What happened this weekend in Nebraska is just the latest example of how Donald Trump’s hostile takeover of the GOP has poisoned good people – and it won’t be the last. Deb Fischer – through her nephew – was so intent on being a good soldier for Trump that she failed to stop her nephew’s hatchet job resolution against Ben Sasse – even though Sasse has literally never said an unkind word about her and praised her unfailingly all day.

Here’s where it gets ugly, though. To prove a point about the man they were defending, opponents of Trump put forth a resolution that was very simple, did not mention Trump by name, and did not even accuse Trump or anyone else of having made degrading remarks towards women. It did not even condemn any politician who had or might in the future make such remarks, it merely stated that the Nebraska GOP opposed the remarks themselves. The resolution read:

Be it resolved that the Nebraska Republican Party strongly opposes all degrading remarks toward women, minorities, and other individuals by Republican elected office holders or party officials, including candidates for President of the United States, because such rhetoric tarnishes the GOP’s legacy as the party of Lincoln, alienates millions of Americans, and jeopardizes Republican majorities in the Nebraska Legislature, the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate. 

Apparently, defending Trump at the Nebraska GOP convention meant that this resolution had to be defeated.

Now think about that. If any other candidate was at the top of the Republican ticket, this resolution would have passed unanimously. Who would possibly oppose the idea that degrading remarks towards women and minorities should be opposed?

However, because Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket, it’s patently obvious that he has, in fact, made degrading remarks towards women and minorities. Moreover, absolutely no one believes that he will be able to go an entire six month period without making more.

So in order to demonstrate loyalty to Trump, apparently you have to declare that you are not opposed to degrading remarks towards women and minorities.

This is your new GOP, with its new leader and its new loyal henchmen. And, I guess, henchwomen.