Letter: GOP voters should mind their own store

Back in 2008, readers of this page were subjected to letters from Beaufort County Republicans, printed like clockwork, warning us of the dire consequences of electing Hillary Clinton as president of the United States. Unclear to me at the time was who was being warned since I suspected local Democrats wouldn't heed the warnings of Republican letter writers and Republican voters weren't likely to be inclined to vote for any Democrat, least of all Hillary Clinton.

After all the Republican handwringing, Democrats saw fit to pass over Hillary Clinton in favor of a more interesting and inspiring candidate, Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, the unimaginative nomination of John McCain, and his overly imaginative but hopelessly inept running-mate, Sarah Palin, virtually assured an Obama victory.

Move ahead eight years, and again Republicans are obsessed with Hillary Clinton and Democrats themselves may once more put an end to her political ambitions.

My question for the local Republican establishment is wouldn't they do better attending to the chaos and trumpery roiling the Republican Party? Perhaps their influence would be better directed within their own party and toward their own upcoming primary. They desperately need to offer voters a competent candidate in November.

Republicans have been suffering for the past eight years because of the election and re-election of a moderate, slightly left of center Democrat. Imagine how their heads will explode should a true Democratic socialist get elected.

Harley G. Lofton III

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Letter: GOP voters should mind their own store."