By Daniel L. Bamberg
Daniel@Centrevillepress.com
He was still getting over his first sinus infection but that didn’t slow U.S. Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama from visiting Bibb County on Monday, February 22nd. Many of Bibb County’s most respected personalities were in attendance for the annual visit Shelby, a native of Tuscaloosa, has made since entering office.
“I know many of you and it is always an honor to visit Bibb County,” Shelby said. This was a positive note to begin Shelby’s brief address. “I went to see Jim Oakley for my first re-election and he played a role in that. When I ran in 2004, Bibb County gave me 70% of their vote. I am in your debt. I try to do what is best for this country I have no other agenda, and I have a place in my heart for Bibb County citizens,” Shelby expressed.
He began discussing the government health care plan, which is still being rigorously debated in our nation’s capital, and throughout the country. “We thought this thing was dead. Unfortunately, in Washington when something dies you have to bury it four or five times and then it still pops back up, but under another name,” the Senator explained. “I have said many times publicly, we have the best health care system in the world. It isn’t perfect but Obama wants to turn it all upside down.
“This Obama is going to create a media sensation by making it seem he is going to work with some of my colleagues on the finance committee. I hope they don’t buy into it because he’s doing it to get his way. So, we have to be real careful,” Shelby explained. “The Democrats could round this through the Senate and the House under what we call the reconciliation process, which is not made for that. It could cost them the election but I am hoping this is costing them the election anyway. We still have to be very aware of what is going on.” Those words concluded the Senator’s remarks regarding the Obama health care plan.
Shelby then addressed the economic recession. “The economy’s tough. We are in a worldwide recession. The United States is in a recession, Japan is in a recession, Germany is in a recession, and Europe is in a recession. We are going to have to grow out of this. There is no easy way out,” Shelby expressed.
The Senator went on to explain the unemployment rate. According to Shelby, Bibb County’s unemployment was near 10%, and that was on par with the state and national average. “In Michigan it’s 16%. It is bad, but I don’t think the government can change our economy. I know they would like to. They want to borrow and spend, but everybody knows we spend too much, we borrow too much, and save too little,” he continued.
“The National debt is now nearly $14 trillion dollars. It took 200 years to break through the ceiling of the first trillion dollars in 1982. We are headed right down the road to economic disaster by hurting the value of the dollar and the value of everything that we have. There is no easy answer to it, but we can’t keep borrowing and spending.”
Shelby then decided to address the government bailouts of banks and businesses. “I was very outspoken with President Bush and then President Obama, regarding my disapproval for bailing out the banks, General Motors, Chrysler, AIG, among others. They have to be allowed to fail. There is no guarantee in a capitalist economy that something will not fail. I have failed at many things and had to learn the hard way. I believe most Americans have and don’t believe there should be exceptions.” Those comments concluded Shelby’s comments regarding the economy.
Shelby then spoke on his optimism for the Republican Party in the upcoming elections. “I believe the elections are going to be different this fall. I don’t think it is going to change control of the Senate or House but we are going to pick up some seats unless something really changes”. Shelby explained the many positions open for election and re-election in the State of Alabama. “Don’t forget the U.S. Senate race,” he remarked with a smile. “I am running. The Governor’s position is open. Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, all the Legislature, you name it. As I tell people in Alabama please vote but vote only once because we are not in Chicago.” Shelby concluded his address with those words.
After taking a series of questions from various persons on hand Shelby told a story about his trying decision to become a Republican. “When I was growing up I didn’t know what a Republican was, we were Democrats. After I got elected to the House of Representatives I made some decisions that didn’t sit well with my party. When Reagan was President I voted a lot with things he believed in. One day my secretary informed me that President Reagan wanted to meet me to come to the White House for breakfast. When you hear that, you aren’t so sure. I had her call and confirm it, I thought it was a trick and Jim Oakley or someone else was in on it. Maybe he wanted me to walk up to the White House thinking I was about to meet the president. Maybe it was from another house member. I was only 2 years in and we used to do those kinds of things to each other.
It wasn’t a trick and I came to meet President Reagan; it was an honor. Reagan explained to me that he was a Democratic until they ran the taxes up to 90 percent. He told me then that I needed to switch parties. I told him I was going to try and help make the Democratic more conservative. President Reagan looked at me and said ‘Good luck with that.’ When I finally made the decision to change parties, my breakfast with President Reagan was in my thoughts constantly,” Shelby concluded.
Before the sitting down for breakfast the Senator explained that after he had become a Republican President Reagan informed him, “You’ll sleep better.”.
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