Joseph Sabino Mistick: A president for all Americans

As a sure sign that many Republicans have had enough of Donald Trump, over 200 staffers of former Republican presidential nominees announced their support for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris last week.

These are people who worked for President George H.W. Bush, President George W. Bush and Sens. John McCain and Mitt Romney. The former Republican staffers called upon their fellow “moderate Republicans and conservative independents” to join them in support of the Harris-Walz ticket.

“Of course, we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz.” But, they added, “That’s to be expected. The alternative, however, is simply untenable.”

Disgruntled Republicans or Democrats usually keep their own counsel when unhappy with the leaders or the policies of their party. These Republican former staffers said Project 2025 — a Heritage Foundation blueprint drafted by a number of former Trump administration officials in anticipation of a second Trump term — “will hurt real, everyday people and weaken our sacred institutions.”

More support for the Harris-Walz ticket came from retired four-star Gen. Larry Ellis, who was commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command. Ellis said Trump is “wholly and dangerously unfit for commander in chief. He praises and emboldens our enemies that seek to weaken our country. He has denigrated our brave men and women in uniform.”

As if on cue, when Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, he turned it into a political farce. He had been warned by Arlington officials that the cemetery is not the place for political stunts or photos.

But there was Trump — grinning at the graves of fallen Marines while giving the thumbs-up sign like he was at a golf outing. I have spent a lot of time at military graves, and I’ve never seen anything like that. Trump turned it into a campaign ad.

As Harris seeks to grow this support, she should build on her convention speech commitments, when she accepted the Democratic nomination “on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks. On behalf of Americans like the people I grew up with — people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another.”

Her speech reminded many people of the Democratic Party of earlier times, when its programs and policies were universal — designed to serve and protect all Americans. Social Security, Head Start and support for public education, Medicare and Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, workers’ rights, same-sex marriage and equal rights for women both in the economy and in their physicians’ offices are universal advances that have benefitted all American families.

Harris said, “We are charting a new way forward. Forward to a future with a strong and growing middle class because we know a strong middle class has always been critical to America’s success, and building that middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.

“And let me say, I know there are people of various political views watching tonight. And I want you to know, I promise to be a president for all Americans.”

If Harris can convince voters that she means it, that she can govern fairly with universal concern for all American families, she just might win this thing.