Why many attacks on #NeverTrump conservatives are unfair and flawed

For the record, my personal brand of Never Trumpism has evolved over time: During the Republican nominating season, I wrote and spoke fiercely and tirelessly against the candidacy of Donald Trump. I would do so again without a moment’s hesitation. Once he attained the 1,237 delegates required to claim the GOP’s crown, however, I insisted that rules and fairness matter, and came out against ex post facto efforts to change the rules and block his nomination. I do not begrudge the many Republicans and conservatives who have decided that because Trump is now the only realistic alternative to a Hillary Clinton presidency — and the serious damage it would inflict — they will pull the lever for him, often despite grave reservations, in many cases. Those who actively aided and abetted Trump’s rise, and who used their conservative credibility to promulgate the fiction that he is something other than what he has clearly demonstrated himself to be over several decades of public life? That’s another discussion.

Given today’s state of play, I continue to criticize Trump, occasionally harshly, when it’s warranted. But I’m currently using much more of my time and energy leveraging my various platforms to point out the disqualifying flaws of the Democratic nominee. I also do not expend almost any of my efforts trying to dissuade people from voting for Trump. In many cases, I understand and respect the calculation they’ve made. I will, however, defend my choice to cast my one little vote as a firm “none of the above” statement. My partisanship has its limits. And I will also continue to push back hard against faulty accusations that all or most ‘Never Trump’ conservatives are driven by ulterior motives, or that our refusal to embrace this man means we are in favor of Hillary Clinton. If Trump loses in less than two months, I will fight against the inevitable cries that people like me are responsible for his failure — as opposed to the many, many factors that led me to discern that he is unelectable long ago. A Trump loss would rest squarely on the shoulders of the candidate, his campaign, and the people who thought it was a good idea to nominate him. I’d spend the ensuing four years adamantly opposing much of (::shudder::) President Clinton’s agenda, and praying for the health of conservative judges across the country.