Deal with reality

I've been a Republican for my entire adult life (a long time). In recent years, I've been troubled by the extreme course the party has taken on a number of issues. From my perspective, the Republican Party of years gone by was the party of middle America. Democrats were "liberals" and Republicans were "conservatives." But since tea party Republicans have hijacked the party, Republicans have become extremists, to the overall detriment of the entire party. No other issue demonstrates this better than global warming.

How any intelligent person can deny the existence of global warming is literally unbelievable to me. If you don't believe in global warming, check the Internet to see how glacial ice is receding at an incredible rate all over the planet. I have seen it with my own eyes in Alaska and was stunned.

As a result of Republicans' denial of a fact that is inarguable, I have become something I detested: a single-issue voter. I will not vote for any person who refuses to acknowledge the reality of global warming. My hope is that other Republicans will step forward and force the party to deal with reality.

Joseph Larrinaga, St. Pete Beach