43 Alumni for Biden

July 1, 2020


43 Alumni Launch National PAC Effort to Support Joe Biden

Organizers Pledge to Engage and Mobilize Disenchanted GOP Voters

WASHINGTON, DC –​ Hundreds of former George W. Bush presidential administration, campaign and political staff have joined together to form the 43 Alumni for Biden political action committee (PAC) to support Joe Biden and drive a mission of restoring the principles of unity, tolerance and compassion to the greatest elected office in the world.

Through our advocacy, 43 Alumni for Biden seeks to unite and mobilize a community of historically Republican voters who are dismayed and disappointed by the damage done to our nation by Donald Trump’s presidency. Our efforts will focus on engaging voters with shared concerns about the future of our country and compelling them to make the right choice by supporting Joe Biden.

“For four years, we have watched with grave concern as the party we loved has morphed into a cult of personality that little resembles the Party of Lincoln and Reagan,” said Karen Kirksey, 43 Alumni for Biden PAC Director. “We endorse Joe Biden not necessarily in full support of his political agenda but rather in full agreement with the urgent need to restore the soul of this nation. Once elected, we look forward to working in a bipartisan way through civil, spirited debate on the many important issues facing Americans today and for decades to come.”

43 Alumni for Biden was formed and organized by a group of alumni from the 43rd Administration but welcomes the participation and support from family, friends, colleagues and others who believe in our mission to elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States.

“Joe Biden called on every American to, ‘Look at where we are now and think anew. Is this who we are? Is this who we want to be? Is this what we want to pass on to our children,’” said organizing committee member Kristopher Purcell. “We believe that a Biden administration will adhere to the rule of law, ensure equal protection for all Americans and restore dignity and integrity to the White House. This November, we are choosing country over party.”

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43 Alumni for Biden is a registered Political Action Committee formed to support and elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States. Principles matter more than politics. That’s why we, a group of alumni who have served Republican legislators, governors and presidents, are choosing country over party this November. We worked for W. We support Joe.

CONTACT
Michael Brown
43 Alumni for Biden
August 26, 2020

Open Letter: Why Joe?

Americans are decent, hard-working people. We want our kids to attend good schools and our parents to live long independent lives. We want to be free to pursue our own version of safety and success. But if you look around at 2020, none of those goals are anywhere to be found. We are unable to earn a living due to massive unemployment. Schools cannot open safely in most communities, and our parents are dying from an uncontrolled virus. Where are our leaders? Who is taking responsibility for our current situation? Who do we trust to prioritize safety and bring the coronavirus under control? Who has helped lead this nation out of an economic disaster in the past and brought prosperity to the people of this great nation? Who is willing to step into this void and make tough choices? We are a group who served in George W. Bush’s administration. We have seen the importance of leadership up close and we know Joe Biden is the choice we need to make in November.

Character matters in our leaders. Joe Biden has proven himself over years of public service. We have seen him respectfully reach across the aisle, consider a different point of view and make a thoughtful decision to benefit the nation. Joe Biden is courageous and will tell the American people what we are facing, but will also have a plan to guide us through this difficult time. He is someone who has endured tragedy and can empathize with the pain of losing a loved one too soon. Joe has also experienced parental job loss and has lived with its consequences. Joe has faced adversity and come through it with his dignity intact. He will help us do the same during these trying times.

Over the past four years we, as a nation, have struggled with truth. Conspiracy theories have been legitimized and facts have been dismissed. The expertise of world-renowned scientists and physicians have been sidelined while the opinions of pundits have been embraced. Meanwhile, more than 170,000 Americans are dead due to this mismanaged crisis. As a nation, we have lost our moral compass.Children should never be separated from their parents and caged for seeking asylum in the US. It is cruel and inhumane. We need to get back to basics: facts matter, there is right and wrong. We can do that with Joe Biden in the Oval Office. He will listen to and work with experts to craft and execute plans to solve problems and ease suffering. Joe will act with integrity, he knows no other way to lead. We can trust him.

The onslaught of insults and vulgarity we have witnessed in recent years must stop. Our children are watching us. If we explain away misogyny and racism as political tactics we are complicit in normalizing completely inappropriate behavior. This is not who we are as a nation. Americans want a successful country, but how is that possible if what we see modeled from the White House is disrespect and outright hate? Joe’s kindness is sorely needed right now. He famously treats the train operator with the same dignity as his fellow senators. As former public servants, we believe that decency in government must not be allowed to die on the vine. We must take a stand and insist that it returns to the Office of the President.

Ultimately, we are looking for a president to lead. We need someone who will quickly course correct and show us the path forward. We need Joe Biden to restore character, integrity and decency to the White House. These principles are the cornerstone needed to rebuild a dignified, secure, resilient country. In order to emerge strong and ready to tackle the challenges before us, we must act. We must step up, get out of our comfort zone, and vote for Joe Biden. It is time for us to have initiative in our communities and networks to stand up for character, integrity, decency, and leadership. We the people need to step up and vote our conscience so Joe Biden can capably lead this country into the future.

Signed,

43 Alumni for Biden


    Honorary Co-Chairs

    Sally Canfield, 2000 Bush for President Campaign Domestic Policy Advisor

    Suzanne DeFrancis, former Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States and former Assistant Secretary, Health and Human Services

    Ambassador James K. Glassman, former Undersecretary, Department of State

    Jimmy Gurulé, former Undersecretary, Department of the Treasury

    Greg Jenkins, former Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States

    Ambassador Frank Lavin, former Ambassador to Singapore and former Undersecretary, Department of Commerce

    Rosario Marin, former U.S. Treasurer


    Organizing Committee Members

    David Almacy, Department of Education, White House

    Michael Brown, 2000 Campaign, Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency

    John Farner, 2000 Campaign, Department of Commerce

    Todd Ferrara, Department of Agriculture

    Kelly Ganzberger, Republican National Committee, White House

    Abel Guerra, 2000 Campaign, White House

    Serenety Hanley, Republican National Committee, Environmental Protection Agency, White House

    Genevieve Woodard Hartley, 2000 Campaign, Department of the Treasury, Department of
    Homeland Security

    Tony Jimenez, White House, Department of Commerce

    Karen Kirksey, 2000 Campaign, Department of Agriculture

    Jennifer Millikin, 2004 Campaign, General Services Administration

    Kristopher Purcell, 2000/2004 Campaign, White House

    Michael Turk, 2004 Campaign, Republican National Committee, Department of Energy, Office of Management and Budget


43 Alumni for Biden
August 27, 2020
CONTACT: Michael Brown

Bush Cabinet and Administration Officials Publicly Endorse Biden

43 Alumni for Biden represent the breadth and diversity of what used to be the Republican Party 
 
Before Donald Trump accepts another nomination for president from what used to be the Party of Lincoln and Reagan, 225 former officials of the George W. Bush Administration publicly endorse Joe Biden for President, including new endorsements from former Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and former Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. 
 
Secretary Gutierrez, a native of Havana, Cuba, raised in Miami, will serve as a National Chairman of 43 Alumni for Biden. Prior to serving in government, Gutierrez was CEO of Kellogg’s in Battle Creek, MI. 
 
From staff assistants to Cabinet secretaries, 43 Alumni for Biden represent the breadth and diversity of the 43rd presidential administration, the last Republican presidency. 
 
“While we all may have our differences of opinion on specific policy matters with the Democratic Party, we firmly believe that Joe Biden can bring us together to help heal the divisions in our country and find solutions to our problems,” said former Deputy Assistant to the President and former Assistant Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services Suzy DeFrancis. “Donald Trump has failed to keep Americans safe during this pandemic, but Joe Biden will listen to our scientists and doctors when making life or death decisions. With lives and livelihoods at stake, our nation needs a leader with the experience, competence and character of Joe Biden."
 
Joe Biden has received recent endorsements from former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, and former Governor of New Jersey and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, and we are proud to add our names to this distinguished list of public servants and principled leaders.
 
In addition to the 225 public endorsers of Joe Biden, we are joined in solidarity by 152 additional alumni. Many of these individuals are unable to lend their names due to personal reasons, others have faced harassment and threats from Trump supporters, but each has pledged to vote for Joe Biden and continue to work behind the scenes to preserve our democracy. 
 
“We encourage all Republicans, for the sake of the nation and even for the sake of the Republican Party, to reject Donald Trump and lawless administration, and vote for Joe Biden,” said former Deputy Assistant to the President Greg Jenkins. “This doesn’t mean that you are now a Democrat, but it does mean that you care more about the Constitution and the lives of your fellow Americans than you care about party tribalism.” 
 
“Vote like your life depends on it, because for many of our fellow Americans, it does,” said Kristopher Purcell of the 43 Alumni for Biden organizing committee and former White House communications official. 
 
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43 Alumni for Biden is a registered Political Action Committee formed to support and elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States. Principles matter more than politics. That’s why we, a group of alumni who have served Republican legislators, governors and presidents, are choosing country over party this November. We worked for W. We support Joe.