Ohio House Republican, Calling Trump 'a Cancer,' Bows Out of 2022

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Calling former President Donald J. Trump “a cancer for the country,” Representative Anthony Gonzalez, Republican of Ohio, said in an interview on Thursday that he would not run for re-election in 2022, ceding his seat after just two terms in Congress rather than compete against a Trump-backed primary opponent.

Mr. Gonzalez is the first, but perhaps not the last, of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to retire rather than face ferocious primaries next year in a party still in thrall to the former president.

The congressman, who has two young children, emphasized that he was leaving in large part because of family considerations and the difficulties that come with living between two cities. But he made clear that the strain had only grown worse since his impeachment vote, after which he was deluged with threats and feared for the safety of his wife and children.

Mr. Gonzalez said that quality-of-life issues had been paramount in his decision. He recounted an “eye-opening” moment this year: when he and his family were greeted at the Cleveland airport by two uniformed police officers, part of extra security precautions taken after the impeachment vote.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/us/politics/anthony-gonzalez-ohio-trump.html

[ColinC]

1. If all ten retire, that'll be a sweet opening as it gives us an advantage in open seats

But i imagine we still may see a substantial number of Republicans retire -likely those with just enough sanity to not drink the death cult kool aid.

[brooklynite]

3. This isn't a competitve seat for us... (R+10)

Gonzales is worried about a Trumpist Primary challenger.

[ColinC]

5. Agreed, but it still might force the GOP to throw money into an otherwise safe seat.

"Might" being the operative word. That being said, the more open seats, the more the GOP will need to spread out their resources.

[brooklynite]

6. No different than our burning cash on Primaries by OUR REVOLUTION and JD.....

[ColinC]

12. Only Insomuch that these are general elections, I would argue it is different

[Ms. Toad]

8. Nope. This is my district.

There is a single Democrat running. He called Saturday. I was not impressed (aside from his fortitude in making tons of cold calls).
While I'm sure he's serious, this is one of the more gerrymandered districts around - specifically carved out to be a safe seat for Republicans. No point in throwing money into the seat. I'm sure that factored significantly into where they chose to primary incumbents.

[2Gingersnaps]

21. I heard even Mike DeWine thinks the new redistricting is unconstitutional........

not that that will make much difference. Mike DeWine has always been a "Christian Conservative," and he has been painted as a RINO for being one of the few Republican Governors who actually tried to mitigate the Covid pandemic. The R's have created a monster they can't put back in the box, these "true patriots" threatening their lives, and those of their wives and children.

On a lighter note, a childhood friend of my daughter from good ole Logan County (Gym Jordan's district), who has never been known not to have a cigarette in one hand and a Mountain Dew in the other, believes his parents were irresponsibly forced to get him vaccinated before attending school, Logan County now has one of the highest Covid rates in the State, but his body his choice. And she is a feminazi for even thinking he should be vaccinated for work. My other daughter's ex's fiance works in a long term care facility in that county and is unvaccinated, and just got over a really tough case of Covid, didn't have to be hospitalized-but is a healthcare worker who learned nothing. The Ex is outraged that my daughter thinks she should not be permitted to work with at risk elderly-but sure, the Governor is to blame.

[Wuddles440]

24. The new redistricting maps...

were only for the Ohio House and Senate. The U.S. House map remains pending, but expect it to be just as blatantly gerrymandered as those for the state. As usual the GQP knuckle-draggers, who rule Ohio with absolute impunity, ignored the will of the voters (on two occasions) demanding fair districts and proceeded to actually increase the disenfranchisement of citizens. They are obsessed with maintaining a stronghold on Ohio and never intended to engage in this process in good faith. The corruption in Ohio is rampant and expect much more such egregious behavior in the future.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Nope. This is my district.

There is a single Democrat running. He called Saturday. I was not impressed (aside from his fortitude in making tons of cold calls).
While I'm sure he's serious, this is one of the more gerrymandered districts around - specifically carved out to be a safe seat for Republicans. No point in throwing money into the seat. I'm sure that factored significantly into where they chose to primary incumbents.

[joetheman]

17. Ah, the run the thing. Don't "throw money" just put up a candidate and see what happens.

We need candidates on the ballot, debates and as much free air time as possible and enough money to produe severall thousand flyers distributed by volunteers. No uncontested races. We may be surprised.

[Ms. Toad]

18. Nope. Not in this district.

I'm not disagreeing with running candidates. But in this district there will be no surprise results.

[sakabatou]

2. And TFG's cult continues.

[DanieRains]

4. I'm Sure All The Death Threats Played Into His Decision

Animals.

[riversedge]

10. Many times I forget that these 10 Republicans who voted to impeach have and are under threat

to their lives from the dangerous #MAGA gang. I do not blame him for putting his family first.

[Botany]

7. Anthony Gonzalez is as tough and smart as they come. B.A. Ohio State, MBA Stanford ,4 year ...

Last edited Fri Sep 17, 2021, 04:32 AM - Edit history (1)

... starter @ Ohio State Football, and played in the NFL for about 3 or 4 years. (Injuries and smarts made him
retire from the NFL) I watched him play @ OSU and although I might disagree with him politically he is a good
guy.

[riversedge]

11. I believe him when he says he fears for his family. So sad that this is happening. And I do not

expect selfish Trump to step up and calm things down.

[Botany]

19. Trump has fired up his mouth breathing MAGA base about Mr. Gonzalez. I don't think he is worried...

about himself but he is worried about his family.



I dealt with some MAGA shits on election day 2020 and some of them are just nasty.

[2Gingersnaps]

22. Absolutely sucks that this is the type of Republican they run out of office.

While reveling in the likes of Taylor Greene, Gaetz, Jordan, Gosar, and Cawthorn.

[keithbvadu2]

13. "...Donald Trump's candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised

Rick Perry may have had a few moments of clarity and truth.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/conservatives-cave-to-the-cave-man/2016/05/16/314bbf6e-1b89-11e6-9c81-4be1c14fb8c8_story.html?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_p1most-partner-1

"...Donald Trump’s candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised and discarded.” - Rick Perry

[ancianita]

14. Trump's CPAC hit list.

Senate

Mitt Romney, UT
Ben Sasse, NE
Richard Burr, NC
Bill Cassidy, LA
Susan Collins, ME
Lisa Murkowski, AK
Pat Toomey, PA

House Representatives

Liz Cheney WY
Anthony Gonzalez, OH
Jaime Herrera-Butler, WA
John Katko, NY
Adam Kinzinger, IL

Peter Meijer, MI
Dan Newhouse, WA
Tom Rice, SC
Fred Upton, MI
David Valadao, CA

[Dopers_Greed]

16. Cool

Half of the Senate seats are in purple/blue states. Hope they like losing the seat after they win the primary.

Which, since they're Trump supporters, they must REALLY like losers.

[keithbvadu2]

15. Quite a few people have equated Trump as a cancer.

Quite a few people have equated Trump as a cancer.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=trump+is+a+cancer

[Sherman A1]

20. He is mistaken

Trump is a symptom of the cancer within the GOP, he is not the cancer itself.

[2Gingersnaps]

23. Yeah, when their first reaction is to kill anyone who disagrees with them

in a Constitutional Republic....it kind of makes a joke out of that "Don't tread on me" flag.

[Initech]

25. Did you see the RNC and CPAC this year? They were practically the TNC.

Trump National Committee - he and his wretched family have nearly infected all levels of the GOP. Save yourself before it's too late!

[cstanleytech]

26. The cancer is actually the Republican Party and Trump is

merely a symptom.

[Martin Eden]

27. We need sane R's to fight hard against the cancer

But fascist thugs with death threats are causing potential fighters to surrender.

[cstanleytech]

28. Pretty much anyone that remained Republican since Reagan is in essence a cancer cell so I would not

expect them to do anything to stop the spread.

[Martin Eden]

29. No difference between Anthony Gonzalez and Madison Cawthorn, for example?

One called Trump a cancer and decided not to seek re-election due to death threats, while the other is essentially calling for blood in support of Trump.

Matters of degree both quantitative and qualitative are to be found in most things, including politics.