Americans, and especially Tennesseans, want conservative leadership in Washington. That was the message of Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn delivered Thursday evening as the keynote speaker at the Carter County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner.
During her address, Blackburn touched on some of the things going on in Congress and on her bid for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bob Corker.
During her campaign, Blackburn said many people have asked her why she would want to run for the Senate when it is in the shape it’s in.
“That is exactly why,” Blackburn said is her response to that question. “It is totally dysfunctional and it is definitely in need of some conservative change.”
What the country needs, according to Blackburn, is conservative leaders who will support President Donald Trump and support his policies in areas such as repealing the Affordable Care Act, securing America’s southern border, and appointing conservative judges to the federal courts.
Blackburn said she applauded the President’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and praised his work this week in securing the release of three American detainees in North Korea.
“Some people ask what President Trump is doing,” Blackburn said. “What he is doing is showing that you can achieve peace through strength.”
“He is sending a message to our allies and to those who would oppose us,” she continued, adding that includes the “new Axis of Evil” comprised of Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea. “And that message is getting through loud and clear.”
The upcoming state and federal primary elections in August and the general elections in November are going to be of vital importance in Tennessee and across the nation, according to Blackburn. She urged those in attendance to go out into their community, help residents get registered to vote, and help them get to the polls on election day.
“The Democrats keep saying they have a big blue wave that is going to wash all over this country come November,” Blackburn said. “We need to stand shoulder to shoulder and be that big red wall standing tall when that blue wave comes to Tennessee.”
Blackburn, a small business woman and author, began her career in public service in 1998 after being elected to the Senate of the Tennessee General Assembly. Her Tennessee Senate career was marked by her statewide grassroots effort to defeat a proposed income tax. In 2002, Blackburn became the first woman in Tennessee to win a Congressional seat in her own right.
Her campaign for the Republican nomination to the Senate seat has been endorsed by President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, and former Governor Don Sundquist as well as a long list of other officials.