Two speakers at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night brought a different perspective to the proceedings: that of Republicans.
Doug Elmets, a former official in Ronald Reagan’s administration, told the crowd that speaking before them was a shock not because of “the momentous nature of this event. … It’s a shock because, unlike many of you, I’m a Republican.”
He was joined on-stage by Jennifer Pierotti Lim, director of health policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of Republican Women for Hillary. Both said they plan to vote for Hillary Clinton, not Republican candidate Donald Trump.
The pair’s appearance at the Democratic convention is a counter to Republicans’ convention last week, where Clinton often was referred to as being too far left to have broad appeal.
Elmets said he cast his first vote 40 years ago, “voting Republican that day like I would time and time again.”
He drew loud cheers from the crowd when he said, “I’m here tonight to say I knew Ronald Reagan, I worked for Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump, you are no Ronald Reagan.”
Elmets compared Reagan and Trump, saying that where Reagan called for a wall to be torn down, Trump wants to build one.
“I shudder to think where he might lead our great nation,” Elmets said. “Fortunately, I don’t believe he’ll get that chance.”
Lim said that until this year, she’s campaigned exclusively for Republicans.
This year, though, she said she’s voting for Clinton.
“Trump’s loathsome comments about women and our appearances are too many to repeat and too crass to repeat,” Lim said.
She called on Republicans to join her in voting for Trump.
“Because we’re not just Democrats and Republicans. We’re Americans,” she said.
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