Speaking Tuesday at the Women’s National Republican Club in New York, Ohio Gov. John Kasich outlined the “two paths” facing America as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination.
This election could be one of the most consequential of a generation, Kasich said. Abroad, we face the fight against ISIS, threats from Russia, China, North Korea and turmoil in the Middle East. At home, we must address civil rights, tardy economic growth and rising debt. These are all critical issues the next president must confront.
However, Kasich said there may be some clarity emerging from the myriad challenges America faces. The two paths forward, he said, are:
“Will we turn away from the ideals that have guided us for two centuries, or will we reaffirm that America is the last best hope for man on Earth?”
Kasich fears that the proper path has been jeopardized by the rhetoric of his presidential opponents.
His fellow candidates are “playing on fear” and exploiting it, the governor said. Their obsession with “feeding their own insatiable desires for fame and attention could be driving America down.”
He listed several “troubling solutions” his opponents have proposed to address these issues, including Ted Cruz’s proposal to police Muslim neighborhoods and Donald Trump’s plan to deport 11 million illegal immigrants. Kasich also shook his head at Trump’s proposal to withdraw from NATO and utilize nuclear weapons in Europe.
On domestic policy, we were made “empty promises” and balanced budgets through “capricious cuts,” Kasich continued.
In addition to his opponents’ absurd proposals, Kasich condemned their behavior during the campaign.
“I stood on stage and watched in amazement as the candidates called each other liars and belittled each other’s characters,” he said.
“They are not worthy of the office they are seeking.”
“I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land,” Kasich insisted.
