Published July 22, 2006

When I was a senior at Anderson County High School, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a program where students were chosen to spend a day in government.  I was paired with then Election Administrator Cary Grieve and the ladies in the office put me right to work.  Mr. Grieve encouraged me to register young people to vote, so I set up a table at the high school and I’ve pretty much worked on or around campaigns ever since.

However, it wasn’t until I started closely paying attention to President Reagan that I felt the importance of not just being involved in the political process, but in trying to elect men and women who serve as a shining examples of what our nation can be.

In the last twenty years, I have met a lot of wonderful candidates.  And in that time, there have been some that I had so much faith in, that I stepped out of my normal routine to help in any way I can.

Ed Bryant, a former Congressman and U.S. Attorney from West Tennessee, is one of those men.  I’ve taken a leave of absence from my official position in our local party to work in any way I can to tell people about the friend I honor, Mr. Ed Bryant.

Ed Bryant has a long list of endorsements from conservative groups we trust—such as Tennessee Right to Life and the Republican National Coalition for Life. The Coalition was founded by conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly.

Illegal immigration is a serious issue for our nation as well, and only Ed Bryant has received the endorsement from the leading national advocacy organization for tougher immigration policies, the American Council for Immigration Reform.  They have awarded Mr. Bryant and “A” rating and have high praises for the work he did while in Congress.  Ed also has the endorsement of TEAM America PAC, a group founded by leading immigration reformer U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Chairman of Team America Bay Buchanan says of Bryant “Ed Bryant is the toughest guy against illegal immigration in this race.”

“Not only is his record solid, Bryant is an outspoken advocate for border security and enforcement of our laws. His plan to solve the immigration crisis is right on—he calls for both a secure border and mandatory verification of the legal status of employees by their employers.”

I could go on with others who have endorsed Mr. Bryant, like rock solid conservatives in the U.S. Senate such as Senator Tom Coburn from Oklahoma and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), and tax cutting hero and former Majority Leader Dick Armey, but today, I want to emphasize my personal endorsement of Ed.

As many of my regular readers know, one of my own personal concerns regards the cultural issues of our day.  I believe as a nation that a clear majority of us believes in the bedrock principles that bind us together—principles like a faith in the importance of family, a belief in God, a belief in right and wrong, and a trust in the Golden Rule.

Many of those important principles and traditions have been under attack by minority opinions in such places as our federal courts.

It is because I believe so deeply that our nation is strong because we are Godly nation that today, I humbly ask you to vote for my friend Ed Bryant.  He is a man of honor, integrity, and faith who is unmatched in the race for the U.S. Senate.