US politics’ post-shame era: how Republicans became the party of hate

Far from entering the midterms as the party of tolerance, diversity and sincerity, critics say, the Republican party has shown itself to be the opposite

Republicans were in trouble. Mitt Romney, their US presidential nominee, had been crushed by Barack Obama. The party commissioned an autopsy" report that proposed a radical rethink. If we want ethnic minority voters to support Republicans," it said, we have to engage them and show our sincerity."

Ten years after Romney's loss, Republicans are fighting their first election since the presidency of Donald Trump. But far from entering next month's midterms as the party of tolerance, diversity and sincerity, critics say, they have shown itself to be unapologetically the party of hate.