Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich had some strong words for his party on CNN’s “State of the Union” this past Sunday. Kasich claims the Republican Party needs to be “straightened out”, and the “nationalist wing” to be pushed back. There’s no mistaking who those comments were aimed at: Donald Trump.
President Trump rode a nationalist-population wave into office. During and after the election, Kasich has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration.
With his most recent comments, Kasich painted himself as struggling for “the soul of the Republican Party.”
Remember, 51.3% of voters in Ohio supported Trump to only 43.2% for Clinton. As such, many of Kasich’s home state voters may not take to his words so kindly. Kasich beat out Trump in Ohio during the Republican primary. However, the home-state politician didn’t do as well as you might think. Kasich secured just over 950,000 votes to Trump’s nearly 730,000 votes.
Kasich still enjoys the support of many Ohioans. A July Morning Consult poll showed that 57% of Ohio voters supported Kasich. All of the top ten most approved governors are Republican. Kasich, however, doesn’t crack that list.Kasich still enjoys the support of many Ohioans.
With his most recent comments, Kasich painted himself as struggling for “the soul of the Republican Party.” Kasich says that he has a “right to define it” and that he won’t support people who are “dividers.”
Kasich Has Been a Frequent Trump Critic
During the Presidential election, Kasich refused to endorse Trump. Kasich said that he “simply could not swallow hard and set aside everything I believed for the good of the party.” Of course, now Kasich seems to be arguing that Trump isn’t good for the Republican Party in the first place.
Kasich also blasted Hillary Clinton, arguing that she was “stuck in the 19th century.”
Since the election, Kasich has become an even more vocal critic. This past spring Kasich launched a book entitled “Two Paths: America Divided or United”. Many believe the “Two Paths” are Trump’s path versus Kasich’s path.Kasich claimed that an aide reached out to his staff to gauge whether the governor would consider being Trump’s Vice President. Kasich declined and has since stated that he could never work for Trump.
Kasich also blasted Hillary Clinton, arguing that she was “stuck in the 19th century,” and that her behavior wasn’t Presidential. Her campaign represented “slow, tired and worn-out approaches.”
Kasich Can’t Support GOP Candidate Moore in Alabama
Regarding Judge Roy Moore, Kasich said that “I couldn’t support that. I couldn’t vote for that.” The comments were made on CNN’s “State of the Union”. Moore recently won the GOP primary in the Alabama special Senate race, bucking the GOP establishment and even President Trump.
Moore argued that Keith Ellison should not be granted a seat in Congress because he is a Muslim.
Many believe that Moore is an incendiary individual, and some have accused him of being bigoted. Moore had previously argued that Keith Ellison should not be granted a seat in Congress because he is a Muslim. The Constitution forbids religious tests for public office. Moore also alleged that Obama was a Muslim.
During the Republican Primary in Alabama, most establishment Republicans supporter Luther Strange, a career politician. President Trump himself support Strange. Regardless, the voters were looking for a different type of politician.
Now, Kasich wants to wrest control of the Republican Party from the populist-nationalist wing. If he fails, Kasich may well leave the party altogether.
