Should Phil Scott leave GOP?

By Guy Page

He’s hearing it from the left and from the right: Phil Scott should leave the Vermont GOP.

It’s not an idea shared by the party leadership, nor indeed by most Republicans. But there have been public calls for him to leave the party he’s belonged to his whole political life. And the man elected senator, lieutenant governor, and governor as a Republican seems to be thinking about it.

A petition organized by Essex Republican Party Chair Ron Lawrence is seeking signatures “to ask the Governor to Leave the Republican Party.”

state of Vermont

Gov. Phil Scott

“We would love to have seen more leadership from our Governor to champion these themes of ‘smaller government and capitalism’; but, it seems like his leadership in these areas has been less than enthusiastic,” the petition says. “We also challenge the Governor to tell us just what he means by ‘continue with white supremacy’ and ‘racial inequity’. We suspect that there is no specific answer.”

Lawrence notes the VT GOP recently strengthened its party platform on racism. “Rather, we suspect that these outrageous comments from the Governor are his first steps toward leaving the party. We’re guessing that the Governor has his sights set on bigger things, and, Vermont doesn’t seem like it is in the mood to send a Republican to Washington,” the petition states.

Lawrence is not the first Republican to ask Scott to leave the party. He’s not even the first from Essex Junction. In late December, conservative pro-life, pro-police gun-rights activist and outspoken Scott critic Jim Sexton of Essex Junction sent a letter to each of the Vermont GOP county chairs asking them to remove Scott from the party. None of them complied or even provided a detailed response, Sexton said. So when Scott called for the ouster of the President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 riot, Sexton let his feelings be known on Facebook:

“So Scott goes on national news and tells the world about how evil Trump and all his supporters are. ‘He [Trump] must be removed now!’ screams Scott. Must be because of his failed leadership that caused so much hate and division in America, ‘eh Scott ? Kind of like what you have done by supporting the domestic terrorists in Vermont by allowing their name to be painted on our streets, their flag to be flown over our schools and monuments, and allowing them to hold Battery Park in Burlington to be occupied while they threatened police and citizens. Or does that matter? When are you going to resign?”

Scott’s call for Trump to be removed from office prompted Anne Galloway, editor/publisher of VTDigger, to ask him at a Jan. 15 press conference whether he would leave the GOP. He answered, in effect, it depends on the Republican Party: “Whether they will continue with what I perceive as white supremacy dominating, racial inequity, and so forth, then we’ll all have to make some decisions.”

At least one journalist/college professor, Art Edelstein of Calais, likened Scott to former Vermont Sen. James Jeffords, who declared as independent after winning election as a Republican. Noting that Scott was the first GOP governor to call for Trump’s resignation, Edelstein wrote in a Jan. 13 Times Argus letter to the editor, “It’s time for Scott to fully unblemish his reputation by leaving the Republican Party. He doesn’t have to join the Democratic or Progressive parties as that might be a bridge too far. He should declare himself an independent for now. Jim Jeffords left the Republicans in 2001 and became independent: He, too, was an honorable public servant.”

Read more of Guy Page’s reports. Vermont Daily is sponsored by True North Media.

Images courtesy of Vermont National Guard and state of Vermont

17 thoughts on “Should Phil Scott leave GOP?

  1. “Weld County residents propose leaving Colorado again, this time to join Wyoming”

    it would be nice if Windham county could leave and join New Hampshire…

  2. A political party that has as the basis of its philosophy smaller government, fiscal responsibility, and individual freedom and responsibility should be open to all those with similar beliefs. Individuals running for office have to compete in a primary where multiple candidates can contend for their party’s nomination and voters can choose who they feel best represent them. It should be noted that in the Republican primary last year, Phil Scott received around 70% of the vote. There has over the last 180 years been numerous heated contests between various factions of the Vermont Republican Party. This is nothing new. No need to kick anyone out.

  3. This Governor was mentioned on Tucker Carlson as one of the 18 Republican RINOs in the country, begging President Trump to let Muslims refugees come to VT, again, at taxpayer’s expense.

    • this is a conflict I’m sure he’s been anticipating.

      If the Governor wins, the VTGOP becomes a pawn of the New World Order.

      If the VTGOP defines themselves as a party that defends our constitution and liberties the people of Vermont and our Republic wins.

      It would be nice if this were resolved in a short time period, so the party could build. Those who have been given the responsibility of leadership have big choice on their agenda. Hopefully there is a plan, because we know the organizers have plans.

  4. Jeffords was honorable? As I recall he talked to the democrats and landed a plum position for jumping.

  5. Phil Scott left the Republican party long ago led by his puppet-master, drunk-driver Jason Gibbs.

  6. Unfortunate. Phil Scott is of the philosophy and in the camp of Senator Aiken, who served the Republican party very well for so many years. And (Aiken) was well respected in Washington through his tenure there (his position was declare victory in Viet Nam and leave….). Fiscal conservative and flexible on other issues. A moderator of issues that this State and Country so sorely need……… If he abandons ship to whatever party, I will continue to support him (as opposed to chameleon Jim Jeffords……..

  7. Should Phil Scott leave GOP?…… I thought he already had,
    I’ve learned my lesson, he’ll never get my vote again !!.

    Vermont GOP better get a grip on things, as we see the RINO’s we have in our
    party and after this years election, we’ll be looking to primary most out, if not then
    we’ll just let the Liberal Cancer kill the state !!

    Wake up, people Conservatives don’t have all the answers, but we know ” who ”
    caused all the problems for the state………Liberals.

  8. Sending a letter requesting County chairs to ask Scott to leave the party is a nonstarter. Seizing it as a litmus of loyalty quite a laugh. A bit different from “seeking signatures” format. But adds oxygen to the hair-on-fire critics strawmanning GOP while serving as shade for the Democrats.

    Chancellor Scott is essentially a globalist Manchurian who rose to dictatoral power using disturbingly dishonest tactics – IOW a fraud. Refuse to slam the GOP – it is demoralizing to our party officials as well as membership – was a loyal enthusiastic supporter until I wasn’t – turning on the party an eyeopener and also a pulse-check for the party as a whole.

    Its not the critique but the demonization including witchhunt mentality which highlights a disinterest in joining and working from within but provides a platform of propaganda for critics who will grasp at any piece of straw that blows their way as evidence to demonize all who do not conform to the whims of ppl who are not even members or supporters.

    If you’re gonna slam the GOP – at least make it substantive – railing got old quick. Or better yet – join the Dem party – after all what’s the difference – right?

  9. From the article, “..sent a letter to each of the Vermont GOP county chairs asking them to remove Scott from the party. None of them complied or even provided a detailed response,…….”

    So if you don’t have enough support from the country chairs to reign in people like Beck and Benning……what do you have?

    If the country chairs don’t give support you have a rino party not a republican party. The party is just like that in Washington….if there are 112,704 people who voted from former President Donald J. Trump, they only voted for Scott because the alternative was a declared socialist.

    I highly doubt any of the chairs will publicly state their vote here on True North Reports.

    Hopefully the Republican party can define itself as a true American, constitutional party protecting the liberties and pocket book of Vermonters. Better to be lean, adaptive party in line like the military seals than some bumbling group that has no focus.

    We need two American loving parties to run our state. The turmoil between do we want to be a colony of the New World Order or American gets nothing done except for fighting and destruction. You can’t have a family where Mom and Dad are at each others throat and have totally different ideas on how to have a family. So true with our state.

    This could be a great start to defining what the party stands for, hopefully it is supported from within.

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