By Bob Gatty
What does it take for a lifelong conservative—and a Marine Corps veteran—to walk away from the Republican Party?
In the latest episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, Retired Gunnery Sgt. Carl Able, founder of Crayon Box Politics and co-host of the Crayon Box Weekly podcast, shares the personal and political reckoning that led him to leave the GOP and register as a Democrat.
Carl didn’t make this decision lightly. Raised in a conservative household and shaped by decades of military service, he once believed the Republican Party reflected his values. But as the party moved further right, Carl began questioning whether it still stood for principles like human rights, dignity, and responsible governance.
In this conversation, Carl discusses:
- How political identity can become dangerously intertwined with personal identity
- Why today’s GOP no longer aligned with the values he lived by in uniform
- The skepticism he faced when entering Democratic spaces—and how that changed
- Why clarity, facts, and civic education matter more than partisan loyalty
- Why he would not have obeyed Hegseth’s order to leave no-one alive in that bombed out fishing boat.
Carl also shares the mission behind Crayon Box Politics, his effort to break down government and legislation in plain language, and his long-term goal of running for Congress in North Carolina’s 3rd District—focused on veterans, coastal communities, and local accountability.
This episode isn’t about switching teams.
It’s about choosing values over labels—and refusing to stay silent while extremism takes hold.
🎧 Listen now to Why a Marine Veteran Walked Away from the GOP
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome to Lean to the Left Podcast
00:09 Meet Carl Able: From Marine to Political Advocate
00:46 Carl’s Political Journey: From Republican to Democrat
01:52 Challenges and Realizations in Political Alignment
04:55 Reception in Democratic Circles
07:42 Key Issues: Human Rights and Healthcare
12:49 Military Service and Its Impact on Views
16:45 Controversial Orders and Military Ethics
20:35 Political Fractures and Future Aspirations
25:02 Crayon Box Politics: Mission and Vision
28:50 Carl’s Political Ambitions and Future Plans
31:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts