Mark Kelly and Jeff Flake Take Questions in an Arizona Republicans for Harris/Walz Tele-Townhall

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, former Senator and Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake, and Mesa City Councilmember Julie Spilsbury participated in an Arizona Republicans for Harris/Walz Tele-Townhall earlier this evening (October 22, 2024.)

The Arizona Republicans for Harris/Walz organization is a significant group, comprised mostly of McCain Republicans that have become disenchanted with Mr. Trump and his UnAmerican, unstable, unhinged, unconstitutional, Un Christian, immoral, and fascist-authoritarian attributes and tendencies.

The main themes from all three participants was:

• Voters should put country over party.
• The character of the candidates matters.
• Vice President Kamala Harris has what it takes to be an effective President.
• Donald Trump has proven he does not deserve a second term.

Councilwoman Spillsbury put it succinctly in her only remarks at the event when she said that this election is about “Country over Party” and “Character.”

She relayed that Vice President Harris was committed to protecting our rights and freedoms whereas Donald Trump is not and has already threatened election results once already on January 6, 2021. She also cited Mr. Trump’s assertion that there will be a blood bath if he loses.

She also bemoaned the fact that Trump’s election denialism has become one of the main planks of the Republican Party.

She invited Republicans and Independents “Who want to turn the page on Trump’s darkness and division” to join them in a new home with the Republicans for Harris/Walz group.

Both Senator Kelly and former Senator/Ambassador Flake made introductory and closing remarks along with responding to questions.

Among Senator Kelly’s comments and responses were:

• “The difference between the two candidates can not be more clear or stark.”
• Project 2025 gives Trump absolute control over our daily lives including banning abortion nationwide and taking away health care from millions of people.”
• Half of his cabinet and his own Vice President is not supporting him. Who knows him better and the job he did. Trump has made it clear that he would surround himself with people who enable him.
• Vance is using the same tactic of scaring people to avoid people looking too closely at their agenda. Donald Trump told JD Vance to help kill bipartisan border security bill earlier this year; this left Arizona and Arizonans out to dry. Donald Trump would rather run on the issue rather than fixing it.
• Believes Democrats can get the border security bill passed in Congress and signed if Harris wins and is sworn in on January.
• Harris cares about us and has a vision for helping all of us. Trump just wants to divide us.
• Trump is not a fan of the N.A.T.O. alliance, would not support Ukraine, coddling and flattering Putin, and would sacrifice N.A.T.O. nations to Putin if they did not pay up.
• Vice President Harris is committed to hold Russia accountable for its crimes.
• Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will protect Social Security and Medicare. She is committed to helping seniors. Senator Kelly cited the Prescription Drug Benefit passed during the Biden/Harris Administration that has reduced prescription costs.
• Trump has raised the debt more than President Biden (8.4 trillion) and raised it by debt raising tax cuts for the wealthy that did not pay for themselves and it will only get worse if Trump doubles down on those tax cuts.
• It is going to take a friendly Congress and Harris getting elected to legalize reproductive freedom nationwide. Because of Donald Trump, one third of women live under these bans and less rights than they had before the Supreme Court Dobbs ruling.
• “I don’t ever want to see us in that situation (like January 6) ever again.”
• “He (Donald Trump) cares about just himself.”

Among Former Senator/Ambassador Jeff Flake’s comments and responses were:

• “How can you as a conservative vote for a Democrat. It’s because I’m a conservative who believes in the rule of law and respecting that and things like election results. Little else matters after that.”
• Vice President Harris and Governor Walz both have fine characters and love this country.
• Also rebuked Trump for rejecting bipartisan border security, saying Trump “Would rather run on the issue rather than solve the problem.”
• On trying to get Trump to agree to bipartisan immigration reform in his first term, “We tried to get Trump serious on bipartisan immigration reform during his first term and he would not.” Flake agreed with Kelly that Harris would sign the Bipartisan Border Security Bill that Trump derailed.
• “I’ve worked with Kamala on the world stage and it is important to tell the difference between our allies and enemies.” According to Flake, Trump lacks that skill and Kamala Harris has shown that she would work with our allies to defeat our enemies.
• “Harris sounded like a conservative at the debate with Trump.” Flake was upset that Trump could not wish Ukraine well.
• “N.A.T.O. has been the most successful military alliance in the history of the world.” The former Ambassador to Turkey recounted how he worked with the Biden/Harris Administration on getting Turkey to agree to admit Finland and Sweden into N.A.T.O. Said Harris was well versed and informed on the issue. Referred listeners to view her speech on security in Munich. Please click here to view that address.
• Mr. Flake also reminded listeners that Trump was responsible for for runaway spending and driving up the debt and noting that was not very conservative in his fiscal management in his first term. He also commented that forecasters say it would add six trillion in a new term.
• On reducing costs, Flake said, after being in Turkey for three years with 100 percent inflation, “it is pretty tame in this country.” He condemned Trump’s promotion of wide ranging across the board tariffs that independent economists “will drive inflation through the roof.”
• “Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not being conservative if you support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”