Former GOP Rep. Jim Leach (Photo by Tim Schoon)

A group of former GOP congress critters, appalled at seeing their party fly off the rails and nominate Donald Trump for president, has issued a letter condemning the tiny-fisted fascist as “manifestly unqualified” for the office.

Donald Trump, “a man who makes a mockery” of conservative principles, is “manifestly unqualified” for the presidency, a group of former GOP members of Congress warned Thursday.

“Each of us has taken an oath of office that conferred upon us a solemn obligation to act in the best interests of the United States. As Republican members of Congress, we took pride in representing a political party that stood for honest and principled public leadership in which the American people could place their trust,” they wrote in a joint statement. “Sadly, our party’s nominee this year is a man who makes a mockery of the principles and values we have cherished and which we sought to represent in Congress.”

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The list of signatories includes: Steve Bartlett (R-Texas), Bob Bauman (R-Md.), Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), Jack Buechner (R-Mo.), Tom Campbell (R-Calif.), Bill Clinger (R-Pa.), Tom Coleman (R-Mo.), Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.), Harris Fawell (R-Ill.), Ed Foreman (R-Texas, N.M.), Amo Houghton Jr. (R-N.Y.). Sen. Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.), Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.), Steve Kuykendall (R-Calif.), Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Pete McCloskey (R-Calif.), Connie Morella (R-Md.), Mike Parker (R-Miss.), Tom Petri (R-Wis.), John Porter (R-Ill.), Claudine Schneider (R-R.I.), John “Joe” Schwarz (R-Mich.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Peter Smith (R-Vt.), Edward Weber (R-Ohio), Vin Weber (R-Minn.), G. William Whitehurst (R-Va.) and Dick Zimmer (R-N.J.)

Another quote from the letter: “This is no longer about our party; it’s now about America.”

I don’t mean to dismiss this; it’s important when Republicans take a stand like this. But notice, none of these politicians are in office any more, and none of them took a stand during the years and years in which their party openly courted the Tea Party and other extremists, and took advantage of Fox News propaganda and Rush Limbaugh hate speech.

So yes, sure, it’s good to see some members of the GOP speak out. But it’s a little late.