Credit: Screenshot
As former Bucks County Congressman Jim Greenwood puts it, he’s supported every Republican presidential candidate from Richard Nixon to Mitt Romney.
This November, he won’t be casting his ballot for Republican President Donald Trump.
Advertisements
“I am Jim Greenwood, and I am a lifelong Republican,” he said.
Greenwood, who is from Central Bucks County and served the area as a state legislator and then congressperson, explained that the decision not to support Trump and back former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat from Delaware, was about his strong conservative beliefs.
“I could not support Donald Trump in 2016, and I certainly don’t support him now,” said Greenwood, who backed Republican former Ohio Gov. John Kasich four years ago.
Advertisements
Greenwood and several other Republicans came out in support of Biden during a short virtual press conference organized by the Biden campaign Thursday. Greenwood later spoke with LevittownNow.com further via phone.
The former congressman said Trump, a former Democrat-turned-Republican who has styled himself as a mogel, “lacks decency and honesty.” He also called the president, who has a long history business troubles and scandals, a “conman” who created a “dark four years of division.”
Advertisements
Greenwood said Biden was a decent person who he doesn’t mind supporting.
The former congressman, who served the area from 1993 to 2005, said it did hurt him to not vote Republican for president, but he knew in 2016 and this year that he cannot support Trump.
Greenwood said Trump isn’t really a Republican, noting his lack of foreign and trade policy and disregard for fiscal matters.
Advertisements
For Greenwood, who has found a post-public service career as CEO of a trade and lobbying organization for biopharmaceutical companies, he wanted the public to know that he is a longtime Republican who was a “Newt Gingrich soldier” who took on President Bill Clinton’s administration and organized President George W. Bush’s 2004 visit to Bucks County.
“I loved the guy, and I still love the guy,” Greenwood said of Bush.
Advertisements
He also noted his continuing support for local Republican candidates.
Speaking of the First Congressional District, Greenwood didn’t wish to comment on the race between incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Christina Finello. However, he did state he believes Trump will not win the district, which was won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Advertisements
“I haven’t run into any Clinton supporters who switched support to Trump, but I’ve heard from Trump supporters who have switched to Biden,” he said.
Tracey Specter, the late Republican-turned-Democratic senator Arlen Specter’s daughter, spoke during a virtual Biden campaign event Thursday. She said Biden is the first Democrat, aside from her father, that she will cast a vote for.
Advertisements
While Spencer commended Trump on his stance on having countries pay their full share of NATO funding and relationship with Israel, she said she can’t look past his “personal demeanor” and lying.
“We can’t afford to have four more years of division in our country,” she said.
Sue Humes, a dairy and beef farmer from outside of Erie, is a longtime Republican, but was worried that Trump is “not fit for office.”
Advertisements
“I’m not saying the Democratic party is perfect, but at least they have a platform,” she said.
The Trump campaign declined to comment on Greenwood and other Republican’s support.
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
