Congressman Jody Hice: “Dr. Rich McCormick is a man you can count on”

The following article is an opinion piece and reflects the views of only the author and not those of AllOnGeorgia.

By: Congressman Jody Hice

While so much has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, one thing we can still count on this election year is that political flyers are in the mail and campaign ads are on television. In the beginning, these ad blitzes often start by showing us bright-eyed candidates who are eager to share their story and communicate how they’ll serve the community. As we draw ever closer to the election, the ads take an unfortunate turn from the best that Georgians have to offer – hope, kindness, and service – to the worst sort of political gamesmanship. This is happening right now in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District race, where career politicians and campaign operatives have begun spreading half-truths and falsehoods against Republican candidate Dr. Rich McCormick.

It’s a strategy that’s been around forever. When a conservative Republican emerges as the frontrunner, the big dollar campaign operatives start spinning yarns to take them down. They tried it with me when I won my first election in 2014. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now because, contrary to what cynical politicians will tell you, facts matter.

Some Georgia politicos are spreading rumors that Rich doesn’t support President Trump

Dr. Rich McCormick

because they say he never voted for him. It’s time someone set this record straight and I thought you might prefer to hear the plain truth from me – someone who isn’t on any campaign’s payroll.

Here’s the real story. President Trump has been on the ballot twice, the 2016 primary and the 2016 general election. During the primary, Rich was serving in the U.S. Navy on active duty as a Head of Emergency Medicine overseas in Kandahar, Afghanistan. If you’re going to miss a vote, it’s hard to come up with a better reason as I imagine Rich had other things on his mind like returning safely to his family and doing his duty. In the general election, while still on active duty, Rich requested an absentee ballot. This has been confirmed by the Florida Secretary of State. Rich submitted his ballot, but it was never counted. Yes, that’s right. Rich was serving his country and his attempt to vote for Donald Trump was never processed. It’s sad to say, but this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of this happening. Rich’s opponents want to spin these events to paint him as a “Republican in Name Only” (RINO) fair-weather politician.

I’ve been called the most conservative member of Georgia’s congressional delegation – a fact that doesn’t win me many popularity contests in Washington, which is just fine with me. Even if it gets me into hot water with the lobbyists and donors in Washington, I stick to my principles. Heritage Action, the American Conservative Union, FreedomWorks, and a host of other established and respected conservative organizations have awarded me the highest lifetime scorecards of the Georgia delegation. I know conservatives, because I am one.

I also know what it takes to defend President Trump. As a senior member of the both the House Oversight Committee and the House Freedom Caucus, I’ve been on the frontlines of some of the biggest fights in Washington over the last five and a half years. Even before Donald Trump was inaugurated, Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media have been attempting to overturn the 2016 election and remove him from office. My conservative colleagues and I have spent years in the trenches defending the President – all through the phony “Russia collusion” narrative and then the bogus impeachment sham. I’ve been there for all of it and I know who can be relied upon.

From a guy who has been in the fight, here’s my two cents: Rich McCormick is one of us. Not only will Rich support President Trump, his message is already having an impact as Rich has been retweeted by the President multiple times. Folks, we’re in the fight of our lives for this country, and we need men and women in Congress who will stand for our conservative values, defend our President, and fight for border security, affordable healthcare, and the great American comeback. If that sounds like someone you want in Washington, then Rich is your guy. Rich is a veteran, a father of seven, and a proud conservative – in short, he’s a man you can count on. I’m proud to offer Dr. Rich McCormick my full and complete endorsement, and I encourage you to support him in Georgia’s primary on June 9th.