Take Me To Post Comment Form We swore, we would “Remember in November,” more importantly now, however, I feel we must prove our words with “Action in August.”

Apathy has had a grip on the majority of the American voter for years. So many of us have watched the news shows from our recliners and screamed at our TVs: “Are you kidding me?” While the majority of voters did their due diligence and went to the polls, I’ve learned this election year, voters are still casting their votes without knowing all, or even one of the candidates positions on what have become the most important issues in front of us in decades!

They’ve heard catchy phrases on radio commercials played every 15 minutes on popular music stations, but haven’t heard the facts behind them or even one time done a “Google” search of a candidate.

Thanks to the awakening of the silent majority by the growth of the TEA party movement, the majority of us who had once been apathetic in our candidate and issue knowledge are now more in tune than ever and actually discussing candidate policies, ethics, and issues with those around us via tools such as Facebook and Twitter.

Due to the increased awareness of what is happening in Washington DC, I was well aware of the happenings regarding HR:3200, the House version of the Healthcare bill in September, 2009, voted on December 23rd, and subsequently followed the Senate version of the bill all the way to Washington on March 16th. One candidate joined me and 3 others on a trip to the “Code Red: Kill the Bill” rally in Washington DC, when Iowa Representative Steve King said, “We need the citizen's help to fight this.”

Jack Kingston, Michelle Bachman, and even Joe Wilson joined with over 40,000 fellow Americans, including Congressional Candidate Carl Smith, in making a stand against the Senate Healthcare Bill. No other candidate currently running for any position in the state of Georgia can say they were “Feet on the Street,” actively battling the Obamacare monstrosity. Actually, 2 weeks after the bill passed the Senate, Carl Smith’s Republican competitor stated on the record in an interview posted online at Savannah Now, “there are a lot of good things in it.” (Reference, March 30th, Savannah Morning News)



I was floored. That type of sentiment is not congruent with the current feelings of this District’s voters. Overwhelmingly, we demand this bill be replaced or repealed and will accept nothing short of complete de-funding. RasmussenReports.com states the following: “Eighty-five percent (85%) of Georgia Republicans oppose the health care plan. So do 69% of Georgia voters not affiliated with either major political party. But 85% of Georgia Democrats favor the president's plan. Even now, more things are coming out about Obamacare deemed "unintended consequences", one particularly disturbing one states that it is causing some insurers to consider no longer offering “child-only” policies to avoid having to raise rates.”

This is where I feel Carl Smith has the edge against Ray McKinney to oppose Barrow in the fall. Carl Smith is not only against Obamacare, but also has a plan to reform the broken system. He has told me personally and also stated publically "There is no ambiguity in where I stand on the government takeover of the American health care system. I am opposed to every period, sentence, and paragraph as it relates to the health care that was passed. If elected, I will support legislation that will not deny coverage for people and their children who have a pre-existing condition; will remove the artificial barriers to purchasing health insurance across state lines; will give people the ability to transfer insurance polices if they change employment; and create a national pool based on the current Federal Employees Health Care System."

Tuesday, August 10th is the GA GOP Runoff election and will determine several offices in this state; I can't emphasize strongly enough the importance of this vote. I’ve heard voter turnout to runoffs is typically low. I would hope that is not the case this year. The energized and involved citizens of this district, while busy with school starting and mortgage payments, are still concerned about the huge burden of debt that has been forced on this country and our children, and for that reason alone, I know several have already early voted, and intend to vote in the runoff election on Tuesday.

I feel as an active citizen in the 12th district, the only way we can affect real change against this Federal takeover of our health and liberties is to vote for the only Congressional Candidate who has remained steadfast in his belief in our Constitution; one who will be able and willing to enact and support a law that would repeal the Healthcare takeover while implementing Fiscally Responsible, Limited Constitutional Government, and Free Market Principles for true Healthcare Reform. The Candidate for the job is Carl Smith.



Heather Merritt
Statesboro, GA
12th District Voter