Nebraska State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Democrat, has decided to defect from his party and join Republicans in the fight for America’s future and identity. In a clip that has recently resurfaced and is making its way across social media, McDonnell reveals the reason for switching parties, providing details on what people like him can expect if they continue under the banner of today’s Democratic Party.
McDonnell opened his statement by providing some details about his past, his religious affiliation, and how his grandfather helped shape the trajectory of his life. “I thank you for coming today. In 1984, I decided to register as a Democrat. I was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. I was proud of that. I was pro-life,” McDonnell said.
He then details his experience in politics and how he was treated by the Democratic Party for sticking to many of his Catholic values. For instance, being pro-life and anti-abortion is part of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. One cannot be a Catholic in good standing with the Church while supporting abortion. In some cases, the Church might bar a person who supports abortion, especially when they are involved in politics, from taking Communion, which is essentially excommunication.
“In 2016, I decided to run for the legislature. I was a Christian, a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Pro-life. Pro-union. Pro-Second Amendment. I wanted to see how we could grow our state and reduce property taxes at the same time. All those things you are taught door-to-door, that you believe in as a process, we’ve gone through down here as senators,” McDonnell continued.
“I try to stick with those principles. That has not changed for me,” he added. McDonnell then shared how he was treated for holding those values while also serving as a Democrat. It was anything but pleasant. “I asked the Democratic Party of Douglas County to respect that I’m pro-life, that I’m a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and that my beliefs are based on that,” the now-Republican state senator said.
“But as county Democrats, instead of respecting it, they decided to punish it. They said, ‘you cannot participate. You can’t be a delegate. We’re not going to share our party resources.’ I continued to vote pro-life. State Democrats decided to censure me. I continued to vote pro-life. This is not an easy decision. After 40 years of being a registered Democrat, having your grandfather tell you when you’re 10 years old, ‘What are we? We’re Irish, we’re Catholic, and we’re Democrats,'” McDonnell said.
“That kind of stuck with me. We had many discussions after that. It’s never easy for someone to make this kind of decision, but what makes it easier is the people standing behind me over the last year. Regardless of my decision switching parties, they have been so supportive. Based on things that would be said in the media and on social media, they were supportive,” McDonnell told the crowd gathered to hear his speech.
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“We had great discussions about what the Republican Party is doing, where they’re trying to go. How I potentially fit in there. But the greatest thing about it is now I can participate again. When something is taken away from you, like potentially being able to attend a meeting, they say, ‘Well, we don’t want you here. We’re not going to share our resources with you. That hits you pretty hard,” the state senator said.
“But it also makes you appreciate something about our democracy, the idea of being able to participate. Today, I’m announcing I am now going to be a registered Republican in the state of Nebraska,” McDonnell concluded, receiving a loud and enthusiastic round of applause from the audience, showcasing the welcoming nature of the GOP.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video