On July 4, Amash Leaves GOP: ‘I’m Declaring My Independence’

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - MAY 28:  U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) holds a Town Hall Meeting on May 28, 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amash was the first Republican member of Congress to say that President Donald Trump engaged in impeachable conduct. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - MAY 28: U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) holds a Town Hall Meeting on May 28, 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amash was the first Republican member of Congress to say that President Donald Trump enga... GRAND RAPIDS, MI - MAY 28: U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) holds a Town Hall Meeting on May 28, 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Amash was the first Republican member of Congress to say that President Donald Trump engaged in impeachable conduct. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The ex-Republican lawmaker, Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI) used the Fourth of July to declare his own independence on Thursday.

In a Washington Post op-ed that scorned Democrats and Republicans alike, Amash lamented a broken two-party system and a Congress that exists “as little more than a formality to legitimize outcomes dictated by the president, the speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader.”

“We owe it to future generations to stand up for our constitutional republic so that Americans may continue to live free for centuries to come,” he said. “Preserving liberty means telling the Republican Party and the Democratic Party that we’ll no longer let them play their partisan game at our expense.”

President Trump, who hasn’t had much love for Amash since he joined Democrats in calls for impeachment, was thrilled by the development: “A total loser!”

After speaking out against Trump and the findings in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, Amash earned himself a Republican challenger.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. He got Trump’s “Seal of Disapproval”. Welcome to the club Justin. You’re in good company!

  2. Yeah, takes one to know one, Cheeto!

  3. Avatar for theod theod says:

    This reminds me of the old adage, The enemy of my enemy is a cranky, self-proclaimed Libertarian.

    Let’s note that Mr. Amash has been perfectly OK with the downward deviancies and depredations of the GOP since Saint Reagan and up to Cheney/Bush’s 8 Years of Misfeasance, Malfeasance, and Stupid War, plus Tea Party-led obstructionism during Obama’s terms. Did he denounce GOP-sanctioned Birtherism?

    It will be interesting to see who allies with him now, after he dumped on everybody, not just the Obstruction-of-Justice Party. Watch Rand Paul refuse to take his calls, for example.

  4. Is he running for reelection as an independent? I don’t think Amash is as vain and self-regarding as Jeff Flake, but he may have become just as irrelevant.

  5. He’s running.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

84 more replies

Participants

Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for sysprog Avatar for eggrollian Avatar for clemmers Avatar for theod Avatar for spunkmeyer Avatar for lastroth Avatar for pshah Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for susanintheoc Avatar for tiowally Avatar for khyber900 Avatar for lisaaug Avatar for not_so_fluffy Avatar for kelaine Avatar for maximus Avatar for pike_bishop Avatar for taylor Avatar for 19tibekius6 Avatar for outis Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for haddockbranzini

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: