Top leaders who accept Trump owe us an explanation

It's a high-stakes story problem for top Iowa Republicans.

'If a presidential candidate is barreling toward the GOP nomination, carrying a cargo of dynamite, gasoline, gunpowder, plutonium and matches, do you jump on board?”

And, please, show your work.

Several elected GOP leaders have been asked in recent days whether they would support Donald Trump, should he become the Republican presidential nominee. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says yes. 'Once a nominee is named, I am going to be supportive of our Republican nominee,” she said, according to Radio Iowa.

'I think it's important to respect the will of the people,” said Gov. Terry Branstad, indicating he would support Trump, while pointing out the primary process isn't over. U.S. Rep. Steve King said he'd back the party's nominee, although he still wants his guy, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, to win.

Others are more cagey, such as U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Rep. David Young, each saying they'll evaluate the GOP nominee when there is a nominee. No surprise, unlike Ernst and Branstad, these guys are on a ballot this fall.

These all are very reasonable, conventional answers. Normally, this is what you say as a contentious primary winds toward a conclusion. Problem is, we're in the midst of a campaign where reason has fled to an undisclosed location and unhinged is the new conventional. Normal caught the last train for the coast.

So Republicans, heck, all of us, are going to need a far more complete explanation from leaders who are seriously entertaining the idea of backing Trump.

And it's not just pesky columnists asking.

'For several election cycles, where Republicans stood on Donald Trump will unquestionably be a major litmus test,” wrote Justin Arnold of Ankeny, an experienced GOP campaign hand, in a thoughtful Des Moines Register piece last week. 'In past elections the company line, ‘I will support the GOP nominee whoever it is' has been reasonable and safe. So much for that.”

Arnold, by the way, will not support Trump.

So why do some of our leaders think a President Trump would be OK? That's a big question. Is it his list of policy proposals, ranging from totally infeasible to unconstitutionally dangerous? Is it his view that NATO and other critical international alliances are obsolete? Is it his unique ability to insult and alienate women, Latino voters and other constituencies critical to GOP electoral success in the future? Perhaps it's his uncanny ability to shred our tradition of religious tolerance and respect for civil liberties? His disdain for trade deals you and other Iowa leaders argued, repeatedly, are vital for Iowa's economy? His vindictiveness? His incoherence? Sucker punches?

Will of the people? More than 75 percent of Iowa Republican caucusgoers didn't vote for Trump. 'The GOP would be crazy to aid in the hostile takeover of our party by a candidate who has never been able to espouse a single consistently conservative view,” an unnamed Iowa Republican told Politico.

Think hard. Because the questions will keep coming so long as that train keeps rolling toward Cleveland. Iowans will remember your answers.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com