Kasich in DNC Speech Urges Republicans To Abandon Trump

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, a Republican delivered his pre-recorded Democratic National Convention speech standing literally at the intersection of two gravel crossroads endorsing Joe Biden wholeheartedly while lambasting President Trump’s first term in office without mentioning the president by name.

“I’m a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country. That’s why I’ve chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times,” Kasich said during his roughly four-minute speech on the first night of the Democratic Convention. “What I have witnessed these past four years belies those principles. Many of us have been deeply concerned about the current path we’ve been following for the past four years. It’s a path that’s led to division, dysfunction, irresponsibility, and growing vitriol between our citizens. Continuing to follow that path will have terrible consequences for America’s soul because we’re being taken down the wrong road by a president who has pitted one against the other.”

The former Ohio governor encouraged independents and Republicans dissatisfied with Trump to throw their support behind Biden and reassured concerns that the former Vice President might be pulled to the left by progressives in the Democratic Party.

“Yes, there are areas where Joe and I absolutely disagree. But that’s OK because that’s America. Because whatever our differences, we respect one another as human beings, each of us searching for justice and for purpose,” Kasich said. “I’m sure there are Republicans and Independents who couldn’t imagine crossing over to support a Democrat. They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don’t believe that because I know the measure of the man. It’s reasonable, faithful, respectful, and, you know, no one pushes Joe around.”

He added, “We can all see what’s going on in our country today and all the questions that are facing us, and no one person or party has all the answers. But what we do know is that we can do better than what we’ve been seeing today, for sure. And I know that Joe Biden, with his experience and his wisdom and his decency, can bring us together to help us find that better way.”

Kasich went on to praise Biden, saying he has known the Democratic nominee for 30 years and is a “man for our time.”

“I’ve known Joe Biden for 30 years. I know his story of profound grief that has so deeply affected his character,” Kasich stated. “I know Joe is a good man, a man of faith, a unifier, someone who understands the hopes and dreams of the common man and the common woman, a man who can help us to see the humanity in each other. Joe Biden is a man for our times, times that call for all of us to take off our partisan hats and put our nation first for ourselves and, of course, for our children.”

Kasich ran an unsuccessful presidential bid for the Republican nomination in 2016 and was the last man standing against Trump. He famously refused to attend the national convention of his own party in his own state the same year in protest of Trump’s coronation as the Republican presidential nominee, despite signing a loyalty pledge from the Republican National Committee.

Other Republicans who spoke at the convention included former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former Rep. Susan Molinari (R-NY), and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman, who ran for governor of California as a Republican. The segment was followed by a video montage showing Republican voters across the country who backed Trump and said they were now planning to vote for Biden in November.

Since leaving the governor’s mansion in 2019, Kasich has emerged as Never-Trumper on cable news and has called for Trump impeachment.

Prior to Kasich’s remarks, Trump slammed his former 2016 Republican nominee rival as a “major loser,” whom people “don’t like” or “don’t trust him.”

“He was a loser as a Republican and he’ll be a loser as a Democrat. Major loser as a Republican,” Trump said. “People don’t like him, people don’t trust him, his healthcare in Ohio was a disaster. He hasn’t done too well with Trump. He’s been easy pickings.”