A Republican asks: Aren't we morally obliged to stand up to Trump?

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As a minority who happens to be a Republican, I have a unique view as it pertains to the current state of political affairs in our country.

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As an African-American, like so many of my peers, I am concerned about police brutality, the lack of economic and educational opportunities for our urban cities, and the complete disregard for criminal justice reform. Hearing the nominee of my party ignore these harsh truths and opt for words like “law and order” sounds like a coded message from an era in our history that should stay in the past.

Now, in no way am I saying that we shouldn’t have rules or laws, but context is everything and the manner in which GOP nominee Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE portrays our inner cities is as if they are the ailments of American society and should be exterminated and swiftly removed.

He never mentions the many hardworking, good and honest people who are simply trying the best they can to achieve their share of the American dream.

But I guess that’s impossible to do when you don’t even bother to effectively target and outreach to diverse groups.

Instead of being offered solutions to the problems that not only plague the African-American and Hispanic communities, but Americans across the spectrum, we have to operate within the realms of the lowest forms of the human condition.

My party in particular has allowed itself to be taken over by someone who claims to be a Republican but doesn’t represent any of our values, principles or traditions.

We allowed that hostile takeover to happen on our watch.

This individual recognized a moment of great disparity in the Republican base and, like cancer, attacked and spread, consuming everything in his path.

I do not blame the 14 million Americans who supported Trump; they feel left out, forgotten and ignored. The level of disenfranchisement felt by this group as it relates to Republican leadership led to a level of anger and disillusionment that allowed them to follow a man who is antithetical to their core beliefs.

But we look to leaders for direction and guidance. With nowhere to turn, Trump supporters turned to a candidate different from the rest. For many of them, anything that is antithetical to Washington is good, even if it could turn out to be the worst thing for all of us.

Regardless, the moral fiber of the Republican Party and America as a whole is at stake. That is why I continue to speak up against Trump’s candidacy.

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Trump has taken us to a new moral low, where it is acceptable for a presidential candidate to mimic and mock someone with disabilities. Yet our religious leaders stand by and say nothing while defending their reasons for maintaining their support.

I don’t purport to be a perfect Christian; I’m far from it. But how can we be silent while the most vulnerable members of our society are under attack? I don’t think that is something Christ would approve of.

Yet we remain silent. Are we not morally obliged to stand up and speak out?

Republicans who have wives, daughters, granddaughters — or who are women themselves — have stood idly by, finding every plausible explanation to excuse and defend the reprehensible, inexcusable and indefensible sexist remarks and actions of a man who is unfit to be president and undeserving to represent the Republican Party.

So I ask again: Are we not morally obliged to stand up and speak out against such reprehensible acts?

We must all search the inner depths of our conscience and ask: Is this what we really want? Does this really represent conservative principles and ideas and, more importantly, does it represent the ideals of America?

Anyone who is objective in such self-reflection would reach the only conclusion that holds any level of truth — and that answer is “no.”

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but Republicans must do the right thing for America and the party. The brand and image of the Republican Party have been destroyed and we must take responsibility to rebuild our party on our solid principles. We must become rational conservatives who are concerned with reason, idealism and practicality.

That is the only way we can save the party and compete in a changing America that is becoming more diverse every year.

If we do the right thing, then we can truly “Make America Great.” But if we continue down this destructive path, it can only lead to one end and neither the party nor America benefits from that result.

Singleton is a Republican political consultant. He’s worked on the presidential campaigns of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, and most recently Ben Carson, serving as his coalitions adviser. Follow him on Twitter @Shermichael_.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.