Harvard Republican Club

For the first time since 1888, the Harvard Republican Club has not endorsed the Republican nominee for President of the United States. Go figure (photo credit: Chensiyuan).

Studies have shown that colleges across America tend, overwhelmingly, to be liberal. Studies have also shown that the Ivy League colleges are among the most liberal of all. But each Ivy League colleges has Republican and Democrat clubs. At Harvard, as an example, they’ve got the Harvard College Democrats and the Harvard Republican Club. This should come as no surprise. What may also not come as a surprise is that for the first time since 1888 (yes, 1888!), the Harvard Republican Club will not be endorsing the Republican nominee for President of the United States. That’s right. The Harvard Republican Club does not support Donald Trump.

In an extremely compelling letter to members of the Harvard Republican Club as well as alumni, the club began, “In every presidential election since 1888, the members and Executive Board of the Harvard Republican Club have gathered to discuss, debate, and eventually endorse the standard-bearer of our party. But for the first time in 128 years, we, the oldest College Republicans chapter in the nation, will not be endorsing the Republican nominee. Donald Trump holds views that are antithetical to our values not only as Republicans, but as Americans. The rhetoric he espouses –from racist slander to misogynistic taunts– is not consistent with our conservative principles, and his repeated mocking of the disabled and belittling of the sacrifices made by prisoners of war, Gold Star families, and Purple Heart recipients is not only bad politics, but absurdly cruel.” The powerful letter can be read in its entirety in a piece by Valerie Strauss about the Harvard club shunning Trump in “The Washinginton Post.”

Does it come as a surprise that the Harvard Republican Club would break from tradition and refuse to endorse the Republican nominee for President of the United States? Or is this an expected development from the HRC (anybody notice what else those letters stand for…maybe Hillary Rodham Clinton!)? We’re curious to hear from our readers so post a Comment below and we’ll be sure to join in on the conversation.