Funny thing happened on the way to a Democratic function, Barry Welsh, Indiana's 6th Congressional District Candidate, my husband encountered the "ugly" side of Politics.
Maybe this is a sign that they are getting desperate? My husband is Barry Welsh and I'm Sherri the Congressional Candidates Wife when I diary. My diaries are a personal journal, if you will, of a personal up-close look at a Congressional Campaign from the inside looking out.
Barry is a good man, honest, dedicated and committed to his ministry and to his community, be it in our hometown or the nationwide community. He works hard and wisely and shrewdly chooses his decisions in the fairness that he expects of others.
When he gives you his word or promise, he'll turn himself inside out to make sure that he keeps it. He's also wise enough to be honest about what he can promise.
During the time when Barry and I discussed the idea of his entering the race for Indiana's 6th Congressional district. He wrote down all the Pros and Cons of running and the encounter I speak of was firmly spoken of. If you were to know Barry, you would know that he's brutally honest and especially about himself. He amazes me with his utter honesty when confronting a challenge, a dilemma or quandary, he's not afraid to say he doesn't know the answer, he's not afraid of what people may say or how they perceive things. He tells the truth.
The encounter I speak of was a phone call from a reporter from the Muncie Star for which the reporter had "received" a report on Barry's background, his work history; I wouldn't be surprised by how thoroughly Barry was investigated. Barry was told about the information that the reporter had and would he be interested in talking with the reporter.
Barry readily agreed. The information was 2 alcohol related incidents that occurred in 1990, they are of course actions that Barry is not proud of but has not imbibed since then. He used these experiences to turn his life around, he wisely moved on from lessons learned. I've linked the story here and there are some minor inaccuracies such as Barry was not teaching at the time of these events and he's been a Pastor at Laurel United Methodist Church for the last 9 years and not 8 as noted in the article. While these little points are minor, the focus of the article is that Barry made mistakes in the past; he has shown accountability and honesty about them. I, in no way, minimize the acts nor condone any such infraction, like anyone who lives life, life is precious and we don't take it for granted.
The interesting thing about this article, Barry and I and our parade brigade were in a Parade today and when setting up the parade "float" (pickup) a former editor of one of the papers in a larger city within the district who, by the way was PAID to walk in the parade for a republican candidate, wanted to talk to Barry about the article and how much he admired Barry for his honesty. That parade was in a VERY RED HARD R city and Barry and our crew were very well received. We have been well received in just about all 19 counties in the district and it was so exhilarating to see people waving and smiling back at us and walking toward Barry to shake his hand while he walks the parade route. We have a GIANT Red W that had WELSH for CONGRESS on it and we put blue banners with while lettering on the sides of the truck. We have a PA system that we play music that Barry and I pick out and record and then every 2nd or 3rd track we play Barry's radio commercial that basically tells who Barry is and what he stands for and the website address. It's so effective!
I've digressed, but yet I wanted to tell about the experience that even after the article was published in fairly densely populated markets about Barry and then being so well received in Hard R areas of the district.
It was clear that Barry's opponent was behind the "report" given to the media and Barry was interviewed by the New York Times, we expect that there will be more who will report on this. Barry will say the same things that we did in the article linked and his steadfastness is really inspiring to me. No matter what happens I will always be proud of the way my husband handled this uncomfortable, embarrassing and personal information being given out. He was himself, with no façade nor any trimming just the facts and the essence of what it is to be "What you see is what you get".
I'm sure that this will be disappointing to people, even though it was 16 years ago and may effect how they view Barry's candidacy. But I think he can walk tall with head up and moving forward and focusing on what is really important, like being able to help others to be able to earn a wage to provide for their families, for people to afford to be educated, for others to be able to afford to get medical attention when needed, like speaking up and protecting our land and our homes and making sure that we have the opportunities to invest in our communities and enrich our lives.
A couple of things I hope don't get lost in the hullabaloo of the Muncie Star article:
It seems Mr. Pence has agreed to a debate on October 30th.
Barry is running with "a Web site and numerous stops throughout the 19 counties in the 6th district."
Firstly, the debate - this is great news as it's the only engagement that we will have with Barry's opponent. Barry is not a Pastor for nothing, he is more than qualified, skilled and able to debate Pence.
Secondly, just a "website and numerous stops"? That is People Powered Politics at it's best and is the future of elections to come. A hard working, honest, dedicated public servant going to people and asking for their vote while running everything through a high-tech website connecting a huge geographic area in the only way possible - Barry is successfully incorporating old school political methods with very Modern and high tech tools to make this happen on a shoe string budget.
I know I'm the wife and I'm supposed to stand by my man, but being a wife or family loyalty has nothing to do with the facts in this case. Barry is one of those people that will draw people and communities to him by being himself and doing the right thing.
It is what it is, what else can I say?
I write my diary purely from myself and is not vetted through the campaign.
Thank you for taking the time to read this diary and I appreciate your comments.
Love,
Sherri
