Will Hurd be Heard?
OPINION: Only a few 'classic' Republicans are taking on Donald Trump directly. Will they be heard and believed by the blinded-to-the-truth MAGA crowd?
William Hurd (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Former Republican congressman Will Hurd from Texas was booed and jeered while leaving the stage after a short speech to Ohio Republicans at the Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines. He had just said this:
“Donald Trump is not running for president to make America great again. Donald Trump is not running for president to represent the people that voted for him in 2016 and 2020. Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison.”
Hurd had spoken the truth to the MAGA cult crowd. They didn’t want to hear it.
Who is Will Hurd, you might ask?
WIKIPEDIA: “William Ballard Hurd (born August 19, 1977) is an American politician and former CIA clandestine officer who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district from 2015 to 2021. … During his congressional tenure, Hurd became known for his expertise in technology and cybersecurity, as well as for his bipartisanship. From 2019 until 2021, Hurd was the only African-American Republican in the House of Representatives. On June 22, 2023, Hurd announced that he was seeking the Republican nomination for president of the United States in the 2024 election.”
There are only a few ‘normal’ or ‘classic’ Republicans taking on Donald Trump directly and telling the truth about him. They are Liz Cheney, Chris Sununu, Adam Kinzinger, Mitt Romney and three seeking the Republican 2024 presidential nomination - Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson and Will Hurd.
I remember being very impressed with the intellect and demeanor of Will Hurd when I watched him during congressional hearings. He is certainly a politician with a future. That is, if the Republican party survives its takeover by the forces subsumed by the power of Donald Trump.
Now, make no mistake. I disagree with and oppose almost every single policy proposed and promoted by the aforementioned Republicans. But, I have to respect their truth-telling in the face of tremendous political opposition by those in their damaged party who are loyal and subservient to a cult leader and afraid of his willfully ignorant followers, the MAGA ‘base.’
Nevertheless, it has to be Republicans who wake their fellow party members from their power stupor and return to common sense, seeking common ground, for the common good. We must return to some bipartisan understanding of governance and abandon the cynical, dishonest, power-hungry, hyper-partisanship that has crippled the progress of this nation.
If you’ll pardon the pun, the country needs politicians like Hurd to he heard.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming told graduates in a recent commencement speech this:
"My fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say the 2020 election was stolen, the attack of Jan. 6th wasn't a big deal, and Donald Trump wasn't dangerous. … I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership. … No party, no nation, no people can defend and perpetuate a constitutional republic if they accept leaders who have gone to war with the rule of law, with the democratic process, with the peaceful transfer of power, with the Constitution itself."
Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson was greeted by boos and chants of “Trump” when he walked onto the stage recently to speak at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida.
This week, Mitt Romney called for the Republican presidential field of contenders to quickly coalesce around an anti-Trump candidate:
“Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah.) called on Republican donors to urge noncompetitive GOP presidential candidates to drop out of the race by February so former President Trump cannot run against a crowded field. Opponents of Trump have consistently worried a crowded primary field could hand the contest to Trump, who has a big lead in GOP opinion polls.” - The Hill
Former Republican New Jersey governor Chris Christie says there is only one way to the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, and that is through Donald Trump. Christie knows Trump will cruise to victory in the Iowa caucuses. So, he is concentrating his fire power in the New Hampshire primary.
Chris Christie
I believe Trump will defeat Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Larry Elder, Ryan Binkley, Francis Suarez, Will Hurd, Doug Burgum, Perry Johnson and Asa Hutchinson in the Iowa caucuses.
But, when the primary contests get to New Hampshire and South Carolina, I think Trump could very well find strong opposition from Christie, Scott & DeSantis.
In any event, I am intrigued by the idea and possibility of a Republican presidential ticket of Chris Christie & Will Hurd.
Truth must be told and understood and believed. At stake is the very nature of truth itself. At risk is the continued existence of this democratic republic. At our door is an encroaching fascist autocracy.