Lee Greenwood Rally for Fred Smith Governor 2008
Lee Greenwood sings for his favorite candidate
by Amanda Hickey, The Daily News
Lee Greenwood's performance in the Jacksonville High School cafeteria was a bonus, Joyce VonWert, 68, of Jacksonville said.
The real reason she came was state Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton, a Republican candidate for governor.
"I read his book and I liked what I read. Plus, I like Greenwood's song (God Bless the USA)," she said.
With VonWert was Kashiwa Funk, also 68 and of Jacksonville. Funk was at the cafeteria-based rally to support Smith. Smith's rivals in the May 6 Republican primary include Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham and former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr.
"I was here last time he was here, and I love listening to him. I sure want him to be governor," she said.
About 70 people gathered in the space that typically houses teenagers at lunch time to hear about Smith and see Greenwood's performance.
"He's a man that has served in our Armed Forces. He is a business man," state Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow, began. "He is an excellent leader ... and Fred Smith is a friend. He will help you when he can and tell you when you're wrong."
Greenwood, who is accompanying Smith on the Lee Greenwood Rally for Fred Smith Governor 2008 tour, performed about 10 songs. One of the songs - "Good to Great" - will be Smith's campaign song, which Greenwood recently recorded in Nashville.
"He's from North Carolina, the place where he was raised, and he fights for what is right and is constantly amazed how the heart beats strong for the people in the state," Greenwood sang while on the cafeteria stage.
"I'm so proud to be aligned with him," Greenwood told the audience.
During the rally, which lasted more than an hour and a half, Smith said little, leaving most of the words to Greenwood and a presentation that showed the audience the life of the man for whom they were contemplating voting.
The presentation showed Smith as a child working at the orphanage at which his parents both worked and his years at Wake Forest University and told of his four years in the Army JAG Corps.
"I'm a business man, I'm a CEO and I think a company needs to take to the customers to see what they want, and the governor is the CEO of this state," Smith told the audience, explaining why he went on his 100-county tour, talking to residents in each county.
After assuring the guests that he was ready for the challenge of being governor, he challenged the guests to make an effort and spread the word of his candidacy.
"I need your help. I need your vote. It's voting time. ... We need a Republican in this state," Smith told the audience members, many of whom rose to their feet and applauded.
The article above by Amanda Hickey was published April 2, 2008 in The Daily News and is available online here.
FRED SMITH GOVERNOR 2008 - "A Little Extra Effort" Statewide BBQ Tour
Look on as D.J., a Fred Smith campaign team-member, keeps the folks back home informed about Fred's activities while he's on the road meeting the people of our great state...
Friday, January 18, 2008....Onslow County...Jacksonville - the home of Camp LeJeune and a very patriotic community that supports its Marine troops. I give thanks for them and their service to our country. We sleep free, vote free and are blessed by their dedication. It was with pride that we drove into town for Fred to meet with church pastors, veterans, and community leaders prior to a fundraising event hosted at the home of Lisa and Senator Harry Brown. With Fred in good hands, we headed to the school. Just after making a left turn onto 17 there was a police siren behind us. "Is that for us?" I questioned. We must have had a light out or an officer wanted to meet Fred. Driver pulled into a side road and officer taped on the window, "How much do you want to lose?" Odd question. He pointed toward the back and said, "You left one of compartment doors open." We were most grateful and headed on our way. Over a hundred people came out to the school and Fred presented his case to earn the crowd's confidence and votes. Fred's been talking about stopping the transfer of $172 million from the highway trust fund to the general fund long before the start of this tour last summer. He proposed leveraging those funds to pay for a Good Roads, Safe Bridges Bond that would not require a tax increase on the residents of North Carolina. I guess Beverly Perdue woke up to all the video recordings the Democrats have made of Fred's BBQ speeches. She announced today "Fred's Plan" although she only suggested $1 Billion - not enough to get the job done. It seems to me that Fred's offered great executable ideas for North Carolina's future. Don't you want the person who envisioned them to be the one who makes them a reality? Clearly Fred has set the agenda for the political discussion North Carolina needs to have - we should let the rest of the candidates and their political rhetoric off on the next Election Day (May 6). Onslow - thanks for making that all so clear.
PICTURES FROM ONSLOW COUNTY
Following the Onslow County BBQ, Senator Smith sat for an interview with a local high school reporter.
Click HERE to view additional pictures from Onslow County.
