To the editor:

I am an American first and a Republican second! In the past I have voted for mostly Republican candidates with a few Democrats scattered throughout when their policies and agenda more closely fit with mine and those of my family.

When President Obama was elected, while I was disappointed, I resolved to support him as our president and “wait and see.” Unfortunately, he did not fulfill my hopes. Consequently, I was looking forward to the opportunity this year to help elect a Republican president and an individual who could unite our country and govern all of its people and not just those most likely to vote in a certain way.

Obviously that is not going to happen!

Mr. Trump’s huge ego and unbridled attacks on anyone who may disagree with him is not going to unite us and in fact will further split our great nation. Not that I think he will be elected because he has no chance due to his offensive personality and remarks. He will, however, throughout the upcoming campaign cause further division and strife here in the USA by his attacks and lack of respect and decency and that I am sad about.

The Republican Party through its primary system has created, or at least assisted in creating, this problem and somehow it needs to be fixed. I have no suggestion as to how to do that but there must be some way to get Mr. Trump to relinquish his candidacy.

Maybe not? Well then hopefully the Republican Party can facilitate his toning down the rhetoric and being respectful of others who may not be his biggest fans.

I am just an average citizen. I am 71 years old, own the business that I started, served my country in the U.S. Navy and have tried throughout my life to be tolerant of all people and respectful to most. I am Methodist and very committed to my faith but I do not condemn nor do I dislike people of other faiths.

The current state of this country is of great concern to me. I won’t be around to see the worst but my kids and grandkids will, and if the country continues down the same path of dissention and bitter disagreements within our governmental bodies, then their future will be bleak.

Hillary is no better in a different way. She is 100 percent focused on getting elected by whatever means necessary. She panders to any individual or group that she feels will further her cause. So a choice between an egomaniac and her self-centered agenda is no choice at all!

I know you must get thousands of emails and I also know that this one is impossible to respond to given the situation that the Republican Party finds itself in! I only have one request that I feel you can fulfill — please do a better job picking a candidate next time!

~ Jim Cole, Tryon, N.C. 

Editor’s note: The above letter was written to the Republican National Committee, and sent to the Bulletin for publication.