Determined to stand after a bullet zoomed through his ear, forcing him to get down and take cover, former President Donald Trump gathered enough courage on Saturday to send a strong message. At that moment, he stood strong and gestured with his fist as he yelled, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
That message was received.
Patriots gathered this week in Milwaukee, Wis., for the Republican National Convention (RNC) to appreciate what they have and to take care of business. Eastern Shore Republican Women president Judy Barlow is among those in attendance.
The delegate from Baldwin County has made quite the name for herself. She is also chair the Legislation and Research Committee for the National Federation of Republican Women.
Barlow has been to events nationwide in support of the GOP, but this one will stay with her.
“Just living it is, it's just such an honor and so humbling to be here,” Barlow told 1819 News. “To be a part of this historic event, it's just amazing. It's just palpable. Everybody is so excited to be there.”
That message Trump sent is one Barlow said is being felt at the convention, and she is sure will be felt even stronger Thursday evening when Trump takes the stage.
“I don't think there will be a dry eye in the house,” Barlow said. “The love for him when he was shot the other night, and he was trying to find his shoes, trying to get off the stage. He raised his fist and said, ‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’ and that's not in violence, that is fight for your values, fight for your family, fight for the American dream and that's what we are trying to do.”
On a policy level, Barlow said that means closing the border and deporting illegal immigrants, focusing on energy and protecting parental rights.
Throughout the week, speakers have highlighted the negative impact of the Biden administration policies.
The soft-on-crime policies in places such as California, Illinois and New York were highlighted when Madeline Brame, mother of Army Sgt. Hason Correa, took the stage and talked about the brutal death of her son in Harlem. Correa was beaten and stabbed by four people he did not know.
“She was amazing, and she had the crowd just wrapped around her finger,” Barlow said of Brame. “When she talked about the senseless violence that took her son's life, it was just something that was really important, and she had a message.”
Wednesday night, Gold Star families who lost their loved ones during the Afghanistan withdrawal were brought on stage, and names were read.
“I was crying, everybody was, everybody around me was crying,” Barlow remembered. “There was not a dry eye in the house and we all – and I get chill bumps as I sit here talking about it – we were all standing during the entire Gold Star presentation and every time that one of their names were read, we announced their names amongst ourselves. The whole floor did that, and Joe Biden won't even acknowledge them, but we do, and President Trump does. Their sacrifice that we made when we left those 13 American citizens and Afghanistan during that just disastrous withdrawal.”
Although the moment was somber, Barlow said the emotions brought on by their stories fueled the energy throughout the rest of the evening.
“The excitement amongst everybody is just amazing and the unity that we all feel for each other and for what we're trying to do, what we're trying to accomplish is just amazing,” Barlow said. “The love in the room is amazing for our party and for our president.”
With so many choices in the GOP, including U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Barlow said she was pleased to hear Trump’s VP pick was J.D. Vance.
“I think he represents the everyday people and what we were all calling the ‘forgotten Americans,’ because we all feel like we have been forgotten under the Biden-Kamala administration,” said Barlow.
While Republicans are celebrating, Democrats are scrambling over who will be their nominee. However, Barlow said that no matter who it is, they will still push the same policy and agenda as the current administration.
Barlow said it is important for Republicans to push down-ballot voting so the Senate can get control and the House can maintain control. Her message to folks back home is to support second congressional district Republican candidate Caroleene Dobson.
The district, which includes Mobile and Montgomery, was redrawn to favor a Democrat. However, Dobson’s opponent, Democrat Shomari Figures, has fallen short of Dobson in fundraising efforts.
“Caroleene Dobson is here at the RNC for the Congressional District 2 race and obviously, that's a critical race for us,” said Barlow. “She is meeting people across the nation as she's here, and she's getting support and fundraising while she's here to have an effective race.”
“Her race is critical,” she continued. “We need to keep a Republican in office in Congressional District 2. We have just a couple of votes in the House that are helping us to get our majority in the House, so, the House race is critical. We need to get behind Caroline Dobson.”
Barlow said the GOP's goal is to reach young voters and get people involved. Anyone who wants to get involved in the Alabama Federation for Republican Women can search for local chapters online.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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