Several months ago, I stopped reading news about Herschel Walker, Donald Trump’s hand-picked candidate for the U.S. Senate from Georgia. I remembered Walker from his days as a Dallas Cowboy but did not know much else about him until after Trump selected him. Then came a torrent of incredible news–unacknowledged children, abortions, incoherent ramblings, and a remarkable display of ignorance. My initial curiosity about the former football star disappeared. I came to see Walker as one of the worst manifestations of Trumpism (and believe me, that is saying something).
Last night, I watched the election returns. Hallelujah, Georgia rejected Walker–and by a large enough margin to enable the networks to proclaim Warnock the projected winner before bedtime.
This column is my first comment on Walker. Although he has been low-hanging fruit for writers since Trump launched the ex-football star’s political career, I was reticent to comment on how stupid and unqualified Walker is to serve in the U.S. Senate. I feared that, as a white man, I would write something that smacked of racism or was racist.
Barack Obama helped me overcome my concerns. He courageously went to Georgia and stated the obvious– that Walker has no business in the U.S. Senate. Because Obama so persuasively laid out the case against Walker, I don’t have to.
Simply put, Walker’s election not only would have denied Georgia Senate representation for six years, but he would have disrupted the work of the other 99 Senators. There is not enough room in the Senate for another clown. (I will spare you my list of four others who come to mind.)
Because President Obama, dozens of Democratic and even Republican officials, and numerous comedians have already “reported” on how inappropriate Walker is for Senate service, I do not need to. If you are looking for details on the most pathetic candidate for the U.S. Senate in recent history, just Google “Hershel Walker scandals” or “Hershel Walker unqualified.” You get the idea.
Rather than ramble on about Walker, I would rather write that I am happy that Senator Raphael Warnock will return to Washington in January. Since he won his special election in 2020, he has done an excellent job of representing Georgia—all constituents except for die-hard Trump voters who apparently are ready to vote for anyone the defeated ex-president endorses.
Now Warnock will have a chance to concentrate on being a Senator rather than running for election or re-election. His win may mark a turning point for Georgia, returning it to the category of a competitive state where both Democrats and Republicans have a chance to get elected. That is welcome news.
The rejection of Walker also is additional evidence that what I call the Trump hangover is ending. Warnock’s win is yet another repudiation of Trump. It is more evidence that a Trump endorsement hurts candidates more than it helps them. A Republican would have won last night had Trump not involved himself in the race.
The rejection of Walker also should send a message to the Republican parties of other states, including our own. The message is that if you nominate a right-wing extremist, expect to lose. Larry Hogan leaves the statehouse with incredibly high approval ratings. In Maryland, a Republican should have had a fighting chance to win, even against a strong candidate like Wes Moore. What does Cox’s double-digit loss tell us?
I dream that I will not see candidates like Walker, Kari Lake (the election-denying loser for Governor in Arizona), Dan Cox, and Donald Trump (Senior or Junior) in the future. That may be wishful thinking, but it cannot stop me from considering Walker’s defeat as an early holiday gift.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
Bob Moores says
Nice article, John. I hope Walker’s defeat is another sign of exorcising the Trump malignancy. One thing bothers me, though. Both Article II, Section IV of the Constitution (conviction of “high crimes and misdemeanors”) and the 25th Amendment (unfit to serve) address only removal from office. There is nothing in the Constitution that explicitly precludes election of a felon residing in prison.
John Dean says
Thank you. I am very hopeful that between Walker’s defeat, the conviction of the Trump Organization for fraud, and the criminal referral of the January 6 Committee, that we will be free of Trump. I am very heartened by seeing some Republicans starting to publicly distance themselves from him.
Thanks for reading the piece.
Don E. Itall says
But the 25TH Amendment could help the US with our present situation. Unfortunately, the cure might be worse than the current disease we’re suffering
Joseph A. Fick, Jr. says
I hope you write an article about the Senatorial qualifications of John Fetterman.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. If I understand the diagnosis of Fetterman, he should continue to regain abilities effected by his stroke. I am hopeful he fully recoveries. Even with his disability (temporary, I hope), I found him preferable to Dr. Oz and would have voted for him if I were a Pennsylvania voter.
Paula Reeder says
AMEN!!!
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. The margin of victory was less than I hoped for and expected, but I join you in “AMEN!!!”
Gren Whitman says
Message: If GOP continues to nominate unsuitable candidates, the voters will continue to reject them. Indeed, had Georgia’s Republicans nominated just about anyone with a minimally decent resume and ability to form an English sentence, Senator Warnock would have been in deep, deep trouble.
But the GOP didn’t and Warnock wasn’t.
Maryland experienced the same and reacted the same. Extremist GOP candidates Cox, Schifanelli, Peroutka, and Glassman were not just beaten but trounced. For the General Assembly, Democrats will hold 34 of the 47 seats in the state Senate come January and a 102-39 seat advantage in the House of Delegates.
John Dean says
I agree with your comment entirely. Thank you for it and for reading the piece.
stokes tomlin says
I cannot agree more… Thank you so much for stating that idiots exist… Unfortunately, way too many! and I cannot believe that over 1 million people in the state of Georgia voted for a total incompetent.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment and for reading the piece. I share your amazement that Walker won as many votes as he did. I expected him to lose by a larger margin.
Den :eventhal says
Walker was just another “step-and-fetch-it” Uncle Tom 2.0 for the Republicans. (Just like Clarence Thomas.)
John Dean says
I wouldn’t put it that way, but thank you for reading the piece.
Frank F Filling III says
total BS