Gregory Wilson -- Bush 41 Alum
Why GOP leaders backing Kamala Harris see Trump as an 'existential threat'
On Oct. 13, former President Donald Trump had a one-on-one interview with FOX News anchor Maria Bartiromo. She asked him a simple question about how he would "handle the bureaucrats" undermining a second potential Trump administration. Trump launched into a meandering answer about how his political opponents were the "enemy from within," more dangerous than either Russia or China to the national interests of the United States. He cited his political Congressional nemesis, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who led Trump's first impeachment proceedings in the U.S. House of Representatives, as an example.
But the disgraced Republican nominee was not just talking about Schiff. In his altered reality, he was declaring all his political opponents as part of the enemy from within. In doing so, he is ominously laying the groundwork for more political violence by his most extreme supporters when he loses the 2024 election, in my opinion. That is the real danger embedded in his answer, which was predicated on his many similar comments leading up to the Jan. 6th violence he inspired.
Three days later on Oct. 16, 100 Republicans for Harris and several thousand supporters converged at historic Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, to rally in support of Vice President Kamala Harris. The theme of the rally was "Country over Party," the core belief of our group.
Some of the 100 Republicans, like me, served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Others are former members of Congress, like former Rep. Jim Greenwood of Bucks County. Others were leaders from the presidential campaigns of Senators John McCain and Mitt Romney. Some even served in Trump's administration.
We are not the "enemy from within"
By our own free will and at our own expense, we traveled from around the country to demonstrate our opposition to a candidate who we believe is unhinged and unfit to serve. We believe that Trump is an existential threat to our freedoms, democracy, and national security. We are part of the broad political coalition that fully supports Vice President Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Though we are vocal political opponents of Trump, we are not the "enemy from within" as he wants his supporters to believe.
Harris, Trump and American fundamentals
Harris began her remarks by recognizing the courage of all those assembled to put country before party and support her candidacy. She reminded the crowd of the legitimate disagreements among our Founding Fathers as they drafted the Constitution, while ultimately agreeing on what is most important for any democracy:
The rule of law. Checks and balances. Free and fair elections. And the peaceful transfer of power, which Trump undermined on Jan. 6, 2021, when he encouraged the angry crowd to "fight like hell" and march to the U.S. Capitol to interrupt the counting of the electoral votes, thereby thwarting the peaceful transfer of power the Founding Fathers envisioned.
To this day, Trump and his hand-picked vice presidential candidate, Ohio's junior Senator JD Vance, perpetuate the big lie that Trump won that election, even though Trump recently conceded that he lost "by a whisker."
With good humor, Harris acknowledged that this is not a typical election. But she also noted that many of us, including me, had sworn the same oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
While we are no longer legally bound by that sacred oath, we still believe in it.
Vigilance needed
Unlike Trump, who wants to defy and suspend the Constitution, we support and will defend our Constitution.
The historic location and this important event were especially poignant for me as a student of history. One of my immigrant Quaker ancestors, Col. Timothy Matlack, commanded Philadelphia's 5th Regiment of Rifles and served with General George Washington during his critical Ten Crucial Days campaign, which led to American victories over the British at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. Washington's successful campaign allowed the American Revolution to continue and move forward after the winter of 1776-1777, when winning the fight for freedom, democracy, and independence was anything but certain.
Once again, we are called upon to defend our freedom and democracy. This election is the most important one since the elections of 1860 and 1864. As Republicans for Harris, we are exercising our Constitutional right and patriotic duty to vote for the Democratic presidential ticket. It is the best choice for our country to move forward as part of a broad coalition of fellow Americans who want a better life as well as saner and safer future for all of us, our children, and their children.
We are just some of Trump's many political opponents — including his former Vice President Mike Pence, other cabinet members, and leading military officers — who oppose him because of his extreme policies, his public desire for retribution against his political opponents, and what we see as his infatuation with dictators and fascism.
We, the people who freely choose to vote for Vice President Harris and Governor Walz this year, are not the enemy from within.
Gregory Wilson was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department for President George H.W. Bush.
The piece originally appeared in the Erie Times-News of Pennsylvania.