Letter: The GOP's shift

I will start by stating I am a lifelong Democrat brought up in the tradition of the Democratic Farm Labor party in rural Minnesota. I have crossed party lines occasionally in the past, but not since the more far-right faction of the Republican Party has become dominant.

I was very interested in the comments of Collin Corbett and Jim Edgar (the last Republican I voted for). Corbett commented that the party lacked quality candidates, and Edgar said that "we need candidates, particularly at the top, who are not going to hurt the rest of the ticket."

I would suggest that the party had exactly that type of candidate and basically booted him out in favor of supporting the Trump (in name only) Republicans. Adam Kinzinger is a bright, personable and conservative individual who had the moral courage to vote to impeach the former president. For this, he was censured by the LaSalle County Republican Central Committee, and when he also chose to serve on the Jan. 6 investigation committee, he was once again censured by the Republican National Committee.

These acts by the Republican Party make it very difficult to believe they aren't in lock step with the spineless individuals who are so afraid of Donald Trump they could turn a blind eye to the threat he is to democracy.

The Democratic Party can be messy with infighting and differences about issues. But all these voices are heard. To my mind, much better than the acquiescence of the majority of the Republican leadership to the rants of a bully.

Jacqueline Eads

Elgin