‘Trump Is Unbalanced’ – Former Reagan Spokesman Calls On Republicans To Vote For Hillary
Doug Elmets, a former White House spokesman during the Reagan administration, spoke at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, slamming Donald Trump and declaring his support for Hillary Clinton.
Elmets began his speech by telling the crowd that “unlike many of you, I’m a Republican,” adding that he cast his “first vote” for a Republican president “forty years ago… like I would do time and time again.”
He went on to tell the crowd that he knew Ronald Reagan, worked for him, and that Donald Trump is “no Ronald Reagan.”
“I’m here tonight to say: I knew Ronald Reagan; I worked for Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump, you are no Ronald Reagan.
“President Reagan famously said, “Tear down this wall.” Trump says, “Build the wall,” — because that will “Make America Great Again.”
“Reagan saw nuance. Trump sees the world as us vs. them, where somebody with brown skin or a foreign-sounding name is likely to blame for our troubles.
“Reagan knew that a leader needs diplomacy to steer a safe, prosperous course forward. Trump is a petulant, dangerously unbalanced reality star who will coddle tyrants and alienate allies.”
Noting that “Hillary holds many policy positions that differ from my own,” Elmets told the cheering crowd that “her qualifications are indisputable.”
“Hillary knows that our strength as a nation lies in uniting, not dividing,” he continued, adding: “This year’s Republican platform is the most alarming I’ve ever seen. It’s laced with anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-women positions that do not represent the views of most Americans.
“That is why this year, I will vote for a Democrat for the first time.”
He then called for his “fellow Republicans” to vote for Hillary Clinton.
“To my fellow Republicans: If you, like I do, believe loyalty to our country is more important than loyalty to party; if you want a President with a good judgment, a steady hand, and the temperament to represent our Nation to the world – and our children; I ask you to join me in voting for Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.”
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
“It’s an honor to be here; candidly, it’s also a shock. Not because of the momentous nature of this event, or the size of the crowd. It’s a shock because, unlike many of you, I’m a Republican.
“Forty years ago, I cast my first vote for president, voting Republican that day like I would do time and again.
“I haven’t just voted Republican, I worked in President Reagan’s White House. I recently led an effort to place a statue of Ronald Reagan in California’s Capitol.
“I’m here tonight to say: I knew Ronald Reagan; I worked for Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump, you are no Ronald Reagan.
“President Reagan famously said, “Tear down this wall.” Trump says, “Build the wall,” — because that will “Make America Great Again.”
“Reagan saw nuance. Trump sees the world as us vs. them, where somebody with brown skin or a foreign-sounding name is likely to blame for our troubles.
“Reagan knew that a leader needs diplomacy to steer a safe, prosperous course forward. Trump is a petulant, dangerously unbalanced reality star who will coddle tyrants and alienate allies.
“I shudder to think where he might lead our great nation. Fortunately, I don’t believe he’ll get that chance.
“While Hillary holds many policy positions that differ from my own, her qualifications are indisputable.
“Hillary knows that our strength as a nation lies in uniting, not dividing.
“This year’s Republican platform is the most alarming I’ve ever seen. It’s laced with anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-women positions that do not represent the views of most Americans.
“That is why this year, I will vote for a Democrat for the first time.
“To my fellow Republicans: If you, like I do, believe loyalty to our country is more important than loyalty to party; if you want a President with a good judgment, a steady hand, and the temperament to represent our Nation to the world – and our children; I ask you to join me in voting for Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.
Thank you.”
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