Opinion | Four Star General Stanley McChrystal: Why Kamala Harris Has Won Me Over - The New York Times
By: Stanley McChrystal (nytimes)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Some deeply consequential decisions are starkly simple. That is how I view our upcoming presidential election. And that is why I have already cast my ballot for character — and voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.
As a citizen, veteran and voter, I was not comfortable with many of the policy recommendations that Democrats offered at their convention in Chicago or those Republicans articulated in Milwaukee. My views tend more toward the center of the political spectrum. And although I have opinions on high-profile issues, like abortion, gun safety and immigration, that’s not why I made my decision.
Political narratives and policies matter, but they didn’t govern my choice. I find it easy to be attracted to, or repelled by, proposals on taxes, education and countless other issues. But I believe that events and geopolitical and economic forces will, like strong tides, move policymakers where they ultimately must go. In practice, few administrations travel the course they campaigned on. Circumstances change. Our president, therefore, must be more than a policymaker or a malleable reflection of the public’s passions. She or he must lead — and that takes character.
Character is the ultimate measure of leadership for those who seek the highest office in our land. The American revolutionary Thomas Paine is said to have written, “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.” Regardless of what a person says, character is ultimately laid bare in his or her actions. So I pay attention to what a leader does.
History has shown us that the office of the presidency unfailingly reveals the occupant’s character. Moments of disappointment and crisis — like Jimmy Carter’s acceptance of responsibility for the failed 1980 Iran hostage rescue mission, John F. Kennedy’s navigation of the terrifying 13-day confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba and Abraham Lincoln’s courageous issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation — said little about policy but much about character.
And we’ve seen both sides of the coin: Failures of character, such as those of Richard Nixon and his vice president Spiro Agnew, dishonor and potentially threaten our republic. Character will dictate whether we stand by our NATO allies and against Vladimir Putin’s continued aggression. Character will dictate whether we have a commander in chief who honors and respects the men and women who serve in uniform.
Fortunately, neither candidate in this pivotal election is unknown to us. We’ve had years to watch both closely.
Each of us must seriously contemplate our choice and apply the values we hope to find in our president, our nation and ourselves. Uncritically accepting the thinking of others or being swayed by the roar of social media crowds is a mistake. To turn a blind eye toward or make excuses for weak character from someone we propose to confer awesome power and responsibility on is to abrogate our role as citizens. We will get — and deserve — what we elect.
I’ve thought deeply about my choice and considered what I’ve seen and heard and what I owe my three granddaughters. I’ve concluded that it isn’t political slogans or cultural tribalism; it is the best president my vote might help select. So I have cast my vote for character, and that vote is for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Ms. Harris has the strength, the temperament and, importantly, the values to serve as commander in chief. When she sits down with world leaders like President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, representing the United States on the global stage, I have no doubt that she is working in our national interest, not her own.
I would urge others to vote as I have. But whatever decision you make, let it be thoughtfully considered, carefully reached and yours alone. We’ll all have to live with it.
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We need this and many more to speak out between now and election day. Romney , Bush, Paul Ryan , Cindy Mc Cain, John Kelly, Mattis, Tillerson, and many more should say they are voting for Kamala Harris.
I heard Michael Medved on the Bulwark podcast a couple days ago. Medved is certainly a relative nobody, although he did have a very successful conservative syndicated radio show for more than 20 years. He is voting for Harris , thinks Trump is completely unacceptable, and should have been cast out of everyones good graces when he became a birther. In other words, character matters. Character is a major component of fitness for office. Trump doesnt have any.
Rumored Clinton VP candidate who endorsed Biden now endorses Harris.
Shocking! A compelling dog bites man story. Will we be shocked to learn Gavin Newsom endorses Harris next?
Comment 3 reads like sour grapes.
Lol. I find it amusing that anyone can think these hurt Trump. It's about as stupid as Harris trumpeting the IRS union endorsement.
I can't believe after nine years Democrats haven't figured this out. Trump's entire brand is that of an outsider. Voters like him because the establishment, people like McChrystal don't. Go to a Trump rally and tell the attendees that political general don't like Trump. Why would anyone think that would hurt Trump?
I thought the reaction to the bullshit New York indictment and prosecution would have been so obvious that even most Democrats would pick it up. The indictment sealed his primary win. I'll spell this out, when institutions people don't trust attack a populist it helps the populist. A politically active general with maybe 5% name recognition is not going to hurt Trump, all it does is demonstrate the establishment is closing ranks against him.
You're probably right, Trumps base of voters doesn't give a shit about truth, honesty, temperament or the values and character the majority of Americans consider necessary to serve as commander in chief.
Reminds me of that song...
it's just another brick in that wall.
I find it highly amusing that anyone can so grossly misunderstand the import of McChrystal's endorsement. No one believes Trump cultists are going to be swayed by anything or that the endorsement is going to "hurt Trump" with his supporters. It has been proven time and again that they slavishly support Trump no matter the extent of his criminaltiy or how serious his transgressions. The value in the endorsement is with those few remaining undecideds who think they need to know more about Harris from a national security standpoint. Normal Americans, not Trump cultists. I'll spell this out, Trump cultists are of no interest to anyone but Trump, and psychologists.
Many Republicans have abandoned Trump. No notable Democrats that I know of have abandoned Biden/Harris, unless you count the crackpots Kennedy Jr and Gabbard, which I dont.
Why is that?
Tulsi Gabbard was a DEMOCRAT nominee for President in 2020 received more votes than Kamala Harris
Robert F Kennedy, Jr. member of one of the most famous political families, a DEMOCRAT that attempted to run against Joe Biden for the 2024 nominee.
Why is that?
Tulsi Gabbard quit the rac and RFK Jr. is nutty as a fruitcake and has been disavowed by his family and joined the Trump team.
Neither is notable.
Since Trump is not a traditional Republican and appeals to a different demographics than the Mitt Romney era Republicans, why would you think that hurts him? Trump wants to be anti-establishment. Pointing out establishment republicans don't like him only helps.
I dont particularly care for Bush, Romney or Ryan, but it is plain as day they have a level character that Trump has never had. What you are saying is that 45% or so of the American people dont care ,at all, if their leader is a man of honor. What a sad description of the greatest nation on earth.
Trump is going down.
Of course. That's what always happens when a Republican retires or dies. Goldwater was painted as a literal Nazi with psychological issues when he ran for President. Once he became senile, and even more so once he died, he became the Democrats ideal for a Republican compared to that Nazi Bush.
In 20 years, Democrats will be talking about how moderate Trump was compared to the 2044 Republican party leader, who is a real Nazi. Hell, if DeSantis had won the nomination, we'd be inundated with articles right now claiming how much worse he is than Trump.
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