I have no reservations in telling you that I am 100 percent behind Congressman Chuck Fleischmann. He has earned the respect and support of thousands in the Third District, but my support stems from my own personal experience with Chuck. For all of the naysayers who question Chuck's operation of a small business, please let me introduce myself as one of his former employees. Better yet, please let me add that my wife is also one of Chuck's several former employees at his law firm.
Chuck has been a model of determined, hard work since I first met him.
My wife worked for Chuck when I first met her in college, and I later worked for him until he made his first run for Congress. I can unequivocally state that Chuck not only was first in his office each day, but he was also the last to leave. He worked hard every day to represent the needs of those who had been wronged. Chuck fought for those who suffered loss in an accident caused by another's negligence and those who provided a service for which they were never paid. You can call Chuck an "ambulance chaser" and "bill collector", but I implore you to consider yourself in the same situations that Chuck's clients found themselves in through no fault of their own.
As I mentioned, Chuck decided to take his nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic to Congress while I worked in his law firm. I knew then that the Third District would benefit from his work ethic, ability to understand complex issues and sheer desire to fight for what is right. As Congressman, Chuck is in a position that makes him a target for every decision he makes. He understood that would be the case going into the office. What makes Chuck different is that he stands firm on the belief that what is best for the Third District of Tennessee is also what is best for this country. He is taking care of the wants and needs of his constituents while spreading their hopes for a better country across the nation.
I have seen many people voice their opinion of Chuck's "negative" campaign ads. If we are all honest with ourselves, then we can see that Chuck's ads highlight his primary opponent's faulty stances on immigration, healthcare, privacy and national security. Do I really need to insert a link to the definition of "amnesty" for Weston and his supports to understand his statements regarding illegal immigration? Before you Google the definition, please let me state that Weston has consistently maintained one position, however. Weston has always reserved his right to be an "independent-minded conservative" who will make this country better by "reaching across the aisle" to Democrats. Really, Weston? Let's continue to be honest and admit that your stated intent is to compromise.
Weston's firm belief in compromise reminds me of the adage that by standing for nothing you will fall for anything. If I might remind Weston and his supporters, the United States of America was not founded on compromise. It was founded on a shared vision to be free and independent of a government that had gone too far in attempting to exercise its will on people who desired to be free. We could have stood by and compromised, but we fought to earn our independence. Weston's willingness to compromise is a slap in the face of the shared vision held by the founders of our nation.
We can break down FEC filings, lists of supporters and opinion polls until we are all exhausted. It seems that these measures are what is most important to Weston Wamp and his supporters. Meanwhile, Chuck Fleischmann has continuously represented the Third District with the fervor, will and passion that he brought to his clients when I worked for him. Chuck shares a vision for our nation with those who want to be free and independent of overbearing government. Our country cannot afford to take yet another step backwards by compromising on the very foundations of this great republic.
I want to add that I am also what Weston would consider a "sacred cow" to his campaign effort. I am a Millennial, and so is my wife. Weston, we do not agree with your vision for the Third District or our country. Your use of our generation as the crutch for your campaign is appalling. The hubris of youth that you and your supporters exhibit is exactly why we need people with experience, wisdom and integrity to represent us in Congress.
We need to continue to support Chuck and all elected officials like him.
Royce Davenport, Jr.
Red Bank
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Let me start by saying that I come from a family of lifelong Republicans, and half of us have defected in the past few years because of people like Mr. Fleischmann. What could cause my father, a highly successful businessman and Republican voter since the Reagan administration, to leave the party? People like Chuck Fleischmann.
How’s this for an ideal: Put politics aside and do what’s best for the country. That’s what our Founding Fathers did. Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, hard-core Federalists, had severe disagreements with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Democratic-Republicans, about how to set up our form of government. Thank God all parties ultimately reached a “compromise” or else we the United States as we know it would not exist. The rightful refusal of those founding fathers to compromise with Britain any longer, however, has absolutely nothing to do with members of our own government working together to do what is best for the country.
If anything, the views of Mr. Davenport and Mr. Fleischmann are evocative of the toxic state of affairs that Congressmen like Mr. Fleischmann have cultivated while in office. Democrats are not the enemy, they are our fellow countrymen. In our nearly 250 years of existence as a nation, there has rarely ever existed a true consensus amongst parties about the correct course of action to take with regard to policy. And yet, our elected officials still managed to get things done and build the U.S. into a world superpower. They did so via reaching across the aisle and “compromising.” Weston Wamp understands that, and it’s sad that Mr. Davenport and Mr. Fleischmann alike seem to believe that taking such a stance is “naive” and chalk it up to “the hubris of youth.”
Mr. Davenport proudly proclaims Mr. Fleischmann’s desire “to be free and independent of overbearing government.” Chuck Fleischmann voted for H.R. 1540, which allows agents of our government to detain and imprison, whether here or abroad, anyone who is labeled a “terrorist” without ever charging them with a crime. Chuck Fleischmann also voted to extend the Patriot Act, which allows for warrantless wiretapping of phones and government surveillance of American electronic communication. How is Mr. Fleischmann protecting us from an overbearing government again? Whether or not the gay couple who lived next door to me could be legally married in no way affects my personal freedoms. The fact that the federal government can legally read a “Happy birthday” text that I send to my coworker directly affects my personal freedoms.
All this leads me to believe that Mr. Davenport, and many other self-identified “Conservatives” have no idea what they are truly voting for. Mr. Fleischmann may proclaim to stand for certain things, but his actions do not back his statements.” At least Mr. Wamp has the courage to take a stand and state his political views even when those views may be unpopular with his own constituents. He is clearly not making those statements to improve his chances at becoming elected, he is doing so because he wants to represent the Third District with integrity and to the best of his abilities.
To conclude, I would like to express that I am writing this letter as someone highly dissatisfied with both political parties and “politics as usual.” Democrats are not the problem. Republicans are not the problem. Our current crop of elected officials that continuously betrays their electorate’s trust is the problem, and Chuck Fleischmann is a part of it. Everything about Mr. Wamp’s campaign indicates that he feels likewise, and I find myself inspired by his platforms and convictions. Even if I don’t always agree with Mr. Wamp from an ideological standpoint, I admire his courage and find his practical approach to governance beyond refreshing. If the GOP wishes to welcome people like my brother, my father, and me back into the fold, it will be through people like Weston Wamp, not Chuck Fleischmann.
Jeremy H. Boudinet
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I would like to take a moment and point out to Mr. Davenport and Mr. Fleischmann that yes, in fact, our country exists today only because of compromise. The original drafting of the constitution happened on the back of compromise. The "Great Compromise" between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia plan brought us both houses of congress. The Three Fifths Compromise decided how slaves should be counted when deciding number of representatives. The Commerce Compromised was reached to help southern states avoid duties on exports of cotton.
Working together for the greater good and reaching a compromise has been the backbone that's made this country great. Marriages, business, friendships, all these things exist because people decide to work together towards a common goal. Do you have any relationships in your life where you expect to get your way 100 percent of the time and if you don't you will just shut down and do nothing?
This congress needs to be stopped and that starts by removing people who obstruct the process like Mr. Fleischmann.
Matt DeGlopper
East Ridge