Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) announced in the Washington Post on Thursday that he is leaving the Republican Party because he is “disenchanted” and “frightened” by the increasingly partisan nature of party politics.
“The two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions,” Amash wrote, noting that even George Washington himself warmed against partisan politics.
Amash has been a vocal critic of President Trump and his policies and was the only Republican to call for his impeachment after the Mueller report was released.
He bemoaned a “mind-set among the political class that loyalty to party is more important than serving the American people or protecting our governing institutions.”
“Modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral,” Amash declared. He also claimed that Congress was now essentially a rubber stamp for executive branch and leadership initiatives. “Congress exists as little more than a formality to legitimize outcomes dictated by the president, the Speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader,” Amash said.
Trump’s Response
The president was quick to tweet his response to Amash’s defection.
Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is “quitting” the Party. No Collusion, No Obstruction! Knew he couldn’t get the nomination to run again in the Great State of Michigan. Already being challenged for his seat. A total loser!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2019
Amash had already left the conservative House Freedom Caucus in June, saying he didn’t want to be a distraction from the group’s work. The congressman said he originally ran as a Republican because he believed in limited government and other aspects of the party platform.
Concern over both parties’ obsession with “winning at all cost” drove him away from his party affiliation, he wrote.
Amash also cited greater shift away from partisanship within the electorate as a whole and among elected officials nationwide.
Independents in Congress typically caucus with one of the two major parties, since they wouldn’t have much of a coalition otherwise. It remains to be seen where Amash will ultimately choose to ally himself, but he probably wouldn’t have left the GOP if he planned to continue any such association going forward.
The congressman may soon find out the hard way that he garnered a lot more attention as the squeaky wheel in the Republican machine than he ever could as one of over 200 nearly identical Democrats.
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