I'd like you all to meet Bill Gillespie.
We all know that recently Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) offered a resolution on the House floor praising Rush Limbaugh for calling dissident American soldiers "phony soldiers." Well, now Kingston has to face a soldier of his own, Bill Gillespie.
Let's meet Bill below the fold...
Bill Gillespie of Chatham County served 23 years in the U.S. Army, retiring this year as a Lt. Colonel. In 2003, he served in Iraq as Senior Logistician for the Third Infantry Division, earning a Bronze Star.
Other positions held in the military include Inspector General, West Point professor, Operations Director of the Army Ordinance Center and Chief of Leadership and Tactics at the Army Ordinance Center. Gillespie has traveled to six continents and been stationed overseas in Kuwait , Korea and Germany . His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Combat Action Badge, Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, Master Instructor Award, and three NCAA Championships as coach of the West Point Orienteering Team.
Most recently, Gillespie worked as southeast Georgia's Army ROTC Program Director, charged with supervising ROTC programs at Georgia Southern University, Savannah State University , Armstrong Atlantic State University , Savannah College of Art & Design, St. Leo University and all of the region's Army Junior ROTC Programs.
Gillespie earned B.S. and M.A. degrees in Environmental Science from Towson University , and is working toward a Ph.D. in Cultural Geography and Immigration Studies from the University of Maryland . Gillespie has taught classes on geography, military history and leadership at West Point , Georgia Southern, Armstrong Atlantic State and Maryland . He is a published author on subjects such as Education, Geography and History.
He currently teaches a course to veterans at Fort Stewart in Hinesville designed to help them learn the skills necessary to transition into civilian life and gain employment.
Gillespie has been active in community organizations such as the American Red Cross, Kiwanis, Rotary, Ancient Order of the Hibernians, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Historic Savannah Foundation, Savannah Downtown Community Association, Georgia Southern Science & Technology Board, and the Georgia Southern Irish Studies Board.
Impressive military background and with a major component of Georgia's 1st Congressional District being veterans it would be nice for the district to have one of their own, who knows their issues to represent them in Washington D.C., rather than a Rush-loving chickenhawk like Kingston.
From Gillespie's press release announcing his candidacy:
"My exploratory committee has met every milestone we set forth in order to formally announce a candidacy...People are frustrated that Washington and its insiders are not meeting the important challenges of our time...I understand how to lead southeast Georgia to prosperity in the global economy and to safety in an unstable world. I pledge to bring strong leadership that puts people first."
Strong leadership? What a welcome respite that would be to the last 15 years of Kingston rule.
Bill Gillespie states that "his top domestic issue is creating the South Georgia Alternative Energy Initiative, making the region the center of American research and production of agri-fuel, solar, wind, methane and other alternative energies."
If you got some coin please go to his campaign site and donate to his campaign so we can send that Rush-loving chickenhawk home. Thanks.
UPDATE:
Just wanted to discuss my personal feelings about Kingston and living in southeast Georgia. I've pretty much lived in southeast Georgia my entire life. I was raised in bosom of the Religious Right, my grandmother was instrumental in my upbringing and she is a hyperconservative Pentecostal. My entire life I've been surrounded by churches and confederate flags and for the last 15 years I've had to deal with Jack Kingston. Now living near Waycross, GA I'm in the heart of Kingston country and I am sick to death of him. I'm sick to death that this guy can do whatever he wants and still win b/c he has yet to face a credible challenger. Not since 1992 when he first ran has he faced any serious opposition. I want to send him packing so bad it hurts. That is why I'm so behind Bill Gillespie. I don't know if he will be a Clintonite campaigner or a dud. I don't know how he would govern if he wins. All I know is that Kingston would be gone and I could feel a little better knowing that all the problems I see around me in my community can finally be addressed b/c God forbid Kingston do anything about it. We need a Democrat who actually believes that it's okay to help those poorer than ourselves. Who actually seeks to bring us together rather than separate us based upon partisan labels. I feel that Bill Gillespie is that person, and with his background he can really challenge Kingston. All he needs is the coin and the chance. Let's give it to him!
UPDATE 2:
Just to make it easier you can contribute here. Thanks.