While Kamala Harris’ numerous endorsements have received some press coverage, little of the coverage has highlighted just how unusual some of those endorsements are. Of course, she’s been endorsed by current and former Democratic lawmakers and cabinet officials. Duh. What’s different this time around is the number of high-ranking Republican officials and former national security officials who have also endorsed her.
Over 100 former Republican members of congress and senior national security officials from the Reagan, H.W. Bush, W. Bush, and Trump administrations have formally endorsed Harris. In addition, Harris was endorsed by 741 former high-ranking national security officials — including 233 general & flag officers and 15 four-star generals. These people served under both Democratic and Republican administrations and, as a group, national security officials tend to be non-partisan. Their letter specifically called out Trump’s “demonstrated chaotic and unethical behavior” as president among their reasons to support Harris.
Here is just a partial list of people from Trump’s own party who have broken ranks to endorse Harris:
- Former GOP VP Dick Cheney
- Former GOP Sens. Jeff Flake & William Cohen
- Former GOP Reps. Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Charles Boustany, Barbara Comstock, Mickey Edwards, & Christopher Shays
- Former GOP MA Gov. William Weld
- Former GOP NJ Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
- Former GOP GA Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan
- Former GOP Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
- Former GOP U.N. Ambassador Ken Adelman
- Former GOP CIA & FBI Director William Webster
- Former GOP CIA Director Michael Hayden
- Former GOP FBI Director James Comey
- Former GOP Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte
- Former GOP Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
- Former GOP Secretary of Defense William Cohen
- Former GOP World Bank President Robert Zoellick
Well-respected, retired military brass have also been crystal clear about their concerns:
- Gen. John Kelly, former Chief of Staff under Trump, called him “a person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law.”
- Gen. Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump, called him “the most dangerous person to this country … A fascist to the core.”
- Gen. James Mattis, former Secretary of Defense under Trump, called him a threat to the Constitution and “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.”
- Gen. H. R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor under Trump, said that Trump’s “ego and love of self … drove him to abandon his oath to support and defend the Constitution.”
- Gen. Stanley McChrystal, leader of the Joint Special Operations Command, called Trump “immoral” and “dishonest.”
- Adm. Bill McRaven, leader of the bin Laden operation, said of Trump: “When presidential ego and self-preservation are more important than national security — then there is nothing left to stop the triumph of evil.”
There are also a ton of Republicans who can’t quite bring themselves to endorse a Democrat but who have nonetheless stated that they will not vote for Trump. Just a few of these are:
- Former GOP VP Mike Pence
- Current GOP Sens. Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Bill Cassidy, & Todd Young
- Former GOP Sens. Rob Portman, Nancy Kassebaum, Alan Simpson, John Sununu, & Pat Toomey
- Former GOP Speaker of the House John Boehner
- Former GOP Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
- Former GOP NJ Gov. Chris Christie
- Former GOP National Security Advisor (under Trump) John Bolton
- Former GOP Secretary of Defense (under Trump) Mark Esper
- Former GOP White House Special Counsel (under Trump) Ty Cobb
Even a number of former senior White House staffers who worked with Trump on a daily basis have endorsed Harris, including Stephanie Grisham, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Cassidy Hutchinson, Sarah Matthews, Olivia Troye, & Miles Taylor.
The above is simply unprecedented. Large numbers of senior Reagan Republicans, Bush Republicans, and former Trump Republicans are warning us of the clear and present danger posed by a possible return of Trump to the White House. Meanwhile, there is no movement of Carter, Clinton, Obama, or Biden Democrats campaigning against Harris.
While I wouldn’t expect anyone to vote based solely upon someone else’s vote, the massive swing of serious, career Republicans away from Trump should at least be considered. Similarly, the bipartisan voices of people who have devoted their lives to our national security deserve to be heard.
Just sayin’.