The three hardest words in politics are “I was wrong” – and I have to say them today.
Earlier today, I put up a tweet and Facebook status that said
The ones who got the Democrat healthcare bill through the US House are the same ones pushing Loudermilk for Speaker of the Ga House
This remains, in the MOST general of ways, correct. It WAS pro-lifers that got the Stupak Amendment passed, which allowed conservative Democrats to vote for the healthcare bill, thus ensuring its passage.
HOWEVER, the specific pro-lifer I was referring to – Jenny Hodges – was, on this issue, one of the good guys who realized exactly what Stupak would do and thus worked AGAINST it.
I. Was. Wrong. for saying she had worked to ensure Obamacare’s passage.
And, with the admission of guilt, comes the next two hardest words to say in politics:
I apologize.
I once kicked a man off this site because he could not bring himself to do what I just did, and it wouldn’t be right for me to allow myself any more leeway than I gave him – particularly as the co-owner of this site, who believes that leaders SHOULD be held to higher standards.
So today, I eat crow over this statement. It is the right thing to do.
I just have to ask, what is it specifically that you have against Loudermilk? He believes in the Constitution. Jenny Hodges may be a fan of his, but has never, ever been associated with him in any way. What have you read about Loudermilk that makes you so pre-disposed to work against him? He is an honest man, and was not part of the previous leadership in Atlanta.
So far there are only two people who can vote for Speaker that I have seen any indications of support of Loudermilk from – and one of those openly called for war against the US government.
I can certainly understand your position as the wife of the Chairman of the Bartow County GOP, and even my own State Chairman has openly come out in support of Loudermilk. My primary concern with him or any of the other potential candidates truly comes down to the inside baseball stuff: Who is he going to have to repay if he DOES get the job? Is the State Rep who openly called for war against the US Government then going to get a key Chairmanship?
I maintain my position: Try to move up. Just don’t try to eat the elephant in a single bite.
My position in favor of Loudermilk has nothing to do with my husband’s position. We have known the Loudermilk family since 2001 when we started homeschooling our oldest daughter, and Desiree Loudermilk was the coordinator of our homeschool group. We were already interested in politics, and as they were like-minded people, we became friends. (Michael did not become the Bartow GOP chair until March of 2005.) Their family is one that I admire greatly, and one that has served as a role model for our family for over 8 years.
I believe you can learn a lot about a man’s character by looking at the way his family functions, and you can’t find a better family than the Loudermilk family. Their children are in their late teens and early 20s now, and I have seen them maintain a very close family relationship throughout the entirety of the teenage years. The Loudermilk kids have a great respect for both of their parents, and that says volumes about the character of both Barry and his wife.
You don’t have to worry about Loudermilk having to repay someone if he gets the job. One thing I know about both Loudermilk and about my husband Michael is that neither of them is involved in this process because of what they can gain for themselves. They are both men of honor who just want to return our country to its founding principles. Barry would be fair and not play all of these little games that are so typical of the egos that usually wind up in leadership.
It is actually mildly insulting to imply that I am a fan of Loudermilk just because my husband is the BartowGOP chairman. Both he and I would feel the same way even if he were not still chairman. Is it so hard to believe that there are people who would go to bat for a friend because they know the character of the man and his family?
Melissa,
Would you have ever heard of Loudermilk had you not been from Bartow County? I know I wouldn’t have – and I grew up just outside his district. Indeed, I turn 27 next year and my younger bros are 24 and 19, so it is decently likely that we’ve run in some of the same circles as the Loudermilks. Again, I have no problems with him or even his positions (at least as I know them). I am SIMPLY worried about the inside baseball stuff – and there WILL be people he has to pay back if he is able to make the jump from Secretary of the Transportation Committee all the way up to Speaker. To deny that is flat out ignorance and wishful thinking.
Jeff,
I’m not actually from here. I’m a transplant, and have only lived here since 1998. Shh…I’m actually a Yankee from Indiana…
I just want to again reiterate that the reason he would make a good speaker is because he doesn’t operate the same way as your typical politician.
That’s probably the reason he won’t get it…he hasn’t sought it and he hasn’t been posturing by promising things to get it…which is exactly why he would be an excellent person to lead the house.
It is time we seek a different sort of person to lead instead of the same old personality type who seeks to control through favors and retribution.
Oh, and it’s not nice to call me ignorant:) You don’t know enough about me to make that call.
Eh, don’t feel too bad about it – even 6 months ago I wouldn’t have known it myself. I’ve actually learned quite a bit about how the General Assembly works in this off season, looking forward to the session starting back in barely more than three weeks!
And again, I’m not saying he shouldn’t try to go for a rise in the ranks. I’m simply saying I think shooting for Speaker is over-playing his hand. Better to under-play for now and get a bigger reward later (while maintaining what he has now) than to over-play now and risk losing everything he has.
I don’t want to win the battle big early only to lose the war down the road. Based on what people are telling me, he may be a guy we want in the later battles – which means we can’t risk killing him now.
You can’t keep a good man down.
The biggest fear is that we won’t have any freedom left to try to preserve in the near future. Things are going crazy faster than I’ve ever seen (I’m only 36, so I haven’t seen much…but still…)
Anyway, whatever happens, it shows that people with integrity will gain at least a little following, whether the powers that be recognize it or not.