By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Miles Bruner, a former Republican operative, announced his departure from the party and his job as a senior fundraising strategist, citing the GOP’s descent into an authoritarian personality cult. He spent over a decade rationalizing his work within the party, despite growing concerns, but ultimately left due to the erosion of democratic norms and the conservative movement’s stance on reproductive rights. Bruner hopes to shed light on the justifications people use to remain within the party and to inspire others to leave. He acknowledges his past complicity, emphasizing that his decision was not made lightly.
Read the original article here
My Last Day as an Accomplice of the Republican Party, and the long road that led there, began with a youthful idealism. I embraced American exceptionalism, fueled by the post-9/11 fervor, a belief strengthened by George W. Bush’s actions. Volunteering for a local Republican candidate in high school felt thrilling, a patriotic duty. Those early experiences, filled with yard signs and anthems of patriotism, solidified my identity within the party. I was part of something, a movement I believed in.
Then, disillusionment began to creep in. Initially, it stemmed from foreign policy decisions, the handling of the Iraq War. However, even before Trump’s rise, a toxic strain of populism was brewing within the GOP. It was a subtle shift at first, but it became impossible to ignore. This undercurrent, characterized by a disdain for expertise and a willingness to exploit fear, grew stronger over time. The groundwork was being laid for something more dangerous, a disregard for facts, and a cynical approach to political discourse.
I watched the transformation unfold. I observed the embrace of extreme ideologies, the subtle erosion of principles. I became more detached, compartmentalizing my doubts, and minimizing the problematic rhetoric. I rationalized my actions, telling myself that I could still affect positive change from within. I was, in essence, an accomplice, enabling the very things I knew, deep down, were wrong.
My beliefs evolved over time on several social issues, particularly regarding abortion. I once believed it was a black-and-white issue, but gradually, my perspective shifted. The complexities of individual circumstances became undeniable. The overturning of Roe v. Wade brought the consequences of my party’s actions into sharp relief. Yet, even that didn’t immediately prompt a break. I continued along, caught in the undertow of political inertia.
Then, personal tragedy struck. My wife and I, after trying for a year to start a family, faced the devastating loss of our unborn child. The experience shattered us. It was in that moment that I began to see the very real, and often life-threatening, consequences of the conservative movement’s policies. I couldn’t comprehend how there were states where women were going through the same agony without the safety net of legal medical care.
It was then I began to fully acknowledge the chasm between my personal values and the actions of the party. But this still did not bring me to take the final step. I erected mental walls, actively avoiding political news, compartmentalizing my outrage over the contempt the entire conservative movement had toward women and families. This was a direct result of my own actions, and the actions of the party I had supported for so long.
The events of January 6th, the violent storming of the Capitol, were a turning point. It exposed the rot at the core of the Republican Party. The reality, the violence, the intent, had been telegraphed for weeks. Even then, the fact that I was surprised by this day, is a telling indictment of my own willful blindness, of my desire to ignore the ugly truths that were staring me in the face.
The realization came slow, but it was relentless. The January 6th events were an important moment that exposed to the nation just how far the Republican Party had fallen. It was at this point that my own sense of complicity finally became unbearable. How could I continue to support a party that embraced such extremism? How could I remain silent while the very foundations of democracy were being threatened?
It was not a sudden decision, it was the culmination of years of doubt and gradual awakening, a dawning realization of the harm that had been done, and that I had helped perpetuate. My work with the party, my support, even my silence, had contributed to a political climate where extremism thrived. My conscience finally demanded I take a different path.
The road ahead is not easy. I recognize that many will be skeptical, even resentful. I understand the anger, the outrage. However, I believe we must seek out a path forward. The future depends on working together, even with those who, like me, once stood on the wrong side. Perhaps, if enough of us change our paths, we can rebuild a more decent, compassionate country.
I am aware that I cannot undo the past. But I can learn from it. I must work to dismantle the structures that allowed this political moment to happen. I am committed to supporting those working to repair the damage and actively supporting a better path forward. To those who feel betrayed, I understand. I hope that, in time, you will see my commitment to making things right.