Frank Discussion

About McCain,

Roe/Davis Race

At Local Meeting

By NELSON MORAIS

Staff Writer

Blunt-talking Shirley Ward, president of the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women, exhorted her fellow political "brethen" on Monday to put aside any personal disappointments about election primary results and to campaign hard for all Republican candidates running in November.

"If you haven't got something nice to say about a Republican, keep your mouth shut," said Ward to 45 people gathered for a luncheon meeting of the Greene County Republican Women at the General Morgan Inn.

Ward said she drove eight hours from Covington, Tenn. to speak to the Republican women (and a handful of men).

"Okay, are we ready to win in '08?" Ward challenged her audience.

She said it was a relief to come to a Republican stronghold like Greene County, where a majority of registered voters are Republicans and a majority of elected officials are Republicans.

She compared that to Tipton County, where she lives.

She said Tipton County's elected representatives were all Democrats, including House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, whom she accused of being corrupt and heavy-handed in his political dealings.

"A lot of us are sad (incumbent U.S. Representative) David Davis lost" in last week's election, Ward said.

She continued, "But this is America. Everybody has the right to run. This is a new day, with a new man on the ballot (Phil Roe). I'm challenging you to get behind Roe."

Roe, the mayor of Johnson City, apparently defeated Davis last week by about 500 votes, according to unofficial election results.

Ward said the November election was "about going forward, unity and doing what's right."

She admitted conservatives had a legitimate reason to be disappointed that U.S. Sen. John McCain is the Republican presidential candidate.

She quickly added, however, that she thinks demographics, or the reality of the political landscape, makes it impossible for a Christian conservative candidate to win in a U.S. presidential general election.

Ward said she "insisted" that every woman present at Monday's meeting not leave before filling out political forms she held in her hand and signed up for the political action group, "Women For McCain." She asked them to campaign actively for McCain.

"We'll have the highest tax rate if (U.S. Sen. Barack) Obama is elected," Ward said. She added, "Do we want a liberal to be able to appoint liberal judges (like perhaps) Hillary Clinton?"

Ward said it was a little known fact, ignored by the mainstream media, that McCain's wife, Cindy, had been on numerous missions trips around the world.

"Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart," Ward said. "We're a party that cares for each and every person. I'm proud that I am a God-fearing American," she added.