Conservative politics over the past several years have been tough to swallow for moderate Republicans. As a Unitarian Universalist who appreciates the diversity of faith traditions in our great country, I believe the devolution of the Republican Party into a conservative Christian coalition does not bode well for its relevance in a country that becomes more diverse each year. The founding fathers knew the importance of separating the affairs of church and state. How we got to this point in history is multifaceted, and through it all, I remained a registered Republican, until recently.
I have never been highly involved in the Grand Old Party, and I generally vote for the person I consider most qualified for any particular office, rather than by political party. Years of gridlock caused by staunch party allegiance are a sad commentary on our times.
Over the past several months I have done a bit of soul searching. I didn’t want to leave, knowing that if moderate Republicans leave the GOP, there might not be a viable future for the party of Lincoln. Democracy requires an appreciation for a variety of opinions, working on issues from several perspectives, a give and take, compromising when needed, and at the end of the day, moving forward with respect for our diverse citizenry. Olympia Snowe’s decision several years ago to change the focus of her political involvement from being a member of the U.S. Senate to becoming an advocate for a more responsible search for truth and meaning in bipartisan politics was a wakeup call for many moderate Republicans. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have served as beacons of hope for me as they cross the aisles to do the good work that needs to be done.
What drove me to finally leave the GOP was the ignorance around the country in state Legislatures trying to turn the clock back on the rights of U.S. citizens who are members of the LGBT community. That hit me where I live. If you had been standing in line at the city clerk’s office in Bangor City Hall when I went in to change my party affiliation, you would have witnessed the sadness I was feeling. I did not celebrate the decision, but rather felt like I was throwing a shovel of dirt on the resting place of what had been the Grand Old Party. I know this sounds melodramatic. I am actually a tad surprised that the decision to leave has had such an impact on me. Ironically, many of my friends who I thought would immediately praise the decision had as their first response to the news, “Oh my, you were one of the few Republicans I respected! What do I do now?”
Just because I left behind the party affiliation I supported for over 40 years does not mean I will not vote for Republicans in the future. I will continue to support the people I feel are most qualified for the job, regardless of party affiliation. I hope the GOP will reverse course and evolve into a party that does value diversity under a big tent and maybe someday I can return to the party of Lincoln.
Sue McKay is a lifelong resident of greater Bangor and a graduate of Bangor High School and Bowdoin College. She resides in Bangor with her spouse, Patti.