When we think of anyone even daring to run for the office of the U.S. President, it is easy to imagine a person who is full of ego and will try and hide their past, their words and their actions. We guess that a Presidential candidate’s view of themselves must be the size of Texas and they would do about anything to manipulate and seduce public support. The truth is that no one would even think of running if they could never have made a mistake or had their foot in their mouth from time to time. We are a nation of imperfect folks. Some of us are more real than others and some of us never learn from our mistakes. I hope and pray that I am one of those who feel called to run for President who actually wants to learn from my mistakes and be responsive to the truth, God and the people. After all, the party of REAL I am running on starts with the letter R for ‘responsive’.
I have been doing a national radio show, 3 hours a day for over 10 years www.therothshow.com. I have also published hundreds of hard hitting articles that speak my mind on a ton of issues. I have gotten criticism and been called many names over the years for having opinions others don’t agree with. Honestly, I have always loved it when people would speak their mind on the issues with me….agree or disagree. That is the American way and frankly is unique in the world. Freedom of speech and media is a miracle in the world and not to be taken for granted no matter where we are on the issues of concern. Sharia law in the 57 Muslim countries doesn’t allow free speech in the media, America still does, though it has become more and more challenged. I am not afraid of you, nor do you have to be afraid of me.
Recently, I was forwarded a message from someone who had recently found my show and listened in a bit. She reported much concern about one of my intros that said ‘she’s not gay, illegal or handicapped…..but she is special,’ referring to me of course.
She was most concerned that this intro, sound bite to my show linked gay, illegal and handicapped folks together in the same sentence. That was not funny and insulted her and many others. She also had mentioned that ‘handicapped’ was an outdated term in the community and most these days would prefer the term disabled or physically challenged.
I read through the critical email very carefully and after pondering what she had said, I realized she was right. It wasn’t funny and I had no desire ever to hurt anyone or insult anyone, but I had. I called my engineer that day and told him to shred that intro.
Many of you know after the last few weeks of press releases that I am strongly considering a run for President www.laurieroth2012.com and want to be as real and responsive as possible, though leaning conservative on many issues.
When I was trying to think of ‘in your face’ and ‘clever’ intros to have recorded, I wrote the not gay, illegal, handicapped or from Palestine, out of years of frustration on radio and as a maverick conservative, that according to the left and most media, everyone is ‘special’ except me, mainstream America. I shouldn’t have lumped everyone together, but it does seem that gay activists, illegal alien groups and those representing Palestinian issues get ‘special attention’ while conservatives and mainstream Americans get ignored and insulted on a regular basis. Regarding me throwing in ‘handicapped,’ that was a stupid move. The truth is I was disabled in part when I put this promo together. I still am. At the time I was only a year from my near fatal motorcycle wreck, my left eye saw double vision and gave me daily grief and distortion, half my face was numb, I had severe fatigue and dizziness from massive brain injuries and was teaching myself to talk clearly again every day. Talking, walking, thinking and seeing right didn’t just come to me but was fought for, every day through hours of work and therapy at home.
Today, nearly 6 years later, I am myself again, have written and published tons of articles, written two books out in August 2011, and have talked on radio for 5 years every day. My left eye still doesn’t work right and often sees double, and half my face is numb. I have learned to cope and think beyond this.
I apologize to those I offended with my carelessly worded radio intro. It has been flushed down the toilet. This won’t be the first time as I run that my words and actions will be called into question. I pray that I will be the responsive, honest and humble person running for President I hope with all my heart to be.
If you want to find out more about my platform and needs for volunteers, go to www.laurieroth2012.com.
