OPINION: An endorsement that says more about Dunleavy than Trump

To nobody’s surprise, Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently endorsed Donald Trump for president in the 2024 election. If Trump’s bragging about sexual assault didn’t stop Dunleavy from supporting Trump the first time, what difference would utter incompetence, organization of an unprecedented insurrection to overthrow democracy, and multiple felony indictments make? It’s a sad commentary on Dunleavy’s character that he clearly would endorse anyone who had the support of the most lunatic element of the Republican base.

At the risk of stating the obvious, it doesn’t have to be this way. Although Trump has become the de facto leader of the Republican Party, as Alaskans know it is entirely possible to be not just a person of conscience but a highly competent and effective elected Republican. Look at Jay Hammond, Lisa Murkowski, Cathy Giessel and Gary Stevens, just to name a few well-respected Republicans who have made profound contributions to our state.

Before Donald Trump, it used to be normal to have rational, moral Republicans elected at the national level. While lunacy has become normalized within the Republican Party, even now there are ultra-conservative Republicans who reject the cult of Trump — take Brian Kemp of Georgia and, perhaps most powerfully, the very people who witnessed Trump firsthand in his own administration, like former Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Bill Barr.

The only way someone could endorse Trump today is if they have zero concern about the personal moral fiber of a candidate, zero concern about a candidate’s competence, and zero concern about the health of our democracy itself. As I noted, this endorsement says more about Dunleavy than it does about Trump.

Most Americans may be tired of hearing about Trump, exhausted from the gruesome charade that his continued candidacy represents. Yet, as 2016 illustrates, failing to take him seriously means we are taking democracy itself for granted. The only way to preserve our democracy and the rule of law is to defeat Donald Trump by supporting the best candidates who are running against him, both in the primary and in the general election. Trump’s persistent candidacy and willingness to tear down democracy for his own advancement is like a war of attrition against America. All we can do is be stronger, more patient, more committed than those who would destroy our country.

Consider this: Based on Dunleavy’s first two attorney general appointments, it isn’t surprising he would support a candidate who has so much documented hostile behavior toward women.

In closing, Dunleavy is an elected official who refuses to accept the law as it is written and as it pertains to the 14th Amendment. Trump is disqualified. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which says those who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the U.S. may not hold public office, must be applied just like any other part of our Constitution. If you are an elected official, you must accept it; otherwise, what is the purpose of our democracy?

Kevin McGee is a veteran and president of the Anchorage NAACP.

The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.