A few years ago I ran for United States Congress and almost won the Democratic primary, not by spending money, but instead by knocking on the doors of thousands of people and listening to them tell me about the challenges they faced in their lives. I did not yet win but want to say THANK YOU to the thousands of people who believed in what I was trying to do for you.
I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people; especially the people who live in Ohio who opened their hearts and their homes to me. There are so many good people who just need to know that they have somebody in Washington DC who is on their side and who will fight to the very end to do what is right; even if it is sometimes unpopular. I tried to be that person for the hundreds of thousands of people who live and raise their families in Southern Ohio. Thank You for allowing me to try.
While running for Congress, I learned that some people have their own political agendas and they will tell whatever untruths are necessary for them to try to win an election instead of trying to do what is right and run for office honestly in order to try improve other people's lives. Some people will say or do whatever they think they need to in order to win; even if it is morally wrong. Seeing so much negativity and seeing how politics often belongs to the people with the most money and the most political friends, made me think that I would never run for political office again. Honestly, I was done forever...
But yesterday's tragic events made me stop and think once again that maybe I am exactly the kind of person we need in public service. Maybe Washington needs more people like me who will run for office for all the right reasons. Maybe Washington needs to have somebody who wants to go there to fight for people who work for a living, for the American middle class, for women, for children, for the elderly, the sick, and the poor.
Yesterday, nearly 20 people were shot and 6 of them have died as a result of the attack of a lone gunman who decided to demonstrate his anger by using bullets instead of using words. A young, 40 year old, moderate Democratic Congresswoman named Gabby Giffords was shot in the head and now lies fighting for her life in a hospital. She was a woman who often put party ideology aside on many occasions and fought for what she believed was right; even if it was sometimes unpopular. In 2010, she narrowly won re-election by a few votes against a Tea-Party candidate. During that campaign, her office was vandalized as a result of her vote on healthcare reform. After learning so much about her these past 24 hours, she is an inspiration to me; not all politicians are bad and she was one of the best. Sadly, a little nine year old girl also died as a result of the same shooting. We have learned that she only went to the "Congress on Your Corner" event because she had recently won a seat on her school's student council and she wanted to learn more about government. She was one of fifty American children who were born on September 11, 2001. I can't imagine how her family is dealing with happened to their little girl yesterday.
We live in a country with a Congress that is badly broken at a time when America desperately needs to heal. America is the greatest nation on earth and we cannot continue with the politics of hatred and division that exist in our nation today. Whether the issue is healthcare, or taxes, or the economy, or anything else... We need a Congress that will come together to solve America's problems. There is no more place in this country for the politics of selfishness, the politics of hatred, and the politics of greed. We need more people like Congresswoman Gabby Giffords representing us in Washington DC.
I have much work to do outside of politics right now but I want you to know that I am not done with my attempt to improve the lives of millions of people. I am only getting started. I don't know which path I'll take or which office I will seek. But I will never give up on the people who mean so much to me. And at times when anything begins to feel like it might be impossible, I'll only have to think of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords or that 9 year old little girl. My heart goes out to the families of all the people who were killed and who were injured as a result of yesterday's tragedy.
Thank You.
Jim Parker, Former Democratic Candidate for United States Congress - 2005, 2006, 2010...
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