Republican Mayor Endorses Kamala Harris With Ominous Warning: 'I Will Hold Fast to What Is Good'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Oct 25th, 2024, 5:23 pm


Oklahoma City’s Republican Mayor David Holt endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president this week in a scathing takedown of Donald Trump published in the Philadelphia Citizen.

Holt opened his op-ed with a quote from the bible, “‘Hold fast to what is good.’ — 1 Thessalonians 5:21.” He then went on to recall his long history in Republican politics, having first voted for George W. Bush and later working in his White House.

Holt goes on to argue that while he remains a Republican on policy he can’t support Trump based on character. “During this time period of my adult life that I am describing — across four presidential elections — I viewed policy as the differentiator between candidates. Issues like a strong national defense, limited and competent government, fiscal responsibility, personal freedom, and a free-market capitalist economy all weighed heavily on my vote. It is only in 2016, 2020 and 2024 that I have been forced to recognize that there are criteria inherently more important, criteria that I took for granted. These criteria could be thought of as the three Cs: CHARACTER, COMPETENCE and COMMITMENT to our form of government,” Holt wrote, adding:

The three Cs represent virtues, not policy positions. It is highly unlikely that the nominees of the two major political parties are going to hold the same policy positions, but it is entirely possible that they possess almost identical virtues. In fact, I realize now in retrospect that for the first four presidential elections of my adult life, I thought very little about these virtues. I simply took for granted that both leading candidates possessed them.

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/deep-red-city-mayor-endorses-kamala-harris-with-ominous-warning-i-will-hold-fast-to-what-is-good/

[BWdem4life]

1. Character, Competence, and Commitment to our form of government? GWB?

Character - dry drunk with daddy issues. Better than tRump but so is just about everyone else.
Competence - laughable. "We're fully prepared" before Katrina. Bin Laden determined to strike..
Commitment - "Don't tell me about the Constitution, it's just a goddamn piece of paper!"

[Zambero]

14. Sadly, it often requires multiple exposures for this concept to kick in

For some, looking back at the GWB mistake while obsertving the current aspiring dumpster fire rehash serve as a red flag warning NOT to repeat the same mistakes. It is unfortunate that so few in the GOP actually "get it". Still, it is encouraging to see individuals such the OKC mayor who are capable of going beyond mere policy considerations. The "three C's" is something to keep in mind when conversing with the few who are still on the fence. Absent those considerations, "policy" in and of itself is an empty suit.

[OldBaldy1701E]

2. The reason for a lot of our problems in our current society.

In fact, I realize now in retrospect that for the first four presidential elections of my adult life, I thought very little about these virtues. I simply took for granted that both leading candidates possessed them.

I cannot say it any better. The assumption that the rich and powerful must be decent is one that I still cannot fathom. I know people who will question their own relatives that they have known since birth, but will blindly follow anyone with a big bank account.

If we stop doing this, we might get a handle on our political system in this country. But...

[cstanleytech]

17. The growing number of those living in poverty proves that most of the rich and powerful are not decent human beings.

[OldBaldy1701E]

31. Yes.

Their desire to keep those in poverty from view at all costs is as well. Their d**k waving in homage to greed is yet more proof.

What is scary is that we have so many that swoon over said d**k waving as proof that those people are somehow 'better'. It is true that our society is set up so that those with wealth have it better... but, that does not make those cardboard cutouts 'better'.

[KatyaR]

3. What good does this do Oklahoma if it's published in Pennsylvania?

Last edited Sat Oct 26, 2024, 02:09 PM - Edit history (1)

It would have been nice for The Oklahoman to have published this, they seem to love the Mayor. But I guess they need to keep the Rs in this state happy.

(PS--I have completed the assignment.)

#BlueDot

Edit: My apologies, The Oklahoman did publish this opinion piece.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "What good does this do Oklahoma if it's published in Pennsylvania?"

Because for the first time since 1988 (6 Presidential elections) PA voted for a Republican for President in 2016 by a razor thin margin. Fortunately in 2020, Biden got it back by double the 2016 margin, but some continue to freak out in this state.

And some of us also note that when Obama was running, OK was notorious for being the ONLY state that had NOT ONE COUNTY that voted for him with a majority (even if tiny).

2008


2012

[4catsmom]

13. if he published that in Oklahoma

his career in politics is over, plus all the nut heads who would threaten him.

[Rebl2]

22. It still

might be over if they see his opinion.

[Elessar Zappa]

24. Why is his career over?

Oklahoma City is a blue city.

[Tweedy]

26. Nevertheless, Mayor Holt did publish it in Oklahoma.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/10/25/okc-mayor-david-holt-voting-virtue-character-committment-candidate/75843082007/

There has been no apparent damage to his political either.

I think the whole bash teachers, women, government, librarians schtick is simply getting old (and rather annoying) in Oklahoma.

Remember this was the year that saw Tulsa schools repeatedly shut down by bomb threats while the state Education head tried to force the public schools to waste 6 million of their precious education dollars on Trump bibles.

There are also a great many actual Good News Christians in that state. That must count for something against the golden calf that Mr. Trump represents.

[Ramsey Barner]

4. USA Today picked up the Mayor's article

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/10/25/okc-mayor-david-holt-voting-virtue-character-committment-candidate/75843082007/

[jayschool2013]

5. Help the Philadelphia Citizen

Click on the link for the original and complete op-ed.

The Philadelphia Citizen appears to be the type of journalism/media that DUers should support. Here's how they describe the publication: "Welcome to The Philadelphia Citizen, the only local nonprofit, nonpartisan media outlet that combines solutions-based journalism, calls to action and civic-minded events with the goal of bolstering democracy in the American city where it was born."

[Escurumbele]

7. Maybe I missed it but, where in the letter does he say he endorses Kamala Harris?

Can someone point out the paragraph please?

[BumRushDaShow]

8. I think it was pretty much implied with the Opinion Headline

A Republican Mayor’s Unexpected Presidential Vote

But also in what was written. The "expected" would be to support MAGA world's leader.

https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commentary-a-republican-mayors-unexpected-presidential-vote/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guest-commentary-a-republican-mayors-unexpected-presidential-vote

Doing a word search on Harris will completely miss the intent however.

The piece is done like a sermon where each paragraph begins with -

I took for granted that both leading candidates

He starts out claiming that during his voting life, he pretty much assumed "both sides" were the same (in a nutshell) and "took that for granted". But then almost every paragraph distinguishes the huge differences between the two this go-around.

For example -

I took for granted that both leading candidates would have no tolerance for political violence, extremism, conspiracy theories, racism, misogyny and bigotry. I took for granted that both leading candidates would not only keep their distance from such ideas and those who espoused them, but would actively denounce them if needed.

I took for granted that both leading candidates held a firm commitment to the U.S. Constitution. I could not have imagined a world where any leading candidate would have ever publicly called for the Constitution’s termination.

I took for granted that both leading candidates respected our military, would fulfill their role in our national defense and their obligation to guard confidential information they might have access to. I took for granted that both leading candidates valued our veterans and held most sacred our obligation to those who were captured or killed.

He didn't have to "name names".

(ETA - I looked him up and apparently he is a never-45er and a youngin' to boot - 45 years old and one of the rare "moderate" GOPers)

[Escurumbele]

18. I understand that, but it still lacks a solid statement statating his endorsement for Kamala Harris.

It is like everything nowadays, "It may", "could be", "seems to be", it is all cowardice, why can't he just say "and that is why I am endorsing Kamala Harris for President of the USA, the republicans candidate is unfit for the office." Just have some courage, don't leave anything for people to interpret.

His statements are so vague that it could go either way, he could be saying that trump has the character, that he meets the "three 'C's". where in his statement does he say anything about trump or Harris?

Sorry, but I don't see his endorsement, MAGAts think trump is honest, was a great president, etc., this guy may be thinking the same for what I know.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. When I looked this guy up

he is anti-45 and has apparently been since 2016. So it's obvious who he is talking about.

I also discovered that he is not only a lawyer but a current Dean of Oklahoma City University School of Law, so it's obvious he decided to get "literary" with that submission.

I expect that piece is being directed to the educated white Republican (including the suburban ones) to give them intellectualized reasons as a justification (GOP "code talk" ) for them to vote for the opposite party.

[Escurumbele]

19. THIS is an endorsement...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219610469

[Tweedy]

27. He does not.

It is much more like Mark Antony’s speech at Julius Caesar’s funeral.

There is absolutely no way to miss Mayor Holt’s point.

[COL Mustard]

9. In Oklahoma that's a gutsy move

I give him props for personal courage. I’m sure many of his constituents are not happy about it.

[Tweedy]

28. Bullies are going to bully

Until good people stand tall and say stop !

[UpInArms]

10. Here is a link to the full editorial

https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commentary-a-republican-mayors-unexpected-presidential-vote/

[Botany]

11. It is coming .... The Blue Wave

The mayor of very republican Waukesha, WI has come out for Harris, Susan Ford (Jerry’s Daughter) has come out for Harris Walz, and a 30 year + retired Congressman from S.W. Michigan has come out got
Harris/Walz too.

Surfs Up. Ride that blue wave.

[Simeon Salus]

12. One of Holt's proudest accomplishments was bringing Edmond's Shakespeare in the Park to the downtown stage.

This was before he was mayor. So he's not an idiot.

I heard him speak in a small group at the Skirvin just after his election. He's a Republican, but he's smooth enough to know any city needs a liberal-like advocate to get urban support. He talks the talk. OKC has wealthier surrounding communities like Moore, Mustang, Edmond and Norman which also trend purple-ish.

Make no mistake, OKC has a blighted economy because Oklahomans have been screwed so hard and so long they don't even realize it. Holt is part of that problem.

But Holt is far more grounded than most OK repubs. He was an aide at speaker Dennis Hastert's side on 9/11 so he's seen real stuff. And he's more worried about his own eventual re-election in 2026 than hanging his hat on cheesy antichrist.

[Simeon Salus]

25. Being OKC's mayor is not normally a stepping stone to great success.

Holt's predecessor Mick Cornett was weatherman on the city's fourth best newscast.

[FakeNoose]

15. I don't know anything about David Holt, but he sounds like a good mayor

He wants to do the right thing, but he's surrounded by MAGA-cult types in Oklahoma, a deep red state.

There are many Repukes (Iike Mayor Holt) who don't want Chump back in the White House, and they aren't going to vote for him. But they're afraid to say it out loud, or tell their close friends. They're not voting for Chump, that's the important thing.

Those Repukes aren't getting aren't getting counted in the pollsters' predictions, and they're the ones who will make the difference. It's not going to be a close election, at all.

I won't call it a landslide, but the win for Kamala and Tim will be decisive. There will be no question that America is choosing the Democratic leaders and rejecting the Repuke fools.

[Metro135]

16. "fiscal responsibility and personal freedom"

If you truly believe in fiscal responsibility and personal freedom you should change parties, pal.

[BootinUp]

20. One of these days, I would like someone from Oklahoma to explain

to a dumb Californian like me what makes it a special place.

[Simeon Salus]

23. As a senior at OU I was required to write an essay in William Savage's Oklahoma History

My essay was entitled: Oklahoma inhabitants were all dragged in kicking and screaming.

He gave me a B+

I felt pretty good about it. Doc Savage didn't grade on a curve.

[BootinUp]

29. Interesting, thanks.

[Simeon Salus]

30. Oklahoma has an inferiority complex and a long history of deep corruption

Ever since the dust bowl (both my mom and dad lived through that), and especially since "Grapes of Wrath" (which is about Okies, not Oklahoma).

Like many places in America, the freeways are often nicer than the places people actually live.

When you keep a lid on what people are allowed to hear and see for many years, folks are largely passive about the injustices done around them. People get used to endemic poverty and blame minorities for all the crime. Most of the crime happens at the white collar level and nobody ever gets caught.

Aubrey McClendon was the CEO of Chesapeake Energy, the leading "fracking for natural gas leasing" corporation in the US. They conducted a massive ponzi scheme of mineral rights leasing across the country. According to the sources in his wikipedia article, "On March 1, 2016, McClendon was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring ...to rig bids for the purchase of oil and natural gas leases in northwest Oklahoma."

On March 2, not wearing a seat belt McClendon apparently drove his Chevy Tahoe directly into a concrete abutment at 88 miles per hour.

"On June 8, 2016, the Oklahoma medical examiner officially ruled the crash which killed McClendon was an accident." Not a suicide, mind you. An accident.

That's what makes Oklahoma a special place. Rich people keep getting away with murder by killing other people. Scorsese just made a movie about the Osage murders last year. "Silkwood" is another movie where locals are poisoned by Kerr-McGee (the predecessors of Chesapeake). Of course, the Oklahoma state government has finally acknowledged the 1921 Tulsa Race riot, but not its own part in concealing it.

OKC is also home to Ackermann-McQueen, the ad agency who converted a gun safety club, the National Rifle Association, into a political sledgehammer for the gun manufacturers.