Writing in Politico, Gonzales said, "I can’t sit quietly as Donald Trump — perhaps the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation — eyes a return to the White House." He says that while we have safeguards to act as guardrails on presidential power, that it is the president’s integrity, honesty and respect for our institutions that may be the most important and reliable check on abuses of power.
He had this to say about January 6th:
Perhaps the most revealing example relates to Trump’s conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, when he encouraged his followers to march to our nation’s capital in order to challenge the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Trump failed to do his duty and exercise his presidential power to protect members of Congress, law enforcement and the Capitol from the attacks that day. He failed to deploy executive branch personnel to save lives and property and preserve democracy. He just watched on television and chose not to do anything because that would have been contrary to his interests. Trump still describes that day as beautiful. And as for those subsequently convicted of committing crimes, he describes them as hostages. He also has promised to pardon the convicted rioters if elected. Why? Because they were acting in his interests.
I admire Mr. Gonzales taking this stand and making this endorsement. There have been many former associates of Trump and former cabinet members and influential conservatives who have been critical of Trump and said he is unfit for office. Some of them, inexplicably, say they will vote for Trump anyway. Most who have been openly critical are now saying nothing. A few have said they will not vote for Trump and stop there. Only a few have had the courage to endorse Harris.
It would be so easy for Gonzales to say nothing. He certainly has no friends of the left. He is reviled and hated by liberals. The easy route to take would be to say nothing. Even I, as a lowly blogger and politically vocal person in Nashville, have found it unpleasant to take a stand against Trump and endorse Harris. I am no longer part of the social circle to which I once belonged. Taking this position, will create enemies for Conzales and he will be ostracized. I don't know but I suspect this will come with some professional risk for Conzales. Why would he do this? Because it is the right thing to do.
This election is not about policy, but even if it were, Trump hardly trumps Harris on policy. On foreign policy, Trump is the candidate who wants to abandon our allies and abandon America's leadership role in the world. He is weak on support for NATO and refuses to even say he wants Ukraine to win its war against Russian aggression. In this election it is not the Democrats who favors a weak American foreign policy and sucking up to dictators; it is the Republican candidate.
I will concede Trump beats Harris on immigration, while pointing out that Trump scuttled a plan to solve the immigration issue. On economic policy where a Republican should clearly be the preferred choice, Trump has come up with perhaps the dumbest economic proposal of all time. That is to raise tariffs across the board by up to 20% and rely on tariffs as the primary means to fund the government. That is not conservative; it is nuts.
Even if I believed Trump was better on policy, when one candidate attempted a coup and one did not, I think one should support the candidate who did not. Survival of American democracy is more important than policy. Harris will be a typical liberal, but we will have another election in four years if she wins. With a Trump win, America may become a dictatorship.
Will Conzales's endorsement make a difference? Probably not. Only 77 percent of Americans between the age of 18 and 34 can name one senator from their home state (1). I would bet not 10% of adults could name Merrick Garland as the current Attorney General. I would be surprised is 1% of adults could tell you who Alberto Conzales is. I doubt many, even if they do know who he is, would be influenced by his endorsement. So, while I doubt this single endorsement will have a great impact, this along with other endorsements from prominent Republicans, along with the absence of former Republican presidents or Republican standard-bearers being on the campaign trail with Trump, will send a message that this is not a normal election. I believe that the cumulative impact of these Republican endorsements of Harris and the absence of high-profile Republicans supporting Donald Trump, could shave off enough votes from Donald Trump to deny him a second term.
Alberto Gonzales was Attorney General from 2005 to 2007 serving under George W. Bush. His term was marked by controversy in the wake of the 9-ll attack on our nation and the resulting war on terror as he delt with issues of enhanced interrogation techniques and surveillance issues. Gonzales now lives in Nashville, where he is dean of Belmont University College of Law. I have had the privilege of hearing him speak a couple of times here in Nashville. He has a compelling life story of being raised as one of eight children in a small house without telephone or hot running water and where English was a second language. His story of overcoming adversity to reach pinnacle of success in his field is an inspiration. He continues to be an inspiration by this selfless and moral act of endorsing Kamala Harris.
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