The GOP must publicly and unabashedly call out any racist tendencies within their midst. This need has always existed, but perhaps Republicans have become lazy in an effort to defend the president's long-held and currently stalled agenda against illegal immigration.

People know there is a need to secure the border and other ports of entry from the flow of those who seek to bypass our laws, hurt our citizens, or smuggle drugs or humans. This issue should transcend partisanship, no matter what political theater is on display. There will always be obvious points of contention, but the truth remains: Something must be done to bolster national security.

As politicians in Washington continue to battle over the government shutdown and funding for the president's plan for a border wall, there remains racist sentiment in some areas of the GOP. During the 2016 campaign, white nationalism worked its way through the base, and a portion of the Republican electorate adhered to it. The repugnant individuals who make up the small but poisonous alt-right clung to "Make America Great Again" in an effort to support their white supremacist and anti-immigrant leanings.

There is simply no place in conservatism for those who deem another to be less-than simply based on their ethnicity or country of origin. Unfortunately, we see examples of this continued racism around us.

On Thursday, the New York Times published an interview with Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, where he said the following: "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive? Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?” King has a history of racism, and this is no exception. In fact, it reaffirms what some have been saying for years about the politician. Even well-known conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who has defended King in the past, updated a previous post where he questioned media claims of racism against King.



Wow big kudos to @benshapiro for updating an article about @SteveKingIA and changing his mind with the new evidence that's come to light. This is really hard to do and I admire Ben for his honesty.https://t.co/1yov2156E8 — Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) January 10, 2019

Shapiro's about-face, while uncomfortable, was absolutely necessary. All those who call themselves conservatives should continually assess the language and actions of elected officials. Partisan politics should play no part in whether or not we'll call out reprehensible behavior. Thankfully, others joined with Shapiro in highlighting King's hatred. He has been publicly denounced by many.

On another level, the Tarrant County GOP in Texas dealt with racism within their local group. County party Vice-Chairman Shahid Shaft faced a vote for removal on Thursday night simply because of his faith. He's a doctor, an immigrant, and a Muslim, and a small number opposed him based on his religion alone. In the end, the majority voted in his favor, 149-49, but the final tally is still alarming. Republicans should prize religious liberty for everyone, even if another's faith differs sharply from one's own.

On a regular basis, the hypocritical Left targets Christians for their personal beliefs. We cannot join them in doing the same to others.



Darl Easton, chair of the Tarrant Co. party wrote in a statement, "this vote reaffirms the commitment by a majority of Tarrant Co. Republicans to our core values and compass."



The vote was 149-49, we're told. Precinct chairs overwhelmingly in favor of keeping Shafi. https://t.co/qbAgyUj485 — Alexandra Samuels (@AlexSamuelsx5) January 11, 2019

Overall, more individuals in the Republican Party lean away from this racially-motivated hatred than embrace it. But whether it is one loudmouth politician like Steve King, or 49 members of a county GOP, the number is still far too high. It is up to us to address each instance.

Yes, it's imperative that we tackle the many problems facing our nation at its borders. However, a desire to fix the issue of illegal immigration should never soften our reaction to obvious cases of racism on display right next to us. If Republicans wish to retake and maintain a crumbling moral high ground, we can't shy away from addressing these painful realities.

Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a senior contributor at RedState.com.