Doug Emhoff came to The Villages Friday and waxed nostalgic about golf carts, his parents and putt-putt golf — along with lox and bagels.
Then he bragged how his wife – Vice President Kamala Harris – waxed Donald Trump in the recent debate.
The Second Gentleman made it clear that Trump learned the hard way not to trifle with a strong, fierce, smart, independent woman.
Emhoff called her attitude in this election fight a “badass version of herself” who kicked Trump’s “ass” in the debate.
“Sometimes I get into a little bit of trouble with the campaign, but I just say what’s on my mind,” he said.
Doug Emhoff, 59, is a Jewish kid from Brooklyn, who grew up in New Jersey and eventually moved to California. He became a lawyer and after a failed marriage and two children, he met Harris. She was a prosecutor, California Attorney General and then a senator from California.
They married 10 years ago. This power couple have been breaking glass-ceilings ever since – in addition to re-defining masculine and feminine roles in the White House.
About 50 days from now, America’ first Second Gentleman said Friday he can’t wait to become the country’s first Jewish First Gentleman.
“I can’t wait to wake up on Nov. 6 when Kamala Harris is voted President of the United States.”
Friday night seemed like a coming out party for Democrats in The Villages, an area long dominated by Republicans.
The main room at Lake Miona Recreation Center was packed with about 200 people. Another overflow crowd of 175 people were in an adjacent room watching it on video.
Outside, there were hundreds more spectators lined-up and waiting for a glimpse of Emhoff. He was due to start a parade of 350 golf carts after the speech.
“This is fantastic,” said Villager Susan Winters. “We refused to be bullied by MAGA people who tell us: if you don’t like it here, then leave. We’re not going anywhere and I’m proud to be a part of this night.”
“I’m just proud to be a Democrat and be here,” said Villager Eileen Simon. “Doug Emhoff is showing people how a strong, masculine man can help a woman in politics.”
Villager Mechele Brooks said, “the fact he is going to be our First Gentleman is really important. Kamala has a beautiful spirit and intellect, and he always supports her. I’m so excited he’s here tonight.”
Reggie Brooks, her husband, agreed.
“You get the feeling that the sun is coming out after a long, dark night,” he said. “There is so much excitement and enthusiasm – you can feel it here tonight.”
Pam Walter, who waited in a walker outside in the rain, said “I’m here for Kamala, and I’m here for him because he supports her. I can’t vote for the MAGA guy; he has no decency.”
The campaign described Emhoff’s “New Way Forward” appearance this way: “Right in Donald Trump’s backyard, the Second Gentleman will highlight how dangerous Donald Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda is for seniors.
“Including his plans to gut Medicare and Social Security and repeal the Affordable Care Act, stripping millions of Americans of their health care.”
He also talked of protecting women’s reproductive rights, but this night was not just about policy. Emhoff reminisced about his parents — Michael Emhoff and Barbara Emhoff – who live in a retirement community out West.
“They’ve been there 25 years and every time we go there, we always ride the golf carts,” Emhoff said. “Even now, when I go there, we have some bagels and lox; and we go out in the golf cart. I still sit in the middle.”
Emhoff admitted driving into The Villages and “seeing all those golf carts, I got emotional. It’s just like the place where my Dad and Mom live. They’re very jealous that I’m here with all these carts.
“There’s so much to do where they live. We drive around in the cart and play putt-putt. Then we play billiards. My Dad’s 87, and he still beats me.”
Emhoff told how his parents retirement community reminds him of The Villages. “There is a strong community life, values and families.”
Among the other speakers included former Florida Republican David Jolly. He praised the Harris/Biden administration for its work on the economy and the border.
He added that Congress had a strong border bill until Trump told Republican members to kill it. “We’re not going back to the failed… policies of Donald Trump,” said Jolly, now an Independent who works as a commentator for MSNBC.
Democrat Barbara Harden Hall is running against Republican Daniel Webster for Congress. “We can do better,” she said. “The Villages deserves real leadership,” adding she was proud to be supporting Harris.
Doug Emhoff said Harris is campaigning “with joy” and is going to “keep taking the fight to Trump.”
Emhoff was encouraged by chants of “We’re not going back;” “Kam-a-la, Kam-a-la” and “When we fight, we win.”
Emhoff couldn’t resist re-enacting the now-famous opening of the debate when Harris walked across the stage to shake Trump’s hand.
Emhoff marched to the end of the small speaker’s platform and did a kind of slow-motion, bold strut across the platform with his right hand stretched out.
Then he played Trump, stiffening up his rigid body, with both hands held tight to his side, trying to back off and avoid his female counterpart.
“It’s like he never shook a woman’s hand before,” Emhoff said. “Remember when Kamala said: ‘If you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.’”
“Donald Trump finally got his chance to tell her all the crap he’s been spewing at her all these months. Well she’s right there. He couldn’t look at her even one time.
“She looked him right in the eye and said: “You are a disgrace. World leaders are laughing at you. She revealed to the entire world what he is—a fraud.”
After the speech, Emhoff headed outside to start the golf cart parade.
“I cannot tell you how much my family is looking forward to seeing the video on this. So, let’s get these golf carts going,” he said, speaking through a bullhorn. “Let’s go to a new way forward for Kamala Harris.”
