Keeping it Real: Calvert’s Loyalty to Trump Speaks to His Own Ethics and Integrity

Overview: Former President Donald Trump's behavior continues to hit new lows in decorum, including simulating fellatio with a microphone at a campaign event in Milwaukee, WI. Congressional Representative Ken Calvert, who represents CA's 41st congressional district, has supported Trump despite his being a convicted felon and a threat to democracy. Calvert has been accused of corruption and is on the 2024 Most Corrupt Politicians List published by End Citizens United. Trump's supporters, including Calvert, continue to drink too much Trump Kool-Aid and enable his electoral, political, and criminal madness.

S.E. Williams

Some things I cannot unsee, like former President Donald J. Trump simulating fellatio with a microphone before a crowd of supporters at a campaign event in Milwaukee, WI, on Friday, November 1.

I can't unsee it but I certainly was not surprised by it. Nothing the former president does is surprising any more. It was on par with some of his other inappropriate antics, including a blatant disregard even for his own supporters.

We observed this recently when Trump left his supporters stranded in 90 degree heat following a campaign event in Coachella, similar to the hundreds of those he left stranded at a Trump rally in Omaha, NE in 2020. In that instance, however, the weather was freezing cold.

Of all the outrageous insults, dangerous comments and inappropriate actions the nation has endured from Trump over the previous years, including this election cycle, his behavior continues to hit new lows in decorum. And yet, I'd almost be willing to bet Trump has the capacity and willingness to go even lower.

Sadly, the former president's mean, low, and debasing comments and behaviors are certainly being upheld and reinforced by a willing group of sycophants including politicians like U.S. House Representative Ken Calvert who represents CA's 41st congressional district.

The 41st congressional district encompasses large swaths of Riverside County including the communities of Corona, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Canyon Lake, Menifee, Calimesa, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, and portions of Eastvale and Riverside.

In addition to being the longest serving Republican in the state's congressional delegation, Calvert is also counted among the nation's elected Republican representatives who collectively seemed to have drank way too much Trump Kool-Aid and continue to support the former president despite his being a convicted felon and obvious threat to democracy.

Calvert also counts himself among Trump supporters like billionaire extremist businessman and investor, Elon Musk and another right-wing extremist, physician, businesswoman, political donor and zionist, Miriam Adelson, who are enabling Donald Trump and his electoral, political and criminal madness with millions of dollars in campaign support..

Calvert, for his part, makes it clear he aligns with the convicted felon, who desires to be a dictator. Calvert is also a proponent of the "Big Lie" and voted against certifying the 2020 Election after the January 6 Insurrection. Thereby, aligning himself with the insurrectionists.

Calvert has served the interests of the Republican Party and his personal wealth long enough. For those who are yet to cast your ballot I encourage you to consider Calvert's opponent, Will Rollins . Just as I hope you choose to turn the page on the "Age of Trump" when you make your selection for president, I hope you maintained that same mind set and choose a new candidate to represent California's 41st Congressional District.

Trump has endorsed Calvert for Congress, and Calvert, of course, has returned the favor and endorsed Trump for president. The editorial board of a local publication endorsed Calvert. It pointed to Calvert's work over the years. This included voting in support of criminal justice reform known as the First Step Act . Yet, we all know that when the Congressional vote on the First Step Act was taken, there was little risk to Calvert's Republican bona fide to vote in favor of it. This was because most Republicans did, as did most Democrats. Afterall, it was Democrats who championed the legislation and the bipartisan bill was considered a big victory for Trump. Calvert's support of the legislation was not courageous, it was expected.

There is, of course, another issue Trump and Calvert have in common–accusations of corruption. Trump with his 34 felony convictions, civil claims for sexual misconduct the shuttering of his nonprofit, and on and on. Calvert's continuous and unwavering support of Trump is unconscionable and makes one question his ethics. The corruption allegations levied against Calvert, although to date nothing has been proven against him, shows that he and Trump have more in common that both being Republicans.

Calvert has served for about 32 years. It is time to turn the page. He no longer reflects the sentiments of the region's changing demographics. This in and of itself is not what is disqualifying. What is disqualifying is that he no longer represents the politics of this region that believes in the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution. Apparently, Calvert and Trump do not.

Also, regarding one of the most controversial issues in this year's election–a woman's right to choose, is at risk. Calvert currently claims he would not support a national abortion ban, I don't trust his word. If Trump called for his vote on this issue, I have no doubt Calvert would acquiesce. During the years Trump occupied the White House, Calvert rarely found the courage to vote independent of what the former president wanted.

Calvert's support of the Big Lie is enough to disqualify him, let alone his indignant response to Trump's conviction on the 34 felony counts related to Trump's business. On X he expressed his alarm over a criminal justice system that would dare hold Trump accountable for his actions, proving that Calvert clearly believes some in this country are above the law. In addition, Calvert has not added his name to a list of U.S. House Republican representatives who signed a bipartisan letter committing to respect the certified winner of this week's presidential election.

Maybe Calvert is so faithful to Trump because they have so much in common. Afterall, this year, Calvert found himself on the 2024 Most Corrupt Politicians List published by the group, End Citizens United. His appearance on this list however, was not an aberration as Calvert has a long history of questionable actions, that in past years, even led to FBI investigations. Calvert was accused of leveraging federal, taxpayer funded projects to benefit his personal real estate holdings...something I am sure Trump can relate to.

Calvert's loyalty to Trump never waivers. Rather than rescind his support of the former president after Trump was convicted on 34 felonies–which would have been a perfect time to make a split–instead Ken Calvert appeared to undermine the court's ruling and rallied to Trump's defense on social media. He posted, "Americans who believe that justice should be blind to politics and administered equally should be concerned with today's outcome..."

Because I am a compassionate individual, I feel for the former president as a human being if he is indeed experiencing some type of age related dementia but nothing beyond that. For Calvert, I hope you learn from this election that you stood on the wrong side of history.

Of course this is just my opinion. I'm keeping it real.