The Latest: Several Republicans to speak at Democratic convention

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

The Latest: Several Republicans to speak at Biden convention

22 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Democratic National Convention (all times local):

11:40 a.m.

The first night of Democrats’ national convention features a lineup of several former Republican officials who are backing former Vice President Joe Biden over President Donald Trump.

Officials announced that former Ohio Gov. John Kasich will be making remarks, along with former New York Rep. Susan Molinari and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman.

Also slated for Monday night is Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard. Whitman was a senior member of Republican Mitt Romney’s presidential bids but backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Kasich was one of the last contenders in the 2016 GOP primary and has been a fierce critic of Trump.

Biden campaign co-chair and U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond says the inclusion of speakers from all political backgrounds reflects a theme of unity during national struggles including the coronavirus pandemic.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/d0a9f56e7d39614eb69a9a7ed46758e6

[Kingofalldems]

1. Susan Molinari--a blast from the past.

From Staten Island?

[musette_sf]

9. Yep.

Her dad was Beep for awhile at the tail end of his political career. I remember him from the NY State Assembly.

Susan was the keynote speaker at the RNC convention in 1996.

[SCantiGOP]

2. I'm glad to see all three in the stage

The more we can normalize repubs going over to vote for Biden, the better.

[gratuitous]

3. I think this is the proper response from Democrats

I hope the Republican guests are able to make a strong case for their political compatriots to vote for Biden.

[CentralMass]

4. I hope that this does not involve repug thoughts or policies polluting the platform.

[NurseJackie]

14. Stop.

[sheshe2]

36. We wouldn't want to seeing any booing of people like John Lewis (RIP) as we did in 2016.

This at the National Convention (not re-fighting the primaries).

We would not want to see any Repukes:

CentralMass

4. I hope that this does not involve repug thoughts or policies polluting the platform.

Thank the Goddess this one is a virtual Convention. The polluting that happened in the 2016 Convention was supposedly by Democrats.

[MineralMan]

5. Anyone who speaks against the re-election of Trump

is welcome, as far as I'm concerned. Is that not the goal we all have?

The more Republicans who vote for Biden/Harris, the better.

We need every possible vote to overcome Trump's election perfidy.

[DTomlinson]

22. Not a fan of Republican opportunists who have no base outside of rich donors and media bubbles.

So, no.

[MineralMan]

29. Are you involved with deciding who speaks at the DNC convention?

No? I didn't think so...neither am I.

[DTomlinson]

31. No, but that doesn't mean I can't criticize.

[MineralMan]

33. You can do whatever you wish, but you can't

dictate who will or will not appear at the convention. Nor can I. I'll leave that to the Biden campaign, I guess.

[JI7]

35. Kasich would not have won if that was his only support in Ohio

Biden can only win Ohio if he gets some people to vote for him that had also voted for kasich before.

[stillcool]

6. I have plenty to get myself in a dither about...

so I'm cool with it. I understand not wanting to hear from them, but that's why I have a mute button. You should see who was invited to Thanksgiving last year.

[CrispyQ]

7. It's easy to speak out against Trump, he's such an obvious pile of shit.

But will they speak out against the Majority Leader, who has stacked the courts & subverted a SCOTUS nomination of a democratically elected president? Will they speak out against Bill Barr, who is acting as the president's personal attorney? Will they speak out against some of the more odious members of the House, whose conduct is consistently unbecoming, like Jordan & Gohmert? Will they speak out about how horrified they are at what the repub party has become, a home for the zealots, misogynists, & racists? Or will they just speak out about Trump?

I understand the strategy, but putting a putrid anti-choice repub like Kasich on our national stage still stinks.

[Doremus]

10. Excellent point! Of course they won't disparage other figureheads in their party.

I suppose we're supposed to be grateful if they don't disparage our leaders when they take the platform that we're freely providing in the name of "unity." That's the role we've always assigned ourselves, the step aside, don't make waves, hope no one gets mad at us party.

In the meantime no one notices the people rushing for the exits. Maybe we could forestall them if we have an "All Progressive" night. Is there one scheduled? I saw Sanders on the agenda but not as a part of a list of progressive headliners. I know here at DU we hate Sanders but loves us some Kasich/Bloomberg et al for whatever ungodly reason.

[CentralMass]

11. Well just think what all that great compromise could get us..

[Doremus]

12. I'm reminded of a poster my mother had. "Come let us compromise and do things my way."

In this context it's not so funny.

[CrispyQ]

19. I'm open to anything that will help us beat trump, but a bipartisan opening night of our convention

is a little hard to take. Kasich is especially awful. Retch.

I too am sick of our side always being the one to extend a hand across the aisle. That only works when both sides play by the same rules & the other side has thrown the rule book in the trash while we go on like it's business as usual. Oh well. It's nice of us to provide Kasich with footage for his future ad announcing his run for the presidency in 2024.

[JI7]

20. We aren't voting for them.

[CrispyQ]

21. How's that second cup?

[JI7]

24. Don't know why you feel the need to support them

im fine taking their support without returning any.

[CrispyQ]

34. I don't know who you think I'm supporting, since I'm a lifelong dem.

But have a nice day! Reading is fun.

[JI7]

17. You don't think anti choice people should vote for Biden ?

[CrispyQ]

18. Wow, if that's what your take away is maybe you need more coffee.

[DTomlinson]

23. Of course not. They're opportunists abandoning a sinking ship (Trump).

[JI7]

26. Most of them never supported him

[LAS14]

8. I trust they won't use their time to push for small government and tax reductions..... nt

[CentralMass]

13. .Well after reading up a bit on Meg Whitman I do have to say why in the hell are either her or

Kasich speaking during the Democratic Nation Convention.
Whitman a republican worth $3.9 billion dollars. She didn't vote for 28 years, had supported some bad policies when she ran for governor etc.. worked for Romney's campaign in 2012 and the for Chris Christie's campaign in 2016. Had some questionable involvement with Goldman Sachs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_Whitman

[NurseJackie]

15. You've already lost this made-up battle.

I trust that Joe Biden and our party's leadership knows what they're doing. So should you.

[DTomlinson]

25. Why?

[NurseJackie]

27. Does that mean you don't trust Biden and our Democratic leadership?

Hmmm. Interesting.

[NurseJackie]

32. So, you're saying that you don't trust Biden? That's amazing.

[George II]

38. Speaking of earning!

[JI7]

16. Becsuse their message is that people should vote Biden even if they disagree with him

[George II]

37. But you haven't given a reason why either should NOT speak. On the other hand, here are....

....a couple of reasons why she SHOULD speak:

After Christie withdrew from the race and subsequently endorsed Donald Trump, Whitman criticized it as "an astonishing display of political opportunism" and called on other Christie donors to reject Trump, whom she compared to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

In August, Whitman endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, stating that to vote for Trump "out of party loyalty alone would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division". Acknowledging policy differences with Clinton, Whitman nonetheless praised her "temperament, global experience and commitment to America's bedrock national values". She called on all Republicans "to put country first before party" and added that she would support the campaign financially.

[shanti]

28. Meg Whitman, noooooooooo!

After her failed run here in CA for Governor, I'd hoped never to see her again. She was not well-liked.