A friend of mine often calls and says “It’s time for a cup of tea.” It’s her way of saying that it’s time to catch up.

This letter is my invitation to “have a cup of tea.” I want to tell you about my husband Bob Inglis and why I think he’s the best choice to represent us. I figure the best way for you to know Bob is to see him through my eyes.

In Bob’s little office at our house, there’s a picture of election night in 1992, the year he first got elected to Congress. Bob’s holding our daughter McCullough, who was two years old at the time. There are a lot of smiling friends in that photo, including Michael Greer and Brian Capps, who were Furman students at the time.

Sometimes Bob talks about that photo, and he does fine until he mentions the name of Brian Capps. Then he starts to tear up.
Bob gets emotional when he mentions Brian’s name because Brian died of cancer several years later. At Brian’s funeral Bob lost it when he told Brian’s friends, “You should be groomsmen at Brian’s wedding, but here you are as his pallbearers.”

You see, Brian was one of the students who hung a tee shirt in the 1992 campaign office that said, “Politicians think of the next election. Statesmen think of the next generation.”

Bob remembers Brian’s idealism. He remembers his quiet but determined demeanor. And he remembers that tee shirt. Maybe it’s that tee shirt that’s gotten Bob in so much political trouble.

Maybe he should have been more political. Maybe he shouldn’t just “call ‘em like he sees ‘em.” But that would betray Brian, and Bob’s not going to do that. So Bob’s taken a lonely route. He doesn’t “fit in” in Washington. He’s not willing to ignore the coming bankruptcy of the federal government. He takes risks and offers solutions when it would be safer to blame scapegoats. He tells people “No” and that creates openings for an opportunistic opponent.

I remember when Bob said “No” to spending $150 million of our federal tax dollars for a 5,700-acre recreational lake in Union County. He was exhausted when he came home from meeting with an auditorium full of angry politicians and lake organizers. And the criticism didn’t stop. Campaign supporters were calling and emailing, saying they were off the team because Bob wouldn’t earmark the money. Other politicians either ran for cover or subtly joined the criticism. Turns out that some “conservatives” weren’t so conservative when it came to borrowing more money from China to dig a $150 million swimming hole.

In politics as well as personal life, conservatism comes naturally to Bob. We’ve never bought a new car. Bob sleeps in his office in Washington. Ever since our tight-budget newlywed days, Bob has eaten oatmeal for breakfast because it’s 10 cents a serving.

People think that Bob will get $1 million a year in retirement if he leaves office. Actually, after 12 years of service, he’d get $28,500 a year when he gets to be 65 years old. Many think that we have health care for life. In reality, health coverage ends one month after a member of Congress leaves office just like it did when Bob left office after his first six years in Congress.

Bob’s passionate about stopping the spending, growing the jobs and paying down the debt, but he doesn’t spit and flail. He’s just determined. And this district has taught him how it wants to be represented through countless afternoons of door-to-door, 130 monthly Let’s Talk times (our monthly breakfast and lunch series) and dozens of official town hall meetings.

I know that a lot of folks are tired of all incumbents and say we should “toss ‘em out.” Bob says he’s glad that I don’t approach marriage that way! I can assure you that I’m not going to toss out my incumbent husband!

Frankly, I’d like to have Bob home more often, but he’s dedicated to serving. Bob sees serving in Congress as substitute service for the service he wishes he’d had in the Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force. He calls them “America’s best,” and he’s been profoundly affected by every funeral for a fallen hero from SC-4. Bob knows that serving in Congress isn’t the same as serving in the armed forces because, as he says, “They just shoot at you with words when you’re in Congress, and most of them bounce off.”

If you give Bob the opportunity to continue on in Congress, the years ahead will be his most prepared and productive. He will continue to lead the fight to stop the spending, pay down the debt, grow the jobs and secure our children’s future.

One thing you can be sure of with Bob Inglis: He doesn’t say things just to get elected. He believes what he says, and he says what he believes. As the Spartanburg Herald Journal said of Bob, he’s “honest to a fault and utterly sincere, rare traits in this job.” Well, if that’s a fault, I’ll take him as he is, and I hope you will too in the runoff election this Tuesday, June 22.

Sincerely,

In an e-mail exchange last week with Inglis, Dr. Jones wrote, “Your shirtsleeves are still rolled up, the fight goes on - and those of us who are your appreciative friends are trusting that many of the diverted votes will come your way this time.”

“We know that with all the diversity of opinions in a district, there are bound to be thousands who part company with you on certain votes. Nevertheless, the goodhearted, Christ-loving, God-fearing, “real” Bob Inglis is one we appreciate greatly and hope will continue to represent us in the future.”

Inglis said he is thrilled to have the backing of such an influential Christian leader.

“Dr. Jones has touched the lives of so many people and is one of the most respected men in the Greenville and the Upstate community,” Inglis said. “I couldn’t be happier to have him on our side.”

Dr. Jones agreed to make the e-mail public as a “public endorsement” to Inglis. He is out of the country and unavailable for a live endorsement event.

(Saturday, June 5, 2010) - Congressional candidate Trey Gowdy is attempting to hide his good ol’ boy politics behind the people of Union and Sen. Jim DeMint, by waffling on his commitment to support a $150 million lake project in Union County, Rep. Bob Inglis said Saturday.

“We have seen Trey do this waffling on issue after issue. When you think he commits to something, then try and nail down where he stands, he requalifies, restates or hides behind some moral affront or bluster,”
Inglis said. “All we are trying to do is ask, Trey, where do you stand? Does he know?”

Gowdy has claimed in a WYFF television interview he never supported federal earmarks or federal funding for the Patriots Lake Project and his campaign has produced attestations from lake proponents saying they were not seeking federal funds. He has claimed his support for the 5,700-acre Patriots Lake is the same as Sen. Jim DeMint’s.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released in December 2007 a $250,000 concept study of a proposal to build 5,700-acre recreational lake in Sumter National Forest. The study found no economic justification for the $150 million lake.

Officials said at the time earmarks were the only way federal involvement would continue.

Inglis said Gowdy is now caught promising his support for this huge project at a political gathering June 20, 2009, four months after county officials had repeatedly publicly stated they were officially asking for federal earmarks for the project.

“Gowdy is now trying to redefine for voters, what he now means, that his support does not mean any federal earmark or now federal dollars,” Inglis said. “Gowdy tries to protect his hide by claiming the people of Union are being impugned – or even Sen. Jim DeMint — when they are like everyone else: Trey, where do you stand?” Inglis said.

All three current candidates for county supervisor have stated clearly they do not see any economic justification for the lake in the near future. (Union Daily Times, June 2, 2010.)

“Why do we have to parse words with Trey Gowdy?” Inglis said.

The record clearly shows the lake proponents were seeking federal funds, just months before Gowdy stated he supported the lake:

- Lake Committee Chairman William Jeter told the Union Rotary Club that “one possible source is a congressional public works appropriations.” Jeter referred to a $23 billion waterworks bill being approved by
Congress.

- “So what if they’re pet projects. If they’re pork barrel projects; I don’t see Congress changing, I don’t see Congress changing one bit,” Jeter was reported telling the audience. “If they have the opportunity to spend money and spend it where it’s needed as far as public works are concerned then what’s wrong with that?” (Union Daily Times, Charles Warner, January 25, 2008)

- “Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh said this morning that the next step in the process will be a reconnaissance study, which is the preliminary step before a full-fledged feasibility study of the can begin. He said he has sent a letter to Fourth District Rep. Bob Inglis and Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham requesting $100,000 for the study.” (Union Daily Times, Charles Warner, Feb. 1, 2008)

- “[Union County Supervisor Donnie] Betenbaugh sent a letter to Inglis and Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham requesting $100,000 for a reconnaissance study. He has said the reconnaissance study is the preliminary step before a full-fledged study of the project can begin.” (Union Daily Times, Charles Warner, February 7, 2008)

- “The county plans to seek $100,000 in federal funding for a reconnaissance study. This would be the next phase in the process and would then lead to a feasibility study, followed by an environmental
impact statement.

“[U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Pat] O’Donnell said that based on his experience the reconnaissance and feasibility studies and the environmental impact statement could cost more than $14 million and take a
decade to complete.” (Union Daily Times, February 14, 2008).

- “Gowdy also expressed support for Patriot’s Lake, pointing out that water draws people to a community and so ‘why would you not support it?’

“Inglis said his initial focus would be on addressing the problems of the national economy. Once those are successfully addressed, he said, business growth will resume.” (Union Daily Times, Charles Warner, June 23, 2008).