dame himself is still on the party’s distant right wing.
This is demonstrated by not only his views on the issues, but also Chairman Dame’s first initiative, organizing a “Let’s go Brandon” rally against President Biden. An event that was characterized by outlandish fearmongering over a Communist takeover, misleading claims about money for a local food bank that never happened, and lies about the recent election.
Similarly, instead of discussing pressing local issues, Mr. Dame has chosen to “rally Vermont Republicans around national issues,” as reported in VTDigger — national issues on which a substantial majority of Vermonters support Sen. Sanders, Sen. Leahy, Rep. Welch and President Biden.
Mr. Dame, it appears, has already decided to put a radical agenda and tired Trumpist talking points ahead of Vermont common sense. Unfortunately, it seems the Vermont Republican Party has opted for another few years of rejecting the productive politics of their only statewide elected official, upholding corrosive right-wing policies, and remaining detached from the people of Vermont.
