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My favorite story is the story of Nathan Vaughn, a state legislator in the Northeastern corner of Tennessee where I was born. Nathan is an unabashed Democrat in a very Red State, in a traditional Republican stronghold. Northeast Tennessee has been a Republican bastion for as long as anyone can remember, since Reconstruction Days. Yet, Nathan Vaughn ran as a Democrat in that region, and he won. When it came time for re-election, he won again. Even more amazing, Nathan Vaughn is a black man in the racially-divided South, in a district that is 90% white. Republican contenders for the seat have used race-baiting, hate-mongering and fear tactics to try to scare the voters into submission. Somehow, Nathan has risen above all that, and he won, twice. When asked how he does it, he replies: “I talk about my values.” If Nathan Vaughn can succeed in Northeast Tennessee against some tough odds, we can all succeed.
Nathan Vaughn
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My Favorite Story