Vancouver resident Mark Moore offers his support for Joe Kent in the race for US Representative in the Third Congressional District
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Southwest Washington currently finds itself the epicenter of a tectonic shift in American politics. For most people alive today, the political divisions in our country have substantially fallen along Democrat/Republican lines, and the differences were easily defined. Over the last few decades however, that line has slowly been erased, and in its place has emerged a “Uniparty,” ruled by corrupt politicians and corporate oligarchs. While there are still a few firebrands in Congress, for the most part Washington D.C. has become a place where elected officials magically become millionaires in a few short years while earning an annual salary of roughly $185,000.
When Joe Kent, a retired US Army Green Beret, announced his candidacy to unseat incumbent Republican Representative Jaimie Herrera Beutler, few seasoned political observers gave him much of a chance. Joe was newly widowed, newly retired from a career in Special Operations, and newly located in rural Clark County. Initially he faced a local Republican Party leadership which was clearly protecting the incumbent, he also faced two other high caliber opponents with significant name recognition. Given that Washington state uses a jungle primary which rewards the two highest vote recipients, irrespective of political party, the odds were clearly not in his favor.
What the people of the 3rd Congressional District didn’t know at the time was Joe Kent had faced significant odds throughout his entire career in the military. He left his home in the Pacific Northwest immediately out of high school to join the Army at 18 years old. According to his father, Joe’s ambition had always been to become a Green Beret, which he did in short order. Over the next 21 years, Joe advanced to the rank of Warrant Officer and for the last 7 years of his career was part of Task Force Orange, the most elite Special Forces unit in the US military. I only know this because I went looking for it, he modestly admitted it when I asked. While utterly new to politics at any level, he was an experienced, proven, and highly decorated warrior, and he was on mission.
Since March of 2021, Joe has done over 270 in-person town halls in the district. I have attended a number of these, and no matter how many questions were asked of him, he answered every one. While some may not like a given policy position he holds, the people of our district have learned Joe Kent will look them in the eye and give a coherent, well thought out, and thorough answer. He has earned the trust of 3rd Congressional District voters by demonstrating a foundational respect for them, meeting with them in person, hearing their concerns and clearly articulating his plan to return our nation to her moorings.
What many people are unaware of is, the most vigorous opposition to Joe Kent’s congressional bid has not come from Democrats, but from Republicans. As of this writing, approximately $13.5 million dollars has been spent directly against his candidacy, the vast majority of which has come from establishment Republican sources. Given Joe’s credentials, people might justifiably ask why would Republicans spend so much money to defeat a highly qualified, articulate, photogenic man of such demonstrated high character who was running as a Republican?
It is precisely because of his character, and his unrelenting drive to speak truth to corrupt power that they are so committed to his defeat. They also know that while he is indeed not corrupt and self-serving, he is the very kind of man who is likely not corruptible … no matter how much money or fame they shower him with. This threatens their hold on power in a way they understand viscerally, this is the kind of man who can never be allowed in their midst.
For most of my adult life, I have listened to the discontent of my peers, lamenting the poor performance of Republicans, and the general decline of our nation. Most are shocked when I tell them Republicans have won more elections than Democrats since Richard Nixon was president. Sadly, establishment Republicans have gone to Washington DC and been overtaken by the lobbyists, the cocktail party circuit, Democrats, and their own weak character. Global corporations from Big Tech, Big Pharma, and Big Defense have so corrupted our government that it is hard to differentiate between their corporate policy and the domestic or foreign policy of our nation.
Joe Kent is exactly the kind of representative these forces fear most, because he will fight them yes, but more because he is the kind of leader that puts courage into the hearts of men and women who will stand with him to oppose the corruption in our nation’s capital.
Last week, Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat candidate for president in the 2020 primary, campaigned for several days with Joe across Southwest Washington. Tulsi officially left the Democrat party last month, and immediately began supporting America First candidates. I have always thought of Tulsi Gabbard as the “Last Loyal Democrat.” While many conservatives disagree with her on some issues, she has always been respected as someone who believed in our constitutional republic and fearlessly spoke truth to the powerful in her own party. This was demonstrated by the overwhelming response she received here in the district, speaking to standing room only crowds at every event.
The political realignment happening in America today is remarkable. Accomplished, competent, principled people from all walks of life are rejecting conventional political wisdom and bravely subjecting themselves to vicious attacks, all in an effort to return governing power to those whom it rightfully belongs, the American People. In their inspired wisdom, our founding fathers envisioned a citizen legislature, and specifically rejected the concept of an entitled ruling class. The America First movement simultaneously brings the corrupt ruling class to heal, while empowering the hard working men and women who pay the bills for our country. Joe Kent is one of the most visible leaders of this movement. Having forsaken the financial reward so many men of his stature reap after a storied military career, he is doing what comes most naturally to him, sacrificially leading from the front.
On November 8th, voters of Southwest Washington will choose a new US Congressional Representative. Only one candidate in this race has earned the trust of the citizens in our district through an unrelenting work ethic, and demonstrated respect for their voice. That man is Joe Kent, and the people of the 3rd Congressional District are blessed to have him.
Mark Moore
Vancouver
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