Heather Blish

There’s been a lot of confusion surrounding the situation with Heather Blish and her sudden launch into the national spotlight after speaking out at her congressman’s listening session on pending health care legislation. You can read the full account of the chain of events, including key players and links to most of the coverage here, but she’s taken the time to answer each question individually.

1. Why did you lie? I didn’t. I resigned from my service with the Republican Party in January of 2008, and have not been active with the Republican Party or any other political organization since that time. I have not paid my dues to the Republican Party for over 2 years (I would have paid them in early 2007 and would have been due to renew when I resigned). The Kristoffer Engebretson, the NBC affiliate reporter, asked me if I had been influenced by anyone to be there that day (it’s key that his questions have never been aired, only my answers). I had not even known about the event until a few hours before, when I logged into Facebook and noticed that a friend had plans to attend.
2. So why all the Republican groups on your LinkedIn profile? LinkedIn is a business networking site. I work in the political marketing industry, specifically with conservatives and Republicans (hey, it’s a free country; if I want to reserve my talents to help those whose values reflect mine, I can make that choice). It makes sense to stay connected with the groups that include potential clients.
3. Why didn’t you try to prove to the reporter that you weren’t lying? I did. After the interview (to which I never consented; most of it is actually a private conversation I was having a member of a different news crew), I realized what Engebretson was going to do. I emailed him, reinforcing my original claim and expressing my displeasure with his inferred accusations. He responded, sticking to his story. I wrote back, offering to produce my email of resignation, as well as multiple witness that would corroborate my statements, but he was clearly not interested in allowing the facts to get in the way. It’s also notable that he never attempted to follow-up with anyone within the Republican Party or to investigate any further than googling my name and snagging screen shots of my LinkedIn profile.
4. So why did Engebretson choose to interview you? This is where it gets good. Engebretson agreed to a live interview on the Jerry Bader Show the following Monday. During that show, Engebretson admitted that he had gone to the event that day with instructions from his director not to cover the event, but to find Republican plants and expose them (no agenda/bias there). When asked why I seemed to fit that bill, he said that I was the only person there who did not ask a question. So in his mind, attending a listening session with my congressman and actually having something to say makes you a suspicious individual. You can listen to the radio interview here (it’s linked under Bader’s photo and blog link)
5. Why did you leave the Republican Party? Three reasons. First, I got sick of the roll-over-and-die politics of the Republican Party on a national level (not to disparage the many courageous and principled men and women who are currently serving as elected Republican officials and volunteers). Second, I got sick of being told that as a conservative the party must distance itself from me and compromise on it’s core principles to attract more “mainstream” Americans (I have no problem with a “big tent” approach to politics, but not if it means compromising your principles. Reagan’s “big tent” philosophy was based on the idea of convincing more American’s that conservative principles are right). Third, I got sick of the infighting within my own party at the county level. In a phenomenon that appears to be occurring all over the country, there was a clash between the older generation of stalwart Republican warriors who were unwilling to pass the baton to the newer generation, and who tended to fight the introduction of new technologies and methods of activism. While I still hold the highest respect for the older generation and the wisdom and experience they bring to the table, personality conflicts combined with months of harsh criticism finally drove me to resign. I am not telling anyone that they should not volunteer for the Republican Party, nor do I judge anyone who does. I have many friends in the party. I also would not suggest that the party is dead. I am still hoping that with better leadership on the national level, the GOP can return to the original principles that still resonate with a majority of Americans. I, for one, still plan to volunteer for any candidate, regardless of the party, that I believe reflects my values and will represent them in a principled way.
6. Do you regret going to that listening session and speaking out? No. I did nothing wrong, but because I spoke out and they were looking for a villain, I paid a dear price for my Constitutional free speech rights. Every time I get another piece of hate mail, I start shaking. Every time I see another story about me online, good or bad, I start shaking. My family has suffered psychologically; my husband and I still fear for our safety and the safety of our children. My work has suffered; aside from continued calls for my termination, it has been nearly impossible for me to work creatively with the constant distractions, and my productivity (and income) has been slashed to nearly nothing. It’s been difficult to sleep at night.

   This has far from shut me down or intimidated me. Normally a very private person, I am also a fighter; when for some bizarre reason the left decided to attack and brutalize an insignificant woman from a tiny Wisconsin town, they opened a can they never anticipated, and I am now far more of a threat to their movement than I ever was before. Along with the hate mail, I have received twice as much support, from both friends and strangers. Other moms who have been silent up until now are determined to be silent no longer. Complete strangers have pledged to donate money to the Wisconsin Right to Life for every piece of hate mail I receive.

   This is not about me; it’s about every American citizen, and their right to speak out against anything the government does, regardless of their affiliations past or present. It is a fundamental right, written into our Constitution, and if we forfeit that right, we will forfeit every other freedom we have. Do not allow what is happening to me and other Americans all across the county right now to shut you down or intimidate you; stand up and fight for what you believe in, regardless of what side of the fence you’re on. It’s not un-American, it is the very essence of that makes us American.

   Or, in the immortal words of Hillary Clinton, “I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration.”