Nikki Haley: A Leader of Courage and Conviction
I was already inclined to support her, but after last night’s debate, I am firmly behind the candidacy of Nikki Haley. In addition to her executive experience as the Governor of South Carolina and her foreign policy knowledge as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Haley strikes me as the most balanced, the most adult, of the remaining GOP candidates.
Haley was a popular and effective Governor of South Carolina. Her tenure was perhaps most notable for her courageous and correct decision to remove the Confederate flag from the State House in the aftermath of the race-motivated shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015. Her successful tenure as governor laid the foundation for her subsequent role as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and the first Indian-American to serve in a presidential cabinet.
In the international arena, Haley has been a loyal supporter of Ukraine against Russian aggression, and of Israel since long before the barbaric attack by Hamas on October 7th. She supported the decision to withdraw from the Iran Treaty, and called out Iran for its support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen who have been attacking commercial and U.S. warships in the Red Sea recently.
Haley has been a staunch defender of human rights, to include opposing the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Uyghurs Muslims in China. Yet, she also opposed a Muslim immigration ban, stating, “we should ever ban anyone based on their religion”. Perhaps being raised a Sikh, and converting to Christianity following her marriage, has given her a broader perspective on religion than many of us have.
At a time when the world is witnessing a concerning rise in antisemitic sentiments, Haley remains an outspoken defender of the Jewish community. Haley has also been a consistent supporter of women. She has called out sexual violence against women in Myanmar, China, and most recently, by Hamas in Israel.
Haley has strong military connections in her family, which makes me feel that she will be a responsible commander-in-chief, unlikely to send U.S. service members into harm’s way without careful deliberation. Her husband is an officer in the South Carolina National Guard and her eldest brother is a retired U.S. Army combat veteran. Haley’s husband was deployed to Afghanistan during her first term as Governor, and has just been deployed to the Horn of Africa.
Nikki Haley’s track record of experience, good judgement, and decisive leadership, from the statehouse to the global stage, underscores her qualifications for the highest office in the land. Her more centrist views and pragmatic approach make her a compelling choice for Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike.
In a political landscape marked by divisive figures, Haley emerges as a candidate who can bridge the gap. Her even temperament, courage, and commitment to common-sense values position her as the ideal candidate to lead our nation forward. If you’re looking to break the cycle of low-approval candidates, Haley is a worthy consideration for a brighter political future.
