Grassroots Spirit Alive and Well

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7 New Life FM, October 30, 2009
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. Grassroots Americans are learning the facts and becoming politically active like never before. During my many years of lobbying legislators in Atlanta, a former lieutenant governor asked me a very pointed question, “Who (sic) do you represent?” Instantly, I said, “Grassroots Georgians!” To that he said matter-of-factly, “Well, somebody needs to represent them.” Then he walked away, knowing grassroots lobbyists are few and far between at the capitol, where the halls are full of well-paid lobbyists working to entice legislators into voting for whatever their employer wants.

Critics have begun calling grassroots opposition “astroturf”, meaning imitations of the real thing. And as I stand in the Capitol as a volunteer, holding the line for God, family and country, someone might call me “astroturf”, but that would be wrong. They might call pro-lifers and traditional family supporters “astroturf”, but they’d be wrong. They might call us bigots and narrow-minded for standing against the destruction of the family or same-sex demands or the brainwashing of our children, but they’d be wrong about that, too. We’re genuine grassroots Americans who believe right is right, wrong is wrong and God’s way is the best way. Anything less destroys the culture that’s honored and reinforced by our Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. Our Founding Fathers got it right and grassroots Georgians are glad they did.

Incredibly, our schools have become captive-audience clinics where, under the guise of “safe schools”, criticism of homosexuality is banned and contempt for traditional morality is encouraged. The founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network is now the national Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education with a focus on safe and drug free schools. He and his staff claim credit for establishing over 4,000 gay-straight alliance clubs in schools and most parents don’t know those clubs exist, though they’ve been in Georgia schools since 2001.

As a grassroots volunteer and “watchman on the wall” at the state Capitol, I’m ready and willing for you to join me during the week of January 4th, just before the session begins January 11th, for my usual on-the-job lobby training – free of charge. Date, time and place will be announced later. So, plan to bring your friends and learn to lobby. This could be our last chance to “hold the line” in Georgia. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.