Way Deeper than Politics
[There is one major truth --one of historical importance, as I see it-- that is the impetus behind my campaign. In the course of this campaign, I have articulated it in various ways. See for example "The Stakes Could Not Be Higher" here at http://andyschmooklerforcongress.com/a-battle-for-americas-soul/.
The following is a new, concise statement. It was written for presentation as a speech delivered --without text or notes in hand-- to the Roanoke Valley Democratic Women's annual fundraiser on April 26.]
It seems the press can hardly write an article about our campaign without using words like “underdog” and “uphill” and “solidly Republican.” The conventional wisdom is that a Democrat can’t win here in Virginia’s 6th District.
Read MoreA Blessing My Running Has Brought Me
Running for public office for the first time is certainly challenging. But the experience has already also bestowed considerable blessings on me.
One of these blessings has been a healing of a wound I suffered in recent years in my connection with humanity.
I was brought up to have a love for humanity and, more than that, to place a very high value on that love.
It was my mother especially who conveyed this value. She felt strongly that one could find fine human qualities in people of all kind, that what was most to be cherished in human beings is a beauty of soul that can be found in people of all colors and classes and religions and nationalities.
Read MoreA Message to Loyal Republicans: Loyalty Should be a Two-way Street
I know that many people in our 6th District consistently vote Republican. It’s a matter of party loyalty. I myself regard loyalty as a great virtue. I am loyal to my friends, and I am faithful to my wife, and I still root for the teams from where I lived as a boy.
