Current South Portland City Councilor Natalie West took out a full-page ad in the local South Portland Sentry newspaper urging voters to support Vice President Kamala Harris and to oppose former President Donald Trump.
“I urge you to join me in choosing Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. Whatever your opinion on individual issues no voter can disagree on the following four points,” said West.
She then described the four reasons she believes indisputably prove that no one should vote for President Trump.
West claimed that Trump poses a threat to the rule of law because “he used all sorts of means to remain in power,” seemingly referencing the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
She cited “62 lawsuits” filed against Trump as indisputable proof that he tried to retain power illegally.
West demanded that Americans reject Trump because of his comments about women and the controversy surrounding his hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
The councilor argued that Trump is “unfit to serve as Commander in Chief” because he made negative comments about John McCain, who was taken prisoner during the Vietnam War.
Finally, she pointed to Trump’s age, saying, “78 is too old to be president.”
President Joe Biden is currently 81 years old.
West highlighted her own advanced age and elected position on the city council, where her fellow councilors would be able to make decisions for her if she began to fail.
She ignored the existence of the vice president, who is responsible for taking over presidential duties if the president becomes incapacitated or dies.
West does not directly violate the council’s rules of conduct by portraying her opinion as the official position of the South Portland council as a whole.
She does, however, invoke her position and experience as reasons voters should heed her advice.
“I write this ad from the perspective of my experience. Views on environment, health care, immigration, the economy and foreign policy are subject to debate and perhaps reasonable disagreement, but the above four points are indisputable,” said West.
She did not explain how she decided which issues are indisputable and which are in the realm of reasonable debate.
The Maine Wire reached out to the South Portland City Clerk, asking if the city believes it is appropriate for West to invoke her councilor status while campaigning for a specific candidate.
The city did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
0 Comments