In the Commonwealth of Virginia, women represent 53% of the electorate. I proudly serve as the President of the Virginia Federation of Republican Women (VFRW) which contains plenty of sass, determination and the unfailing ability to “show up” for our candidates in every election. It is my privilege to share with you why I am a Republican and why I am honored to lead the VFRW.
For me personally, growing up in the middle of the country gave me a tinge of libertarianism, a great sense of freedom and a solid belief in e pluribus unum and the United States as one nation that provides equal opportunity for all.
It is a joy for me personally to be associated with the women of the VFRW – it is like being home. We do not all have identical views – far from it – but we do all have bed-rock principles in line with the Bill of Rights and the Constitutional checks on government power, regardless of the particular subject impacted by that power. We also realize as individuals we cannot have the impact we desire that we have the potential for as a large group. This sense of oneness, but as individuals voluntarily coming together, is what clearly differentiates us from the Democrat tactics of divide and demean. As Republicans we buy into reality, reason, and respect, especially for women.
So, why am I, why are the women of the VFRW Republicans? Simply put – past, present, future. The Republican Party is rooted in the values of our founding. That is the past. We can clearly discern the negative results of extreme progressivism that is having disastrous effects on our families in the present. So, we see the Republican Party as the vehicle that can carry the cherished values of the past to the present to correct the damage being done, and forward to the future to benefit our posterity.
As former Governor Jim Gilmore said during the Republican Party of Virginia Convention last week, the Democrat Party does not offer anything-especially for women. To that end, I urge you to work tirelessly to support and elect all of our Republican candidates. The women of the VFRW will continue to “show up” for our candidates and we urge you to do the same.
This op-ed was adapted from a speech delivered by Bartlett on June 7, 2014 at the Republican Party of Virginia Convention in Roanoke, Virginia. If you do not belong to a federated club, please visit our website to learn more.
Linda Bartlett, VFRW President, began her political activism in 2000 as a member of the George Mason Republican Women in Fairfax, Virginia. She was first elected to the VFRW Executive Committee as Recording Secretary in 2008. Since then she has served as Corresponding Secretary, 1st Vice President and now President. Bartlett is also a member of Fairfax County Republican Committee and Precinct Captain for Wakefield and Chapel Precincts. She sits on the Animal Services Commission for Fairfax County Supervisor John Cook, and has worked on his campaign from his first run. Bartlett has a BS in English from Ball State University in her hometown of Muncie, IN. She has also completed graduate work in History and Psychology at Loyola of Los Angeles and California State at Northridge. Bartlett lives with her husband, Dan Bartlett, USA (Ret.) in Annandale. They have two sons and one grandson.
