共和政権の元高官ら200人、大統領選で民主ハリス氏支持：日本経済新聞 https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOGN27D3M0X20C24A8000000/
【ワシントン=坂口幸裕】米共和党政権の元高官ら200人超が11月の大統領選で民主党のハリス副大統領を支持する書簡を発表した。共和のトランプ前大統領について「（ロシア大統領の）プーチンのような独裁者にこびへつらう一方、同盟国に背を向ける。そんなことは許されない」と記した。
ブッシュ元大統領（第43代）、2008年大統領選で共和候補になった故ジョン・マケイン元上院議員、12年に候補だったミット・ロムニー上院議員らの元スタッフら約240人が連名で書簡を出した。
20年大統領選でもトランプ氏と戦った民主候補のバイデン大統領を支持しており、新たにブッシュ政権（第41代）の関係者も加わった。
書簡ではハリス氏と「イデオロギー的に意見の違いは多く、それは当然のことだ」と指摘しつつ、同氏に投票すると宣言。「ドナルド・トランプの混乱したリーダーシップがあと4年も続けば、現実の生活者が傷つき、神聖な制度が弱体化する」と断定した。
「混乱ではなく意見の一致、分裂ではなく団結に努め、米国と子どもたちの誇りとなるような指導者に投票するよう呼びかける。その指導者とはハリス氏と（民主の副大統領候補でミネソタ州知事の）ティム・ウォルズ氏だ」と訴えた。
ブッシュ元大統領（第41代）の大統領首席補佐官だったジーン・ベッカー氏、マケイン氏の首席補佐官だったマーク・サルター氏、ロムニー氏の選対幹部だったデビッド・ニーレンバーグ氏らが署名した。
共和政権の元高官らはバイデン氏が勝利した20年大統領選の際も「トランプ氏の再選は米国にとって大惨事となり、さらに4年間続けば民主主義に取り返しのつかない打撃を与える」と警鐘を鳴らした。
ブッシュ元大統領（第43代）やロムニー氏は名を連ねていないものの、トランプ氏とは距離を置く。7月15〜18日に中西部ウィスコンシン州ミルウォーキーで開いた党全国大会にも参加しなかった。
一方、8月19〜22日に開かれた中西部イリノイ州シカゴでの民主党全国大会ではクリントン、オバマ両元大統領らが演説し、党の団結を誇示。トランプ政権の元高官や共和の元議員らが出席し、トランプ氏批判を展開した。
[Washington = Yukihiro Sakaguchi] More than 200 former high-ranking officials of the US Republican administration have published a letter in support of Democratic Vice President Harris in the November presidential election. Regarding former Republican President Trump, they wrote, "He kowtows to dictators like Putin (Russian President) while turning his back on his allies. This is unacceptable."
The letter was jointly issued by about 240 former staff members of former President Bush (43rd President), the late Senator John McCain, who was the Republican candidate in the 2008 presidential election, and Senator Mitt Romney, who was a candidate in 2012.
They also support President Biden, the Democratic candidate who ran against Trump in the 2020 presidential election, and have now been joined by people related to the Bush administration (41st President).
In the letter, they declare that they will vote for Harris, while pointing out that "there are many ideological differences between us, which is only natural." "Four more years of Donald Trump's chaotic leadership will hurt real people and weaken sacred institutions," it said.
"We call on you to vote for leaders who will work to unite instead of disrupt, and unite instead of divide, and who will make America and our children proud. These leaders are Harris and (Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota governor) Tim Walz," it said.
The petition was signed by former President George W. Bush's (41st) chief of staff, former McCain's chief of staff, Mark Salter, and former Romney campaign manager, David Nirenberg.
Former Republican administration officials also sounded the alarm during the 2020 presidential election, in which Biden won, saying, "Trump's reelection would be a disaster for the United States, and another four years would deal an irreparable blow to democracy."
Former President George W. Bush and Romney are not on the list, but they distance themselves from Trump. He also did not attend the party's national convention, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the Midwestern state of Wisconsin from July 15 to 18.
Meanwhile, at the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois, in the Midwestern state of Illinois from August 19 to 22, former presidents Clinton and Obama gave speeches, demonstrating party unity. Former senior officials of the Trump administration and former Republican lawmakers attended and criticized Trump.