Republicans seeking a political renewal

For a political party to have a rebirth, it has to die first. Some Republicans think their party has been dying of a deadly disease called Trumpism, although they don’t mention him in their manifesto. They declared recently, “We cannot stay quiet in face of rising political extremism.”

“A Call for American Renewal” is a new organization, the creation of 150 Republicans who have served or embraced the conservatism of the historic Republican Party. They include former governors, senators, representatives, cabinet officers, agency heads and journalists.

Michael Steele, the former head of the Republican National Committee is one of them. Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey, is another. Tom Ridge, a former governor of Pennsylvania and our first secretary of homeland security is another. Gov. Arne Carlson and Sen. David Durenberger of Minnesota are among the signatories. An Iowan, Jim Leach, too. Together the founders have several hundred years of service to the nation, their states and their Grand Old Party.

They identify themselves, in humble understatement as, “a group of national, state, and local leaders.” They certainly are that, but they are more. They are the heart and soul of the historic Republican Party that once was strong, but barely survives today. These are the real thing and they have had enough.

The first of their 11 items of concern is called simply, “Democracy.” It reads: “We seek the preservation and betterment of our democratic republic and the endurance of our self-government, free from interference and defended from all enemies, foreign and domestic. We support reforms that make our system more accessible, transparent, and competitive and oppose the disenfranchisement of voters, and reject populism and illiberalism, whether of the right or left.”

What are the consequences of having this group? Republicans who agree with them exist in the House and Senate, certainly not in the majority, probably not in the leadership, but the presence of even a few can make a difference.

A larger influence will likely come in politics and elections. They will work to replace the new ideologues with traditional Republicans. They are for renewing their party, not destroying it and they are against those who are. They will work for convention delegates who stand with them in honor and loyalty to the Constitution, not to one man.

Although they don’t speak of Donald Trump in their announcement, his recent statement about Liz Cheney, certainly not a member of their group, demonstrates why they seek renewal.

Trump declared, among other things she is a “bitter, horrible human being.” “She has no personality. having to do with politics or our country.” “She is a warmonger.” Her sin, of course, is that she had the courage to vote for impeachment.

The people who organized “A Call for American Renewal” aren’t likely to go away, certainly not quietly. They are determined to take back the party they love and have served, to renew its relevance to our democracy. Sensible Republicans should join them. Democrats should encourage them. Their success is vital to all of us.

Norman Sherman of Coralville has worked extensively in politics, including as Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s press secretary, and authored a memoir “From Nowhere to Somewhere.”