Former Ted Cruz campaign spokesman Ron Nehring posted a tweetstorm Monday begging Republicans not to leave the GOP over Donald Trump’s candidacy, but rather to work to save the party from within.
“Skilled, principled conservatives are especially needed in GOP now *more than ever,*” he posted, seemingly reluctant to refer to Trump by name. “Quitting concedes the party to that guy.”
The series of tweets captures the tensions within the Grand Old Party over its nomination of a bombastic outsider who has few conservative bonafides and has resisted months of efforts by party leaders to rein him in.
1. Republicans leaving the GOP because of Trump should reconsider. The world is run by those who show up. Being in the party is showing up.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
2. Leaving the party leaves it to whom? We need men and women of principle and ethics in the party. Not out of it. Out you have no say.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
3. What the GOP stands for long term hasn’t been pre-determined. Those are battles to come. And we need conservatives on the front line.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
4. GOP has a proud heritage. Not one to be abandoned because of one nominee in one election. GOP is bigger and more important than him.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
5. Every principled conservative MUST join or be in the GOP. And consider being part of local/state committee. Show up.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
6. America is a two party system. Conservatives belong in GOP, but we must make it bigger, more principled. Stronger.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
7. Being right in the sense of having the best ideas isn’t enough. Conservatives need to learn the skills to better mobilize and communicate
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
8. Skilled, principled conservatives are especially needed in GOP now *more than ever.* Quitting concedes the party to that guy.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
9. Conservatives have biggest influence locally. Join your LOCAL/state GOP committee. Grassroots. Get involved. Then flex your muscle.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
10. Grassroots leaving the party and going into the wilderness creates a vacuum for that guy to fill. Don’t let that happen.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
11. I’m a conservative first. GOP second. Yet I’d never leave GOP because of Trump. My 30 yrs of activism worth more than that. Yours too.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
12. I’ve volunteered in GOP for decades. I’m not turning my party over to that guy or any other nominee. GOP owned by those who show up.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
13. And what about the thousands of great state/local conservatives on the ballot this year? Abandon them? No. They deserve our support.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
14. The most annoying government out there is local govt. That’s where we need conservatives most. Abandon those offices b/c of Trump? No.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
15. Nominee controls GOP only to extent people let him. Ppl who trade on influence are 1st to do so, to curry favor. Look for benefits later
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
16. But Trump can’t even win over he influencer class. So, conservatives, join/stay in GOP. Get involved. Much more influence in than out.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
17. We cannot let a single office – fed/state/local – go to Dems because someone left GOP b/c of Trump. Too important.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
18. Why’d you let Dems take over your school board? “Because of Trump” is not a valid answer. All politics is local.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
19. Why’d you let unions take over city council? “Because I’m mad about Trump” is a poor answer. Help conservatives on the ballot.
— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 1, 2016
