GOP College Chairman Slams Tea Party, Resigns, And Joins The Democrats

[eridani]

https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/02/1311119/-College-GOP-Chairman-Slams-Republicans-Resigns-And-Joins-Democrats

The chairman of the MFCR (Mississippi Federation of College Republicans), Evan Alvarez, has opted not only to leave his position as College GOP Chairman this week, but he is joining the Republican party's arch enemy - the Democrats. In a publicly released letter, Alvarez outlines the reasons behind his decision:

I over the last 48 hours or so, I have been in deep thought about the future of MFCR and of the Republican Party. I have come to the conclusion that I no longer want to be the leader of the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans. I refuse to simply let people break the rules and think they don't have to answer for their actions, admit they were wrong, or even apologize. When I ran for Chairman in the spring, I ran to be Chairman of the Mississippi Federation of College REPUBLICANS, not the Mississippi Federation of College "Tea Partiers". Also, I believe that the Republican Party has allowed these groups of extremist to have too much of a voice and because of that, the platform of the Republican Party has shifted too far to the right in my opinion. For example, the drastic cuts on needed federal funding that these groups of Republican extremists support would leave society weak and crippled.

Secondly, their far right stance on immigration is not only ignorant, but it is cruel. After all our country is a nation of immigrants and should welcome immigrants from every country. My father was an immigrant from Cuba and came to America in 1959 because of the freedom that this nation offers. This freedom should be available to each and every individual that wants to come work hard and pursue his or her goals in America.

Finally, I believe the Republican Party has not done enough to put a stop to the hatred and cruel words and actions of the far right extremist in the party. The Republican Party consistently says they are trying to appeal to minorities, but this will never happen when we allow members of party to say cruel and ignorant things about Women, African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities in our country. I simply cannot be apart of organization that have members who support these far right extremist views, much less be the Chairman of the organization. So in conclusion, I, Evan Alvarez, am hereby resigning my position as Chairman of the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans, as well as my membership at the Mississippi State Chapter of MFCR. This change is effective immediately!

[still_one]

1. It is actually a pretty courageous thing he is doing

[JNelson6563]

2. Rock on Mr. Evan Alvarez!

[Betty Karlson]

3. An all too common theme:

anyone with brains AND ethics is fleeing the GOP like rats flee a sinking ship. Brains without ethics = Cruz. Ethics without brains = misguided values voter, ready to be played for every vote and dime. But the combination doesn't fit in that GOP tent anymore.

The GOP is no longer conservative, it is purely and exclusively reactionary.

[Kalidurga]

4. That is astonishing

Most people that leave either party now are going to third party groups like Independents and greens. I went the other way, from Independent to Democrat. There are far too many conservatives in that group and they are loud and obnoxious. I ignored them for too many years. It's changing now they are becoming more liberal. I am not going back though.

[world wide wally]

5. Hey dude

Welcome

[pnwmom]

6. He did that more than a year ago. I wonder who he's supporting now?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/7/10/1313138/-College-GOP-chairman-Evan-Alvarez-explains-why-he-switched-to-the-Democratic-Party

Alvarez also gave a heartfelt interview to Lawrence O’Donnell. O'Donnell expressed surprise that Alvarez not only left the Republican Party, but instead of becoming an independent, immediately became a Democrat.
“I was taking some courses at Mississippi State University, Intro to Public Policy and Civil Liberties,” he said.”I really got to do research on the issues that matter to the nation and issues that matter to the people. And I got to look at it from my own perspective. Instead of just saying here is a platform from a Party I have allegiance to, I will actually make my own choice. When I decided to make my own opinion on those issues, they really did not line up with the GOP and they more so line up with the Democratic Party. It was more or less about me saying, doing research on the subjects and drawing my own opinion instead of just blatantly coming out and saying I have an opinion because somebody else does.”

The reality is that if more people did just that, they would not necessarily change parties. After all, a multi-party system is vibrant and allows for the exchange and massage of ideas. If more people used their minds as Alvarez did, more Americans would vote more in line with their economic interests.

[DFW]

7. That's what I was thinking, too

Kos posts a blast from the past, and suddenly people think it happened yesterday.

[billhicks76]

8. Principled.

Far too rare in either party's leadership.

[mdbl]

9. I hope his convictions have been holding him true to his words

It amazes me though that people don't seem to know the difference between becoming a politician to serve the public or becoming a politician to serve yourself. The choices are obvious yet they vote for the selfish morons.

[Scuba]

10. No thanks. I'd prefer he stay a Republican and try to pull his own party away from the edge ...

.... instead of pulling ours further right.

[madokie]

11. This is a person

who I can embrace.
Welcome to the party Evan. People like you are what makes us Democratic Party members proud.

I'd really like to see a Hispanic Woman in our Oval office, talk about heads exploding there would be many.

[Stuart G]

12. The following words are the truth.

"Finally, I believe the Republican Party has not done enough to put a stop to the hatred and cruel words and actions of the far right extremist in the party."

I wish all moderate or thinking Republicans would consider those words very carefully. Evan Alvarez is telling the absolute truth..
k and r.

[MattSh]

13. As more Republicans become Democrats...

the Democratic Party becomes more Republican.

Not so sure that's something one should be cheering. Hell, I'm positive that's not worth cheering.