FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Esrati – david@electesrati.com – 937-985-1312
Event Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 6:30–8:00 PM
Location: Dayton Metro Library – Main Branch, 215 E. Third Street Dayton, Eichelberger Forum
Livestream on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBxVYNPK-5g
The Livestream didn’t work. We have a single camera video.
As the Spring 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly descends on Dayton, a group of former congressional candidates is stepping up to host the public town hall Congressman Mike Turner refuses to.
“Allied or Alone? The Great NATO Debate” brings together pro- and anti-NATO voices—including former OH-10 candidates David Esrati and Michael Harbaugh—to explore whether NATO is protecting the U.S. or provoking global conflict.
The event features six expert panelists, including military veterans, peace activists, and professors. It’s free and open to the public, livestreamed on YouTube, and simulcast on WRCX Channel 40 in Dayton.
Turner, long known for his strong pro-NATO stance, is welcome to participate—but why would he start having town halls after 22 years in Congress without one. Esrati, a first-generation American and veteran who challenged Turner multiple times, says: “If he won’t talk to us, we’ll talk to each other.”
For more, visit Esrati.com
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Support civic dialogue. Sponsor the NATO Debate.
We’re offering several ways to get involved in this unique, high-visibility event:
- Flyer Sponsor: Your logo on our letter sized full color flyer on 100lb gloss text
- 1,000 copies – $168
- 2,500 copies – $267
- 5,000 copies – $339
Your logo/name will be printed on the flyer as a supporter.
- Speaker Backdrop Sponsor – $300 (2 available- or both backdrops for $500)
- Your branding included on stage backdrops and flyer.
- Livestream Sponsor – $750
- Your logo displayed on-screen during the YouTube/WRCX livestream and also on flyers and banners.
This is an independently organized public event that encourages informed discussion at a critical time in global and local politics.
To sponsor or learn more, email [email protected] or call 937-985-1312.
The Panel
David Esrati – Pro-NATO
David Esrati is a first-generation American, Army veteran, and relentless advocate for democracy. A frequent candidate in OH-10, he’s challenged the political establishment for decades—so much so that Rep. Mike Turner had him arrested for a silent solo protest at a public meeting. Esrati won in court. Through his long-running blog, Esrati.com, he’s practiced fearless citizen journalism—showing up, speaking out, and fighting for an accountable America.
Michael Harbaugh – Anti-NATO
Michael Harbaugh is an independent political candidate and small business owner from Kettering, Ohio. He ran for Ohio’s 10th Congressional District in 2024, focusing on grassroots movements and advocating for reduced military spending. Harbaugh’s platform includes anti-war positions and government reform, reflecting his skepticism toward international military alliances like NATO. His campaign emphasized representing working-class citizens and challenging the existing political establishment.
Dr. Grant Neeley – Pro-NATO
Captain Grant Neeley is Reserve Director of Public Affairs at U.S. European Command and a Navy Public Affairs Officer with deployments supporting NATO in Afghanistan and Europe. He is also a Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Cybersecurity & Data Intelligence at the University of Dayton. Neeley brings both academic and operational insight to U.S. and NATO strategic communications.
Dr. Verb Washington – Pro-NATO
Dr. Verb Washington is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and Assistant Dean at the University of Dayton’s College of Arts and Sciences. A combat veteran of the Gulf and Iraq Wars, he brings deep military and academic insight. He specializes in African American military history and teaches in the History Department. Dr. Washington previously taught at West Point and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Dr. Jonathan Maffay – Anti-NATO
Dr. Jonathan Maffay is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and existential psychotherapist based in Athens, Ohio. He has worked in community mental health for decades and served as clinical supervisor for the Athens Photo Project. A longtime peace activist, he collaborated with Middle East advocates Art and Peggy Gish, served on the Appalachian Peace & Justice Network board, and founded The Peace Patriot during the Iraq War.
Geoff Young – Anti-NATO
Geoff Young is a seasoned political activist and perennial candidate from Kentucky. He has run for various offices, including multiple bids for the U.S. House and gubernatorial races. Young holds degrees from MIT and the University of Kentucky. A staunch anti-war advocate, he has called for significant cuts to defense spending and the abolition of the CIA. His positions have often sparked debate within political circles.
Moderator: Dr. Nicholas Ostrum
Dr. Nicholas Ostrum is the director of the Lyman L. Lemnitzer Center for NATO and European Union Studies and an assistant professor of history at Kent State University. He has taught at colleges and universities across New York, Ohio, and Louisiana and has published in various print and online publications. His current research investigates West Germany’s relations with petrostates in the Global South, most prominently Syria and Libya.
Join us in person or online to engage in one of the most important foreign policy debates of our time.
Admission is free. Your voice matters.
Here is the flyer- pre-sponsorships
Mike Turner IS a strong supporter of NATO, our allies, and Ukraine, as am I. He is NOT a fan of town halls. Turner IS working to undermine your voting rights though.
It is already illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. The House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act for the second time on April 10, 2025. The SAVE Act would require citizenship documents to be presented to register to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm/verify their citizenship status when registering. Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote. The SAVE Act would create more barriers to the voting process.
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/12/nx-s1-5301676/save-act-explainer-voter-registration
Republican House Representative Mike Turner (OH-10) apparently doesn’t care about your voting rights. Turner just voted yes to pass the bill.
EVERY Ohio Republican voted yes to make voting harder for you.
EVERY Ohio Democrat voted no to preserve your ability to vote.
https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025102
Contact your senators to tell them to VOTE NO ON THE SAVE ACT. Make sure they know you want free and fair elections with NO voter suppression or undue burden when exercising your voting rights! And when you are done with that, make arrangements to attend David’s event with all your pals/elected officials!
https://www.lwv.org/take-action/tell-your-senators-oppose-save-act
…considering David’s history of jackassery in general and the Main Library in particular, the choice of venues is amusing…
I see two categories here there are people that know that NATO is a globalist, deep state, division tool.
And those that are pro NATO lol….
Mike Turner is a puppet for the military industrial complex/globalist/NATO
I can’t believe Melissa thinks Democrats are too dumb to vote and can’t get an ID. What a racist thing to think.
Hey Melissa! I saw this on your hero’s Twitter account. Please comment.
https://freebeacon.com/elections/meet-the-democratic-congressional-candidate-who-mocks-women-takes-pictures-of-kids-in-public-and-uses-the-n-word/
I hope to be there, David.
Hey Potter, try to be be selective in your media choices. Funder Paul Singer has an agenda in his Washington Beacon. It’s often best to do your own research. Since you requested my comments, I think you should ask David directly right here on his blog, or attend his upcoming event, if you have questions or concerns about ideology. You know he’s not shy and will tell it to you straight, right?
https://electesrati.com/turners-billionaire-donors/
Did Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick make Turner’s donor list? One can hardly believe some people are calling him Howard “Nutlick” because he is such a Trump toady – childish, really lol. I see Lutnick and Musk cooked up DOGE at Elon’s place in Texas. What a cluster that is and the whole tariff stock market bloodbath thing. This article from last fall is enlightening on ancestral Russian Jew Howard Lutnick, crazy Laura Loomer, racist Stephen Miller, Javanka, and all of Trump’s inner circle. Even Tim’s nemesis George Soros, a Hungarian Jew, is mentioned. So interesting to see where we are six months later.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/who-are-the-jews-in-trumps-inner-circle-and-how-will-they-affect-his-second-term/
Take Tim with you, if you decide to attend David’s event. It seems he needs to learn more about the underpinnings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He’s all twisted up and confused about racism, what being an informed voter is all about, and actual representative government in action (Turner’s vote). David can help him out on all of that, too, since he is well steeped in Mike Turner activities, political action, education, ex-wives, dark money, but David wants people to vote, no matter what. Sitting on the couch at home swiping on Twitter won’t educate the governed with historical facts. I know they say ignorance is bliss, but bone up on these facts from Associated Press, who Trump is specifically suppressing, for true historical and factual reporting. Last, I hope the Easter Bunny brings you joy!
https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
PS. Potter, you never responded to my earlier question on what you think about the firing of all of these government civil servants – good governance or retaliatory actions (or something else)?
I imagine you could educate us on what that could feel like and the ripple effects to the family and local community from a loss of job, income, healthcare, ST/LT/disability/life insurance coverage, retirement earnings match or credits, potential mortgage foreclosure, negative credit rating, possible federal bankruptcy, damage to your career, self esteem, self worth – you know, all manner of personal and economic horrors.
What’s the cost / benefit analysis on the loss of one single local, state, federal government job, pray tell?
And don’t give me a David Stockman style retort like “catsup is a school lunch veggie”, or some such tripe, please. (You can thank The Old Bandito for me being stuck in the 80’s lately as Fawn Hall & Ollie North hooked me up for a time lol.)
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/09/25/President-Reagan-upset-over-what-one-top-aide-labeled/2706370238400/
FINALLY, a rule of law check on Trump/DOJ lawlessness.
Very early this morning, SCOTUS ordered the Trump administration to not remove anyone under the Alien Enemies Act until other legal steps play out in the lower courts.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/041925zr_c18e.pdf
(ORDER LIST: 604 U.S.)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2025
ORDER IN PENDING CASE
24A1007 A.A.R.P., ET AL. V. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF U.S., ET AL. There is before the Court an application on behalf of a putative class of detainees seeking an injunction against their removal under the Alien Enemies Act. The matter is currently pending before the Fifth Circuit. Upon action by the Fifth Circuit, the Solicitor General is invited to file a response to the application before this Court as soon as possible. The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court. See 28 U. S. C. §1651(a). Justice Thomas and Justice Alito dissent from the Court’s order. Statement from Justice Alito to follow.
HAPPY EASTER, WORLD! May the Good Lord bless & keep you safe in his care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or0Qe5aCkRU
@Pussy Stewart. Anyone can put absolute garbage up about someone. I could do it too- about you- but you hide behind someone else’s name and a fake email. I’ll leave the link up- but- you are a POS.
Pay attention to this super smart lawyer, US House Rep. Jamie Raskin, who speaks to the Gentlemen from Ohio, Mike Turner, Jon Husted, and Bernie Moreno, to end voter suppression of women under the SAVE Act. A no vote would help loosen the MAGA stranglehold Trump has on Lady Liberty and all Americans.
https://youtu.be/dxYsbcWdjS0?si=u5a3gp-kyS9GGfv3&t=1458
Then, fire up your HBO login and settle in for a John Grisham style political thriller featuring familiar Ohio faces you once thought you knew, where crime, high living, prison, and death are featured in this ongoing Republican grift.
https://www.hbo.com/the-dark-money-game
Hey David. When you resort to name calling, you automatically lose the argument.
It’s no wonder you are so isolated in your life.
The article quoted your own tweets!
Aww, Potter’s offended David used the word pussy and accused him of hiding behind the robes of Justice Stewart while he snipes at David. Maybe this judge and lawyer could grant Potter some relief. Meow…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGOofzZOyl8
From “America’s highest rated bloviator” Presidential candidate Donald Trump, we heard the Access Hollywood tape of Donald Trump telling Billy Bush he could “grab ’em by the pussy” (female genitalia) since he is a star. Women and the public took offense, so Trump went into damage control, walked it back to “locker room talk”, then denied it was him altogether. Lies, adultery, sexual assault, then and now. No offense taken to any of that, Potter?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Q7IE9WZM8
This guy is also mentioning other lady parts, just not the ones Trump grabs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAVpqOG-HDY
I’m still waiting for your thoughts, Potter, on Trump and Musk firing all of those civil servants and your economic assessment of that on the employee, their family, community, and local economy – if you care to share from your special perch.