I will not accept the normalization of cruel, racist, misogynistic and xenophobic statements that have been spewed by certain citizens, including [Donald Trump].

It’s disconcerting that the local GOP chair blames the “media echo chamber” and the public’s “delusion due to ignorance and malice” for the impression that D.T. is a racist and a white supremacist. Indeed, we all witnessed these reprehensible proclamations firsthand through the magic of television. Now with the initial selections of his cabinet and senior strategist (Bannon), we see that talk playing out in action. Let me be clear: This is not a normal election. This is no Reagan or Romney. This is a man who made a daily habit of stigmatizing Mexicans and Muslims and degrading women because either he believes his statements or perhaps worse, used the vile rhetoric simply to gain power.

This delusion Mr. Crosby suggests must run deep, as many of the world’s leaders in politics, business, sports and human rights have voiced concern. The office of the presidency goes well beyond a single individual or party politics. It is not an outrageous expectation that our president act with the integrity, dignity and principles becoming of the highest office in the land. This man continually made vulgar statements that are beneath the office. His past actions on so many fronts are stunningly reprehensible. And let me clear: I believe in democracy, which means sometimes your party wins elections and sometimes you lose. That is what democracy looks like. But this is not what a president looks like. I will not normalize the ideals promoted by this man that have devalued the civility of our democratic process. Let us not be blind (though it seems Crosby would suggest otherwise) to the fact that the very nature of our democracy is at risk.

MICHELLE SANDOVAL

Port Townsend