Powerful Biography in a Campaign Song

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Rick Jackson rolled out a video the other day for his campaign.  Songs and jingles for campaigns are not unusual. Many candidates come up with something to plant the name of the candidate firmly in the listener’s mind.

This song did that and more. It told a powerful story of the struggles of a child. It told how that child overcame those overwhelming odds to make a life that impacts thousands of lives today.

The song walks you through the first time that Rick drove a car. He could barely see over the dashboard to drive his drunk and passed out mother home. He told of nights at home with literally an empty cupboard.

He was labeled and laughed at and bullied. He was told that he was white trash.

At five years old something led him to walk to a downtown church where he found refuge and a sense of peace. When the world knocked him down, he found the strength to get up and get up again and again and again to keep fighting against the labeling, name calling, bullying, and being told he would never amount to anything.

He tracked his job career from shoeshine boy, to a paper route, to vacuum cleaner salesman, to the Chief Executive of a multibillion dollar company today. He determined to learn life’s valuable lessons even in the lowliest jobs.

Through his experience, he honed the value of one-on-one relationships and a servant’s heart. Rather than accepting the label of a white trash loser, he looked to win and win big.

He was shaped along the way by loving foster parents and later in the United Methodist Children’s Home. “From the hard road to the high road,” he learned and applied what it took to win big.

He related in his song servanthood and putting America first. When Covid hit, he made Georgia the priority for finding medical personnel to fight the deadly disease. He could have easily increased his bottom line profits by turning his business toward New York – but he stuck with Georgia. (He was not running for and had no thought of running for Governor back then.)

China, had a monopoly on medicine production. When they tried to squeeze America, Rick Jackson  bought an American medicine manufacturer and turned it around to keep some medicine production on American soil.

With all of his millions, he never forgot where he came from. He built a successful organization to help foster children when they aged out of foster care.

He sees this run for Governor of Georgia as a drive that calls for strength and clarity. He demonstrates both in his support for law enforcement, families, and the working man.

He is running to win and win big. I like the way he puts it when he says he doesn’t want to be governor. He wants to be a good governor.

Listen to the song here on YouTube. It will move you as much as any patriotic song you’ve ever heard.

If you want to meet Rick in person, he will be making a couple of stops in Southwest Georgia on Friday, March 6 in Blakely and Thomasville. Click on the invites below for more information.

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Sanford Bishop Votes Nay to Condemn Political Violence

At one time many, many moons ago, 2nd District Congressman Sanford Bishop was considered a moderate Democrat. He has long since lost that label.

In the latest of his votes, in a resolution that passed on a bi-partisan basis by 310 Yeas to only 58 Nays, Sanford Bishop voted Nay. What was he against?

He voted Nay to condemn political violence.

He voted Nay to commend the law enforcement and emergency personnel who responded to the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

He voted Nay to extend his deepest condolences to Charlie Kirk’s young widow and two young children.

He voted Nay to call upon all Americans regardless of race, party, or creed to reject political violence.

He voted Nay to recommit to respectful debate and to respect one another as fellow Americans.

He voted Nay to honor the life, leadership and legacy of Charlie Kirk.

A young political leader was assassinated, cut down in the prime of his life, while peacefully engaging in open discourse. He did not just proclaim his position, he invited and listened to anyone, especially those who held diametrically opposing views. Charlie Kirk died doing what every politician says we ought to do – listen and peacefully debate.

Sanford Bishop, who at one time considered becoming a minister, could not find it within himself to express his sincere condolences to a grieving widow and two young children. He could not bring himself to condemn all forms of political violence.

Sanford Bishop, who says that there is too much partisan politics, could not bring himself to recommit to respectful debate and respect one another as fellow Americans.

Sanford Bishop does not represent the values of the vast majority of Southwest Georgians. It appears that he was more concerned about the opinions of the woke crowd in Washington than he was the people he supposedly represents.

Below is the exact text of what the House resolved in a resolution that passed in an overwhelming bi-partisan vote of 310 Yeas and only 58 Nays. Sanford Bishop should be ashamed to admit that he was one of the Nays.

Resolved that the House of Representatives –

(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, and all forms of political violence;

(2) commends and honors the dedicated law enforcement and emergency personnel for their tireless efforts in finding the suspect responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk and urges the administration of swift justice to the suspect;

(3) extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Charlie Kirk’s family, including his wife, Erika, and their two young children, and prays for comfort, peace, and healing in this time of unspeakable loss;

(4) honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty; and

(5) calls upon all Americans—regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed—to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.

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Honor Charlie – Go to Church

Across the nation thousands gather in groups of all sizes to remember Charlie Kirk and express their grief at his tragic murder. Millions comment, like, and share posts on social media. People want to do something, take some kind of affirmative action in response to the loss of Charlie Kirk.

Since his murder, I have learned things about Charlie that I did not know before. I knew of Charlie Kirk and knew that he was a conservative political leader. I knew that he went on college campuses and had a powerful influence among the young people of today.

I did not follow him or subscribe to his podcast. My knowlege of him was limited to seeing him occasionally on the news. Based on the limited knowledge I had of him, I knew that we agreed politically.

Since his murder I learned that I have even more in common with Charlie Kirk and that is our faith. In fact, I learned that at the foundation of his political philosophy, he had a strong, fundamental, Christian faith.

His faith was not just a label. His faith was a life transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In fact, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, his response was centered in his faith. He wanted to be remembered for his faith and his courage.

Having learned this about Charlie Kirk, it opens the door to a simple act that will honor his life. Go to church this Sunday.

The prayer vigils are all excellent ways to express your desire to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. Those prayer vigils are one and done. A month from now, they will be memories in the archives of newsrooms around the nation.

But what happens when you make the decision to go to church this Sunday, the next Sunday and on-going. You continue an on-going tribute to Charlie Kirk and you will greatly benefit from personal and spiritual growth yourself.

I would be interested to see if there is an uptick in church attendance over the next few Sundays. It could be the groundswell of a spiritual awakening across America.

Romans 8:28 promises us that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love the Lord. God can take even a vicious and evil murder and turn it into good for thousands, even millions.

You may be like I was and did not know about the strong faith of Charlie Kirk. Now you do know. I encourage you to do some research and learn more about his bold and courageous proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You might have attended a vigil, written your comments or shared someone else’s. One more thing you can do to honor Charlie Kirk. This Sunday, go to church.

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I Endorse Josh McKoon for GA GOP Chairman

I want to talk with you today about the Georgia Republican Party Chairman election coming up in June. 

I am voting for and supporting Josh McKoon to serve as our state party chair. 

I have known Josh since he was first running for  State Senate. He has proven himself to be a solid, honest, conservative leader who stands firm in his convictions. 

As a State Senator he stood up against corruption in his successful push for strong ethics legislation. In the face of a liberal tidal wave, He boldly stoop up for religious freedom legislation. 

As State Party Chairman, he displayed proven leadership to lead Georgia to resounding victories for Republicans across the board. 

I dialed in to a recent zoom call where Josh addressed questions and issues that we face as a Republican party in Georgia. He was clear, concise, honest, and straight forward with his answers.  

In this upcoming election cycle we will be electing a governor, constitutional officers, and a United States Senator. We need Josh’s leadership in this critical election cycle. 

If you are a delegate to the state convention in Dalton, then I ask you to vote for Josh McKoon as our state party chair. 

Thank you for your positive consideration. I’m Don Cole with Common Sense from DC, not Washington.  God bless you and have a great day!  

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Stay the in the Race Nikki Haley

I am voting for Donald Trump, but I want to see Nikki Haley stay in the primary race for a little while longer. Her candidacy provides valuable data for Republicans in general and Donald Trump in particular.

In 2020 thousands of suburban voters left Donald Trump blank but voted Republican down the line. One may complain about the race being stolen, but had these voters cast a vote for Donald Trump, any effort to sabotage Trump would not have overcome a vast turnout with these Republican non-Trump voters in Trump’s column.

So now it is 2024. Nikki Haley reaches those who skipped over Donald Trump in 2020. With her in the race, Republicans and the Trump campaign can identify them now, in the primary, months before the general campaign. More importantly something can be done to reach some of those this time around.

Nikki Haley voters in the Presidential Primary form an interesting profile. Some are solid Republicans who will vote for the eventual nominee.

Some are Democrats who are crossing over to cast a vote against Trump. They will vote for the Democrat nominee in November and will never vote for Trump or any other Republican (not even Nikki) in November.

Some see themselves as Republican leaning voters but consider themselves independent. These are the ones who voted Republican down ballot but left the Presidential race blank. At this point, they will be inclined to do the same or vote for a 3rd party candidate.

It is the last group that Republicans and Donald Trump need in November. Now the Republican party is faced with an opportunity to identify these voters this spring.

While the vast majority of campaign investments will be toward the general voter, The Republican party and the Trump campaign will do well to form a Special Operations Strategy aimed specifically at the Nikki Haley voter.

President Trump himself should be involved in this strategy. While Trump will be Trump, he could identify those counties, precincts, and voters who support Nikki Haley and listen to determine what message will peel off those independent voters.

Campaign materials targeting those voters can be used to persuade them that Trump is the candidate whose policies match their politics. After four years of Biden that will be an easier sell than it was in 2020.

So, Nikki, stay in the race a little longer. Then, after New Hampshire and South Carolina, suspend your campaign and ask your supporters to get behind Donald Trump.

Be a part of a Republican Special Operations Team to identify those voters who voted for you but will need to be reached to vote for Trump. Don’t do it just for Donald Trump, do it for America.

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Say It Ain’t So, Billy!

Say it ain’t so, Billy. With a shocked and dismayed heart, I have to say that Billy must say it is so.

I first heard about it yesterday morning. I could not believe it.

Not Billy! He would never do anything like this. Yes, he did.

Crisp County Republican Sheriff, Billy Hancock, made an advertisement for Sanford Bishop. Billy gave Sanford his strong endorsement with an ending line, “I trust Congressman Bishop with my life.”

Why, Billy? Tell me. Was some grant or promise really worth it? Did you sell your soul in the past and now the devil came to collect his due?

This is a kick in the gut for conservatives who worked for you. We worked for you because we support the rock solid policies, values, and candidates who will stand up against the erosion of what Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, yes, and Sanford Bishop are doing to our country.

I understand the need to work with politicians across the aisle, especially when there are millions of dollars in various grants that could come our way. Elected officials have to go to the dance to get the funding.

I know how the dance goes. Go to the dance with Sanford if you need to, but you don’t have to give him the key to your hotel room.

Billy Hancock probably has more political capital amassed than any elected official in Georgia. He has enough to weather the reaction from people like me.

Honestly though, is it worth it? You sell out for a few dollars in grant money while Bishop (with whom you trust your life) is using that capital you just gave him to support the horrific policies of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, AOC, George Soros, and a host of others who are are diametrically opposed to the values in that capital you just squandered.

I got a call from Tim Pinson, a friend of mine from Mitchell County, last night asking about this ad. He said that his one redeeming thought was that at least Crisp County is in the 8th District now and Billy Hancock can’t vote for Sanford.

That is true, but Billy, did you think ahead to how this could affect Crisp county when your congressman Austin Scott, goes to 2nd District Congressman Chris West to get help for Crisp County? You are not making our jobs any easier playing these political games.

I am so disappointed and disheartened over this ad. Before anyone asks me for a link, I’m not giving it because I will not play into the hands of making it easy to distribute it to an even larger audience.

Tim Pinson raised a question. Billy, you don’t have to answer it because I don’t know if I want the answer or not. He wondered out loud if you even voted for me in 2020.

You don’t know how badly I wanted you to say it ain’t so. But it is so. Please do not do anything like this again.

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Wayne Johnson the Problem Solver

As candidates are crisscrossing their respective territories, Wayne Johnson made a stop at the Thomasville Times-Enterprise for an interview. There were two main take-aways for the reporter. (Read the article here)

First and foremost was Wayne’s commitment and life experience of solving problems and bringing that to serve the people of the 2nd District. The second was the contrast between Wayne and another candidate, Jeremy Hunt.

As I read that article, I decided that it was time for me to also share a few thoughts in the closing days of this race. As a matter of full disclosure and transparency, I am on Wayne Johnson’s team and am compensated.

What I write in the Note from Don Cole is not directed by the campaign but what I choose to write about what is on my mind. As is always the case in a political campaign my readers support different candidates. So here are a few thoughts regarding Wayne and Jeremy Hunt.

Values

Both Wayne Johnson and Jeremy Hunt share the same core Christian values. Both are pro-life. Wayne has personal experience of helping a single mother in her decision to carry her child when there was pressure from others for her to abort the child. He is proud of being part of that support and he stands strong for life.

Wayne is a strong 2nd Amendment supporter. Wayne will probably personally own more guns than any member of congress when he is sworn in. He will show you his Georgia carry permit at the drop of a hat.

Life Experience

When it comes to experience, Wayne Johnson stands head and shoulders above any other candidate in the race. Wayne has created thousands of jobs in the private sector. He knows what it is like to sign the front of a check and to do without a paycheck in order to pay others.

I do not discount Jeremy’s service at West Point and four years on active duty reaching the rank of Captain. Wayne went through college on an ROTC scholarship and also served four years on active duty as a Captain. He had the opportunity to serve on the staff of Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell.

Trump

There is one significant point here to make. Wayne Johnson served in the Trump administration in a significant role. Some ask Wayne if he is endorsed by Trump. While Trump has made no endorsement in this race, Wayne makes the point that he was vetted and hired by the Trump administration.

I do not know if Jeremy has been asked about Trump’s endorsement. I have noticed that he never makes mention of President Trump or, more importantly, the policies that brought such an economic resurgence.

It would seem that in a Republican primary, a candidate for congress would at least acknowledge and give credit to President Trump for his leadership. After all, it is quite possible that in the 2024 election, President Trump may be at the head of the ticket for the Republican party.

Ready to Lead from Day One

The key contrast that I see in the two candidates is the ability to serve the people of the 2nd District immediately. Wayne knows his way around and knows the ins and outs of dealing with executive branch agencies who will be the ones to implement policy – and the ones who can pull the strings to solve problems on behalf of a congressman.

When Republicans win and take control of the House and Senate, the question will be about what our new congressman will do beginning on day one. Wayne Johnson has the experience and readiness to serve immediately.

For the 2nd District voter, I heartily endorse Wayne Johnson. As the reporter in the Thomasville Times-Enterprise concluded, Wayne Johnson is a problem solver.

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Racism Rears its Ugly Head

A Letter to the Editor printed in the Cordele Dispatch on February 23, 2022.

Dear Editor,

Racism is evil. Racism is real. Racism hurts everyone it touches at the individual level, the family level, and the community level.

Racism is an equal opportunity malady that ravages human nature. When racism raises its ugly head, it must be confronted.

In his letter to the Christians in Galatia, the Apostle Paul gave a stern and direct warning to the believers, FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather

Meet Wayne Johnson

A few weeks ago, I received a call from a fellow in Macon named Wayne Johnson. He wanted to talk about the 2nd District Congressional race. He said that a mutual friend encouraged him to talk with me.

I am accustomed to getting inquiries about that race. I always try to talk the interested parties out of running and have a sanity check of questions for them to ask of themselves before taking on such a task.

I explained to Wayne that I was not running because Crisp county is now in the 8th district and I have no intention of running in another district where I cannot even vote for myself.

Wayne wanted to meet me in person.FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather