We all should think long and hard before we vote for a Congressional representative in the Tennessee Third District this year.
Chuck Fleischmann has served since he was first elected four years ago, and he has been a disappointment to many Republicans. Despite the fact that Fleischmann is very well funded by corporations, right wing PAC’s, and big money donors, such as the Koch Brothers, he very nearly lost the Republican Primary.
It should be noted that, although the Chattanooga Times Free Press had suggested that Democrats should crossover and vote for Weston Wamp in the Republican Primary, the Democratic candidate, Dr. Mary Headrick, had urged her supporters not to do so. You might think that this was in her self-interest, but it was not. She was running unopposed in the Democratic Primary; therefore, her own nomination was secure no matter the number of votes she received.
Why would she not encourage her supporters to help her gain an advantage by unseating an incumbent? Because she is a woman of character and stated that she did not think it was appropriate for a person to vote for a candidate in a primary if that person had no intention of supporting that candidate in the general election.
Before any consideration of party, position or policy, there should be a consideration of character.
According to recent reporting in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Fleischmann is trying to avoid a televised debate with Headrick. He did that the last time around in 2012 as well. He seems to believe that, since he can out-spend Headrick many times over thanks to his big money donors, avoiding a televised debate and inundating voters with televised ads is to his advantage. He is only right about that if voters fall for that.
Personally, I believe that any candidate who is unwilling to stand up in a televised debate and go head to head with his opponent, explaining and defending his ideas, does not deserve anyone’s vote, regardless of party, position or policy.
Mary Headrick is running her campaign on the premise that people come before politics. Turns out that she really means that.
Janice Figel
Athens, TN
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I take serious issue with the statement that “people come before politics” with Mary Headrick. Mary Headrick has made her stance very clear regarding abortion. She is supportive of it.
Obviously the most innocent, precious and helpless people of all do not take precedence over Dr. Headrick’s political views.
Conrad Taylor
Chattanooga
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Women are people, too.
Larry Culver
Athens, Tn.