Rep. Adam Kinzinger is leading a movement in Congress to reclaim the Republican Party from Donald Trump. As such, he’s no longer welcome in the party and as of a month ago, he’s no longer welcome in his own family.
According to the New York Times, two days after the Illinois congressman called for Donald Trump to be removed from office after the Jan. 6 riot, his cousin sent him a handwritten two page letter signed by 11 other members of his family telling him that he has “embarrassed the Kinzinger family name!”
“Oh my, what a disappointment you are to us and to God!” they wrote. “We were once so proud of your accomplishments! Instead you go against your Christian principles and joined the “devil’s army” (Democrats and the fake news media).”
While conceding that Trump ‘is not perfect’, they tell the congressman, “neither are you or any of us for that matter!”
“It’s not for us to judge or be judged! But [Trump] is a Christian! If God can forgive and use King David in the Bible, he can do the same with President Trump.”
“When was the last time you proclaimed your faith Adam? (Oh we forgot your [sic] now with the “devil’s army”). You won’t convince us otherwise with your horrible, rude accusations of President Trump!”
“To embrace a party that believes in abortion and socialism is the ultimate sin,” they continued.
Not only did they say he lost their respect, they wrote that Kinzinger lost the respect of some prominent right wing figures including Fox News hosts.
“You should be very proud that you have lost the respect of Lou Dobbs, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Greg Kelly, etc., and most importantly in our book, Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh and us!,” they wrote.
“It is now most embarrassing to us that we are related to you,” they added. “You have embarrassed the Kinzinger family name!”
According to The Times, copies of the letter were sent to Republicans across Illinois, including other members of the state’s congressional delegation.
Kinzinger’s cousin even paid $7 to send it by certified mail to Kinzinger’s father — to make sure the congressman would see it, which he did, The Times reports.
Kinzinger is Donald Trump’s loudest and only critic among Republicans in Congress. Earlier this month, he launched the Country1st PAC to support anti-Trump Republicans and purge the GOP of Trump’s influence.
“What the Republican Party needs to be is optimistic party in the future,” Kinzinger said while announcing the PAC. “And we need to quit being the party that even an iota defends an insurrection, a dead police officer, and other dead Americans on the Capitol. There is no equivalency to that. And we have to run from that as fast as we can.”
I’m sorry you have to go through this with your family. But know that you – in my opinion – are doing the right thing. Hopefully, one day your family will understand the importance of what you are doing. And appreciate your integrity, honesty and courage. Thank you!
If you ask me, he’s better off.