Interview with Evan McMullin, the center-right candidatehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/08/18/interview-with-evan-mcmullin-the-center-right-candidate/?utm_term=.342ba7cd6a04Donald Trump is an unstable, bigoted, big-government isolationist. Hillary Clinton is an ethically challenged advocate of a large welfare state. Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson is a small-government, free-market isolationist who wants to legalize drugs. So where is a center-right voter, someone looking for a candidate of sound character who believes in free markets but also strong U.S. leadership in the world, to go?
Evan McMullin, an independent Republican, says he’s their man. It’s important, he says, “for the sake of the country, but especially for Republicans,” to show they put the interests of the country first. His indictment of Trump is as devastating as any we have heard, in part because McMullin has served in the CIA and put himself in harm’s way in the war against Islamist terrorism. He has called Trump “inhuman” and has said that “by undermining our ideals, he weakens us on a much larger scale than even a terrorist organization that might carry out these horrendous attacks.” He has argued that Trump is “weak” and his campaign is “melting down.”
McMullin is pro-free trade and wants border security but derides the idea of deporting 11 million people. He favors keeping Guantanamo Bay prison open and supports the Republican House plan on tax reform. Like many younger conservatives, he is pro-life but thinks that it is “time to move on” when it comes to gay marriage.
In Trump’s recent decision to install Stephen Bannon, head of the alt-right Breitbart News outlet, as his campaign’s chief executive, McMullin sees affirmation of his concerns about Trump. “It means just like in the primary he is willing to divide us for his own interests, maybe his business interests along racial, ethnic and religious lines.” He acknowledges the tactic works in the short run but argues that it’s not a winning formula. “It makes us weaker, not stronger.”
In a campaign with two cynical pols, McMullin is refreshingly enthusiastic and genuine, a word used by politicians who aren’t. “I’m very, very passionate. I love this country. I’ve put my life on the for this country.” He certainly is giving voice to those #NeverTrump Republicans who stand slack-jawed as they observe their party being corrupted by a charlatan, bigot and ignoramus.
