One of the great things about campaigning is listening to people. I figure God created us with two ears and one mouth. So we need to learn to listen to people twice as much as we speak. The problem is that our homes and schools do not teach us to listen.
Discrimination does exist in Maine. I do not mean white or black (racism), French or Italian (ethnic), male or female (sexism), rich or poor (economic), but political (Republican or Democrat)!
Last weekend at the Hollis Home Days, I came across a lady wearing a shirt that said, “Patriot” along with a revolutionary picture. I called to her, “Hi patriot!” She stopped and we engaged in conversation. She soon discovered that I associated with the Republican Party and she with the Democrat Party.
I will always remember her words: “As I was going from vendor to vendor I saw your booth, shuddered and went the other way, because I am a Democrat.”
On the other hand, another lady approached our booth and said, “Will you carry your signs to my car? You see, there are Democrats over there that I am friends with and I do not want them to see me carrying these signs.” I had to laugh and yet was thankful that she saw the difference between the two parties.
Do you know the difference? Are you a member of a political party because your friends are? Are you a member of a political party because your parents were? Are you unenrolled in a party because you have no idea which to join? Do you discriminate against another because you are in a party that they are not?
Where do we begin to answer these question? Start with the instruction manual for our life, the Holy Bible. Jesus told us there were two great commandments: 1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, thy mind, and thy soul. 2. Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. Now that is a great foundation to build on! Now I can treat everyone with respect, dignity and love. This requires that I listen to what everyone has to say and make up my own mind of who I will vote for. Remember we have two ears and one mouth.
In this election, it is obvious to me where to cast my vote. First, we have one party in charge in Washington D.C. The Democrats hold the Presidency, Senate and most of the House. In Augusta, the Democrats hold the Governorship, Senate, and the House. Now ask yourself, “am I better off now than I was two years ago?” Be honest with your answer.
Do I like the policies that they are forcing on me? Do I like the high cost of gas? (It was $2.00 a gallon two years ago.) Do I like the high cost of heating fuel? (It has increased terribly!) Do I like the recession we are now in? Even the liberal news media admits we are in the worse inflation in 40 years…but note they will not say recession and by definition of the word, we ARE in a recession!
Do you like the inflated housing market? Are you satisfied with prosecutors not doing their jobs? Are you willing to accept our open borders? Do you want our government to send immigrants into our cities and expect us to take care of them? NO, THIS IS NUTS. So send a message to BOTH Washington and Augusta and like a tide that carries a wave, let us wash those in office out. May there be a RED WAVE!
Second, do you know what each party stands for? Those seeking office stand on a political party’s platform. The platform of the Republican Party was built in Augusta at the State Conversation, while the platform for the Democrats was built at their State Convention in Bangor. Please read both of them and then decide which one best describes you. The Platforms are available online. Then vote accordingly.
Third, once you discover what each party stands for and you observe what they are doing to America, either join that party or change parties. Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. He was a Republican, from the State of California. He was not a lifelong Republican; he was a former Democrat. Why did he switch parties? He said, “I did not leave the Democratic Party, it left me.” I can relate, because I too was a Democrat.
When I observed that they stood for and what they were doing, I left also. In the words of a wonderful hymn, “I was once blind but now I can see.”
So in summary:
- Don’t discriminate against anyone including party members
- Demonstrate love to all
- Listen more than you speak
- Listen to what the parties are saying and doing
- Learn what the parties stand for by becoming familiar with their platforms
- Join the party that best describes you
- Attend the party meetings: town, county, state, national
- Support candidates, primaries, yard signs, car stickers, contributions;
- Vote every time the polls are open
On November 8th you must decide who you want to represent you in the Maine Senate. Do you want a Mainer with common sense? You will find David Corbett on the ballot in the city of Biddeford, and in the towns of Arundel, Lyman, Dayton and Hollis. This area is known as Senate District 32. In the meantime, tell your friends to vote for me, ask me for a yard sign, contribute $5.00 to my campaign and request a rear window sticker showing your support. If you decide to hold a cookout for your friends, invite me. I enjoy a cookout and would love to talk with your friends!
Discrimination exists in Maine. You can change it!
Rev. David Corbett
Maine Senate Candidate
District 32 (Biddeford, Arundel, Dayton, Lyman, Hollis)