Good evening District 27. It has been a beautiful fall day here in Bennett County. Full blue skies and crisp autumn temps made for a perfect day. Today I started up my furnace for the first time to get the chill out of the house. I just returned from sign-waving at the highway intersection of US 18 and SD73 between 4 PM and 6 PM. Multiple vehicles and trucks passed by me. Several cars honked and several thumbs up were given back as a sign of approval knowing that they had voted for me in early voting or planned to vote for me on Tuesday.
After spending two hours sign-waving, I walked back to my house. I proceeded to open up an envelope with a return address from my baby brother and his family that I had received in today's mail. I was pleasantly surprised with what I discovered in the envelope. My four nieces sent me colored pictures of the State of South Dakota that I want to share with you tonight. My nieces are 8-, 6-, 3-, and 1-years old and are growing up quickly. I rarely get to see them, but they know who their uncle is and why he is running for office.
The colored pictures could not have come at a more appropriate time considering that my opponent’s surrogates continue to assassinate my character and integrity on social media saying that I have “white privilege” and a “bully”…if they only knew the real Anthony. Then on the right we have the GOP establishment surrogate who is now attacking me for exposing the political corruption within District 27 and has labeled me a “conspiracy theorist.” You just can’t make this stuff up. Moreover, why would I do such a thing? You know you are over the target when they start going after your character and integrity because they can’t win on substance when the truth is staring right at them. Moreover, the GOP establishment, God forbid, does not want someone like me in the state senate that threatens their power, after all, I am for the working class who are the backbone of this state’s economy.
Perhaps career politicians ought to take advice from my niece who writes on her colored picture, “…lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Pretty sound advice coming from an eight-year-old girl. She and her sisters make me proud knowing that they have an uncle who is fighting to preserve sacred values that are grounded in truth, justice, righteousness, and beauty. My nieces and I will gladly wear the badge of honor that says “basket of deplorables” or “garbage” since that is what half the country has decided to label us.
Today’s Gospel Reading of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount read on the Feast of All Saints could not be more fitting as the finish line becomes within sight:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt 5:2-12).
Your reward will be great in heaven…that is truly what this race is all about. It’s about answering the call to participate in the political process to protect and preserve what has been rightly ordained from God above, not man. God bless.
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