Let’s make a quilt – bringing diversity to politics
I’m Just Saying by Austin Rhodes
Powered by Roof Savers
I wish I could take full credit for two of the most amazing political wins in recent local history.
I wish I could tell you I put the plan together for one, or both, but I cannot.
The truth is I was drafted.
I was extended opportunities to make the community better, and I decided to work with a very unusual team in the hopes of bringing profound change to the City of Augusta.
The first opportunity came two years ago when I got a call from businessman Garnett Johnson. We met for lunch – my treat -and he described to me his vision for Augusta and how he wanted to bring business sense into what he viewed as a broken city government. He was running against an establishment politician, a man who had just helped the single worst candidate to ever run for DA in our area defeat a very capable and strong prosecutor. That man, Steven Kendrick, and his mindset needed to be defeated, and Garnett’s superior resume and game plan was a slam dunk two- for-one proposition. In a matter of weeks, I was networking with businesspeople across Augusta, sharing my concerns, and hopes, for Garnett. The resulting collection of souls was quite a quilt of political persuasion, gender, race, religion, and even sexual orientation. The cherry on the sundae was when I was asked if I wanted to interview a retired politician a few days before the election who also shared hopes for Garnett to become Augusta’s next Mayor. I happily agreed.
That was the day former State Senator Charles Walker spent an hour in studio with me on the Austin Rhodes Show.
Yes. That Charles Walker. The same man that,15 years prior, I had helped send to the federal penitentiary.
In the very real shadow of our distinct personal and political differences, we both understood the need to unite in an effort bring Augusta better leadership, and we did just that. I will forever be grateful to him for making that appearance, and for his efforts to promote Garnett’s successful run.
My next opportunity to work across the aisle came as a chance to unseat the single most destructive and inept sheriff Richmond County has seen in my lifetime, Richard Roundtree. I was introduced to challenger Gino “Rock” Brantley by his talented political consultant Jorge Diez. I knew almost immediately that with the same kind of “quilt” approach that put Mayor Johnson in the Winner’s Circle, “The Rock” also had a good chance of slaying a political giant.
The relatively small and exclusive turnout that votes in a local Democrat primary is usually not ripe for the upset of a well-financed veteran politician. But Roundtree had this coming. Many of the same disparate civic, business, and political leaders that had aided and abetted the Johnson campaign came together behind the scenes, convincing lifelong Republicans to temporarily switch parties and vote against Roundtree in the first primary election, and then unite to support Brantley in the runoff.
Republican or Democrat, Black or White, rich or poor, young or old, men or women, gay or straight – the ‘quilt’ took allowed all into its weave and then tossed out an immoral and unethical lawman to the benefit of Richmond County.
These two efforts are local examples of an idea and ideal that makes me extremely proud and hopeful. I It was the kind of enthusiasm that guided me every day in my support of Donald Trump.
We just witnessed one of the most astonishing political comebacks in human history, and it was anything but exclusionary or xenophobic when broken down by vote. Trump brought more minorities and women to his ticket than anyone thought possible. He has blown up the decades old idea that Democrats alone could lay claim to the votes of Blacks, Hispanics, and other ethnic minorities, not to mention young voters and even lifelong union members. Trump had to secure the votes of his very diverse new supporters. The old guard would never have been enough to guarantee him victory. That is not an opinion. It is rock-hard fact!
I am a lifelong Conservative, but I am not now, nor have I have ever been, a Neanderthal. I am an avid supporter of the fine arts and have raised thousands and thousands of dollars for several local groups over the course of my professional career. I have long supported same-sex marriage, and adoption rights for same sex couples. I welcome legitimate and legal immigration, legalizing marijuana, and reasonable but limited abortion access for adult women.
Those of you who choose to demonize me for rejecting the extremes represented by modern Democrats and their highly unethical weaponizing of the judicial system against Trump and his team are certainly free to do so, but you are dead wrong for doing so. As you attack, ridicule, and carry on, I will address you the same way I have done for 32 years of daily broadcasting. I will tell you I disagree, and then move on with my day. Your animosity is not worthy of my hate.
I will still watch football on Sunday (Go Steelers!), I will still coach my son’s flag football team (Go Steelers!), I will still respectfully debate politics with my daughter, and I will very likely still continue to have my hand slapped nine-out-of-ten times when I pinch my beautiful wife’s fanny.
I will also continue to not be a fascist, or Hitler, or xenophobic, or homophobic, or any other kind of phobic.
The only hate I have in my heart is for violent criminals, the Bengals, the Browns, and the Ravens.
With the noted exceptions above, I will not tolerate any hatred from any of my elected officials now or in the future.
Hold me to that. Hold all of us who voted for Trump to that.