While it may appear the Republican party has become the party of Donald Trump, not all members of the GOP can be counted among the MAGA minions.
In Michigan, prominent Republican up and comer Tony Daunt resigned on April 26 from the GOP's state committee over that Trump devotion.
Daunt stated—in an email to 4th Congressional District Republican Committee chair Judy Rapanos obtained by The Detroit News—that party leaders were turning the 2022 election into a test of "who is most cravenly loyal" to former Republican President Trump.
Tony Daunt, a powerful figure in MI politics with close ties to the DeVos family, resigned from the GOP state committee, calling Mr. Trump \u201ca deranged narcissist.\u201d Major donors indicated they\u2019d direct their money elsewhere.https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/28/us/politics/trump-michigan-republican-party.html?referringSource=articleShare\u00a0\u2026— Bunny Dee (@Bunny Dee) 1651206474
Tony Daunt, a longtime Michigan Republican insider, has resigned from the GOP's state committee, saying party leaders had made the coming election a test of "who is most cravenly loyal" to Donald Trump.https://bit.ly/38smG92— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1651158002
Daunt served for five years as a member of the Michigan GOP's state committee, helping guide party decisions. But three days after the GOP convention in Grand Rapids, Daunt tendered his immediate resignation.
Calling Trump a deranged narcissist, Daunt claimed "feckless, cowardly party 'leaders' have made the election here in Michigan a test of who is the most cravenly loyal to Donald Trump and re-litigating the results of the 2020 cycle."
Trump lost to Joe Biden in Michigan in 2020. The state's Republicans have been split between those who acknowledged Trump’s loss and those who perpetuate Trump’s Big Lie.
Daunt wrote of Michigan GOP leadership:
"Incredibly, rather than distancing themselves from this undisciplined loser, far too many Republican 'leaders' have decided that encouraging his delusional lies—and, even worse—cynically appeasing him despite knowing they are lies, is the easiest path to ensuring their continued hold on power, general election consequences be damned."
He added:
"Rather than assembling the courage to do the right thing, at the right time, and guide the activist base towards the truth, they’ve repeatedly backed down and dissembled, hoping that just one more act of cowardice will be what does the trick."
Daunt concluded his criticism by stating:
"Whether it’s misguided true belief, cynical cowardice, or just plain old grift and avarice, it’s alosing strategy and I cannot serve on the governing boardof a party that’s too stupid to see that."
While many concurred with Daunt's assessment, some were disheartened to see another Republican who embraced the truth driven out of GOP leadership.
Applause to Tony Daunt, a GOP member of the Michigan Board of Election Canvassers, who blasted his fellow GOP zealots wanting to relitigate the 2020 Presidential Election. His resignation letter lays it out with sanity and clarity; something so many GOPers want to avoid.— Jack Coyle (@Jack Coyle) 1651111050
Unfortunately, all voices of reason within the GQP are being pushed out.
— Holly Kurzman 🌻💙💛 (@HollyKurzman) April 28, 2022
"I didn't leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me..." Is a line I hear every day from new supporters to our campaign. It's a party of delusion and lies, and it's a threat to our democracy. \n\nKudos to Tony Daunt for having the courage to do the right thing!https://twitter.com/JimmyEGreene/status/1519136844260253697\u00a0\u2026— Hillary Scholten (@Hillary Scholten) 1651026527
Always sad to see a Republican with morals choose to walk away, rather than participate in the game so many others are willing to play.
— Politerati Nation (@PolitNation) April 28, 2022
Tell \u2018em. It\u2019s my hope that everyone reads the words of Tony Daunt - a man inside the #GOP that is speaking the truth directly to members of the party that need to hear it:pic.twitter.com/U1lyCsaCHS— Tweetmaster General (@Tweetmaster General) 1651094593
It is unfortunate, yet it's nice to see someone in the GOP with a spine!— Ken. \ud83d\udc89x4 \ud83d\ude37x2 \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Ken. \ud83d\udc89x4 \ud83d\ude37x2 \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1651161703
Tony Daunt\u2019s letter of resignation saying he can\u2019t serve on a board that\u2019s too stupid to see craven loyalty to Trump is a losing strategy made my whole day. #GOPLosers— Bird in Texas \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a (@Bird in Texas \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a) 1651110087
I give him credit for having some standards, but if all the ones with decent standards leave, then only the full trogs are left behind. This is what they want. There has to be a balance
— 🇺🇦 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐢 🌻 (@talons918) April 28, 2022
I applaud Tony Daunt, the young man in Michigan who certified the election votes for Biden and the state of Michigan's result... he resigned today calling the GOP in Michigan too stupid because they are apeasing Donald Trump to this day.— Chip (@Chip) 1651110120
It’s too bad when the rational ones leave.
— MtnGrl 🏡 (@MtnGrl4) April 28, 2022
Bravo, Mr. Daunt. \nIt took you a long time to reach the same conclusion my now 97 y/o Dad did back in 2016 when tRump was nominated. \nDad left the GOP in disgust & has voted Democrat ever since. \nHe donates monthly to @PPFA, @fairfightaction, @ACLU & other rights orgs, too.https://twitter.com/ChrisRGibbs/status/1519236650685059072\u00a0\u2026— Anne C \ud83d\udc95 Love is Love \ud83d\udc95 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Anne C \ud83d\udc95 Love is Love \ud83d\udc95 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1651121824
Daunt joins a growing list of Republican party faithful fed up with GOP fealty to Donald Trump.
You can read Daunt's full resignation letter here:
@thepassingtramp/X
@BryceWayne10s/X
@PressSec/X
