Donald Trump's clueless GOP operatives call Ruben Gallego a 'deadbeat dad'

I would say the Republican operatives trying to get Kari Lake elected in Arizona have lost their minds, but that implies they might, at some point, have possessed some small bit of sentience. And I doubt it.

If they did, they would not keep giving people a reason to bring up Donald Trump’s devious — some would say deviant — history with women.

This time, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has produced an attack ad calling Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego a “deadbeat dad.”

Gallego is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, mostly likely against Lake.

Gallego has been open about his marriage

In the ad, filmed in black and white and with intermittent images of a pregnant woman, an infant and Gallego, a female narrator says, “One of life’s greatest joys … becoming a parent … Ruben Gallego walked out … leaving his wife … marrying a D.C. lobbyist … deadbeat dad Ruben Gallego … Ruben Gallego won’t be there for Arizonans … tell deadbeat Ruben Gallego Arizonans deserve a better choice.”

Pretty harsh, but let’s review.

Gallego and his first wife, current Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, were married for six years when it was announced in 2016 that that they would be getting a divorce, only a short time before she gave birth to a son.

Gallego had been a Marine deployed in Iraq. His company went through hell and had 22 members killed during his deployment.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Gallego spoke of how the PTSD he returned with gave him recurring nightmares, put a tremendous amount of pressure on his marriage and led to what he called “extreme outbursts.”

Kate Gallego endorsed him for the U.S. Senate

He has spoken openly about dealing with the remnants of his war experience.

“I can disprove the idea that people that have PTSD are like these raging balls of fire that are ready to explode. Or the opposite, that we’re like these meek individuals that are crying every night or something like that,” he told the Post.

Gallego has since remarried, and he and his wife, Sydney, have a daughter.

When he announced his run for the Senate, Kate Gallego endorsed him, saying in a statement, “I’m proud to endorse Ruben because I know first-hand his commitment to building a brighter future for Arizona.

“We have real challenges facing our state that require a leader who is dedicated to fighting for working families and the most vulnerable. He’ll do an excellent job working for all of us as our next senator.”

What happened to: Ruben Gallego the firebrand?

The Republicans behind the attack ad aren’t backing down, however.

In a statement, NRSC spokesperson Tate Mitchell said, “Arizona women can’t trust a man who divorced his wife when she was weeks away from having their child.”

Don't trust Gallego, but trust Trump?

Again, let’s review.

The same GOP operatives saying women can’t trust Gallego are also telling women they can trust Donald Trump.

Donald Trump, who cheated on his first wife with the woman who would become his second, and who currently is dealing with a criminal trial over $130,000 in hush money payments to a porn star with whom he allegedly had an affair only a few months after his third wife gave birth to their son.

Donald Trump, who was found guilty by a civil jury of sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll. She was awarded $5 million, and then was awarded another $83.3 million by a different jury in her defamation suit against Trump.

Donald Trump, who additionally has been accused of sexual misconduct or assault by 26 different women.

Donald Trump, who did not volunteer for military service, like Gallego, or go to war, like Gallego, or lose close friends in combat, like Gallego, or deal with the impact of that trauma, like Gallego, but who, like numerous wealthy young men during the Vietnam War era, received five — count ‘em, 5 — military draft deferments to keep himself out of harm’s way.

That’s the guy women should trust, but not Gallego?

Like I said, not even the tiniest bit of sentience.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ruben Gallego is called a 'deadbeat dad.' Um, what about Trump?