NYT opinion columnist Charles Blow declares that 'Republicans are the threat to our democracy'

New York Times opinion columnist Charles Blow penned a piece titled, "Republicans Are America's Problem," in which he described the GOP as "a threat to our democracy."

"We must stop thinking it hyperbolic to say that the Republican Party itself is now a threat to our democracy. I understand the queasiness about labeling many of our fellow Americans in that way. I understand that it sounds extreme and overreaching," he wrote. "But how else are we to describe what we are seeing?" he questioned.

"Republicans are the threat to our democracy because their own preferred form of democracy — one that excludes and suppresses, giving Republicans a fighting chance of maintaining control — is in danger," he declared. "For modern Republicans, democracy only works — and is only worth it — when and if they win."

"Republicans have searched for multiple election cycles for the right vehicle and packaging for their white nationalism, religious nationalism, nativism, craven capitalism and sexism," Blow claimed. He said that Trump provided a path for the Republicans to "run headlong" toward "their bigotries, intolerances and oppression."

Former CIA director Michael Hayden recently declared that he agreed with a individual who described modern Republicans as "dangerous & contemptible." Hayden is a retired four-star general who also previously helmed the National Security Agency.

"I've covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close," Edward Luce of the Financial Times tweeted.

"I agree. And I was the CIA Director," Hayden replied.

In response to Hayden, Mary Katharine Ham tweeted, "SO STRANGE that people think intelligence community leaders might be extra-motivated to nail certain partisan actors and not always led strictly by the facts."