By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Morgan County Republicans showed up 150 strong in support of GOP candidates during the county’s recent Romney-Ryan rally, which raised $3,700.
County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Crouch credited Vice Chairman Dave Belton for putting together the event, which included entertainment by Miss University of Georgia 2012 Shelby McLeod and keynote speaker Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens as well as local Republican candidates.

McLeod was accompanied by her father, Jeff. The two performed four songs while attendees dined.
Belton then told those present the county has a “meaningful impact for the race.”

He said that Mitt Romney’s first debate with President Barack Obama was “very honed” and shared that one poll said 72 percent of viewers thought Romney won the debate.

“We’re going to win Georgia,” he said, adding that Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are crucial for a Republican victory as well.

Belton then encouraged people to donate money to the Romney-Ryan campaign. He also said that people could participate in a calling campaign by visiting mittromney.com and printing out a script that they can refer to as they make campaign calls.

Republican candidates for local races–Dick Hodgetts, running for the District 1 seat on the Morgan County Board of Education, and Rennie Nestor, running for Morgan County Tax Commissioner–were both given the opportunity to address the crowd and share their applicable experience and message.

Jerry Caldwell, considered “the sage of Morgan County,” according to Belton, also addressed those gathered, sharing a story about a salesman named Bill who worked hard – studying the manual for a new machine into the wee hours each morning for a month – and succeeded in selling 30 machines, each with a $1,000 bonus.

Caldwell said this “viral effect” prompts the company to in turn make more machines, which means they require more parts, both of which require additional labor.

“If you have incentives and work hard, that’s what can make this country great,” he said, asking those present if the current president understands this. He was met with a resounding, “No!”

Burt Jones, state Senate nominee, said he had a “long, hard fought primary campaign” and that he would not have made it without Morgan County’s support.

He said it is of “utmost importance” to promote the Romney-Ryan ticket.

“The very fabric our country was founded on is in jeopardy,” he said, urging voters to vote pro-business and elect Romney.

Jones added that over 40 percent of the population is dependent on the government and that one-sixth of the economy has been taken over by the government. 

His turn to deliver the keynote address, Olens, who was introduced by Rob Jones, said he spends time in federal court fighting the government: “We get into litigation all the time, especially with this president.”

Olens defends all forms of energy, including coal, and said that Obamacare will cost $600 billion in new taxes, $716 billion will leave Medicare, and it will involve 21 new taxes.

“We can repeal Obamacare and replace it with healthcare we need,” he said.
Regarding Obama’s domestic policy, Olens said that 23 million struggle for work, one in six live in poverty, and 33 million are on food stamps.

As to Obama’s foreign policy, he said that Obama “leads from behind.”
Olens urged attendees to call friends and relatives in the states in play: Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.
“This is a crucial election,” he said, noting that voters will decide between government entitlements and education and hard work. “We’ve got to change the election.”

Printed in the October 18, 2012 edition