William “Bill” Milliken was the Republican governor of Michigan from 1969 to 1983. I was too young to know much about him while growing up, but from everything I’ve read and heard about the man, he was a sane, rational, compassionate, intelligent and reasonable pragmatist who always put the best interests of the people of Michigan ahead of partisan ideology.
Bill Milliken was the epitome of a respectable, decent Republican from a bygone age.
A few days ago, Milliken formally endorsed Hillary Clinton for President of the United States, stating:
“This nation has long prided itself on its abiding commitments to tolerance, civility and equality. We face a critically important choice in this year's presidential election that will define whether we maintain our commitment to those ideals or embark on a path that has doomed other governments and nations throughout history,” Milliken said in a statement. “I am saddened and dismayed that the Republican Party this year has nominated a candidate who has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not embrace those ideals.
"Because I feel so strongly about our nation's future, I will be joining the growing list of former and present government officials in casting my vote for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016.”
You can guess where I’m going with this already.
Grand Traverse GOP denounces Governor Milliken
Grand Traverse County Republicans have voted to no longer recognize Gov. William Milliken as a Republican. Party delegates passed the resolution at a convention in Grand Traverse County on Thursday night.
Milliken, a longtime Traverse City resident who is the longest serving governor in Michigan history, announced that he was endorsing Democrat Hillary Clinton for president last week.
“It’s just the final straw,” says Jason Gillman, a county delegate and former Grand Traverse County Commissioner who wrote the resolution.
...“It’s time that Republicans start behaving like Republicans,” Gillman says. “It’s nothing personal against Bill Milliken himself. He’s an honorable man. He’s served his country. He’s served his state.”
Yup. He’s an honorable man, and there’s no longer any room for that sort of thing in today’s Republican Party, so he’s gotta go.