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Connie Schulz
State College
Last week, retired 76-year-old Judge John M. Cleland of McKean County, Pa., broke his decades long practice of not taking sides in politics. His intelligence and evenhandedness had helped him win three elections to 10-year terms in a ruby red part of the state.
Cleland is an expert judge not only of legal matters, but of character. His belief in the critical importance of character inspired him to deliver an eloquent and stirring speech that broke with his long tradition of neutrality. He told a bipartisan audience that the 2024 election is not about policy disputes; this "election is about character."
The judge said that America's greatest leaders have displayed traits such as honesty, civility, empathy, courage, generosity and trustworthiness. Donald Trump has none of those traits.
Judge Cleland said that Donald Trump's "factual misstatements are so frequent, so inaccurate, so exaggerated and so easily fact-checked" that he is "either lying or he is incompetent." He reminded listeners that Trump was convicted of sexual assault and has bragged about similar acts; he is on trial for allegedly taking highly classified national security documents; and he was convicted of tax fraud with the trial judge noting he showed a "complete lack of contrition and remorse."
I was moved not only by Judge Cleland's eloquent speech, but for his courage.
Would you tell your children to model themselves after Donald Trump? I along with many Republicans, Democrats and Independents will be casting my vote on character - for Kamala Harris.