Since the start of the pandemic that's killed over 600 thousand Americans, the Republican party has repeatedly embraced lies regarding its severity, its treatment, and the need for public safety guidelines to slow the spread.
Sadly, the party has only doubled down on those lies with the widespread availability of free vaccines, which have repeatedly proven to be safe and effective.
Right-wing media has encouraged conspiracy theories that the vaccines are magnetized or contain microchips for government tracking purposes. Republican party officials have lambasted the vaccines as the "mark of the beast." Conservative networks like Fox News repeatedly paint any effort to prompt vaccinations as federal overreach. Republican governors across a number of states have banned businesses from requiring vaccinations for customers, despite the centuries-long precedent of mandatory vaccinations that began with George Washington himself.
One Republican in New Hampshire is fed up.
State Representative William Marsh, a four-time incumbent, announced in a letter that he'd left the Republican party, writing:
"I have come to realize a majority of Republicans, both locally and in the NH House, hold values which no longer reflect traditional Republican values. And so I am recognizing the reality that today's Republican Party is no longer the party I first joined when campaigning for President Reagan many years ago."
The impetus for his decision was a rally held by the state's top Republicans against President Joe Biden's recently announced vaccine regulations. The rally was heckled by anti-vaccine protesters who accused the GOP of not doing enough to oppose vaccinations.
He continued:
"I cannot in good conscience support this selfish refusal to take reasonable precautions. So far, NH has done remarkably well with Covid by taking all reasonable precautions while carefully reopening our economy. I was proud to be part of the Governor's Economic Reopening Taskforce that made that happen. I cannot stand idly by while extremists reject the reasonable precautions of vaccinations and masks which made that happen."
More surprisingly, Marsh didn't switch to an Independent, but now considers himself a Democrat.
People commended Marsh for his decision.
Thank you so much! I totally agree with your decision and for having enough backbone do this. I sincerely hope others, in all states, follow suite— Margi (@Margi) 1631644530
All who stand against the insanity are welcome in the Coalition!— Blue Bee (@Blue Bee) 1631646761
proud of him— (((Tadeusz Mrozek))) UMBC '25 (@(((Tadeusz Mrozek))) UMBC '25) 1631651214
Hooray! a NH Republican using his position snd finally changing party under duress to save lives in our state. He should be thanked for his courage.— gaildona (@gaildona) 1631649883
Now, that's a patriot.\n\nThat takes courage and we need more Republicans to see the light.— William Eyelash (@William Eyelash) 1631642205
Come on in Bill, the water's fine. Welcome to the side that embraces science.— Hon. Wendy E.N Thomas (@Hon. Wendy E.N Thomas) 1631638511
Others skewered the continued disinformation against vaccines.
He\u2019s not wrong\n\nThe anti-mask/vaccine movement is a stand-in a cut-out for AUTHORITARIAN endorsed terror(ism) \n\nSee also \u201cpro-life\u201d movement & pizza-gate\n\nThe propaganda behind these movements is designed to create fear and engender a response to that fear \u2014 VIOLENCE— curt (\u29d6) (@curt (\u29d6)) 1631687269
It is devastating that the GOP has chosen to completely neglect science and public health, all to score cheap political points with an extremist base. We're proud to be the party that continues to stand for common sense.https://twitter.com/KlandriganUL/status/1437813220031488001\u00a0\u2026— Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (@Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee) 1631643102
'Anti-vax extremists' is the correct description.— HeadlessHorseman (@HeadlessHorseman) 1631641099
With a recent special election, this is the second seat gained by New Hampshire state Dems in less than a month.
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