From Chief of Staff to Congress, Critiquing Biden & GOP Leadership w/ Philip Singleton
Leading with emotions in politics can be a double-edged sword, often blurring the line between passion and practicality. While emotional engagement is crucial for galvanizing support and highlighting pressing issues, it can also cloud judgment and impede the passage of effective policies. This delicate balance between emotional resonance and rational decision-making is particularly evident in contentious policy areas where personal beliefs and public interests intersect.
On this episode of Candid{ate} Conversations, Philip Singleton discusses the emotional challenges of pushing politically charged bills, emphasizing his commitment to solving real issues despite pushback from leadership. He reflects on being the only dissenting voice on certain issues, prioritizing policy over political career preservation. Singleton acknowledges feeling betrayed by his own party’s lack of support for his initiatives but remains steadfast in his principles, focusing on policy outcomes and voter trust.
Welcome to Candid{ate} Conversations, a unique platform for candid discussions with elected officials and individuals striving to be elected. We embark on insightful conversations that explore the challenges, aspirations, and visions of political leaders and aspiring candidates. Whether you prefer to listen to podcasts or read about our discussions, we aim to provide valuable insights into the political landscape, policies, and the people driving change in our communities and nation.
[Below, you’ll find an edited snippet from our conversation, streamlined for clarity and ease of reading. This excerpt is taken from various parts of the discussion, not necessarily from the beginning.]
Enjoy!
Janelle King: How has sponsoring emotionally charged bills like the Same Girl Scores Constitutional Carry and the Anti-Sanctuary City Act affected you personally and as a candidate?
Philip Singleton: It’s been the hardest part of being a representative for anyone who knows that I’m actually sensitive Janelle. I actually have feelings despite that.
Philip Singleton: In 2019, as an Army strategist, I foresaw a significant issue that would arise in four years. I approached leadership, stating that we could address this problem now with minimal resistance. With a supermajority in the Senate and support from the Republican governor, I urged passing the solution to avoid future controversies, like the recent case of a transgender boy competing against a girl in high school sports in eastern Georgia.
Janelle King: right
Philip Singleton: They dismissed it as a solution without a problem, but I disagreed vehemently. I pushed for action, and that’s the stance I took with leadership. I made it clear to my voters during my campaign that this was an issue I intended to address. It’s similar to the promises made by some statewide candidates who then fail to follow through once in office. I refused to be that kind of person.
Philip Singleton: Everything I promised on the campaign trail, many members and other candidates take on token issues and claim they voted for something. What did they actually accomplish?
Philip Singleton: What did you go present and committee? What did you put on your Facebook page and your website? what did you actually do to achieve this besides sitting back and letting people like me do all the work and then you try to take a vote at the last minute knowing it’s gonna fail to try to save your political career and it’s like we just don’t need more legislators like that.
Philip Singleton: My experience in the state house was eye-opening. Recently, while discussing this with Julie, we visited an event at the train depot in Atlanta. Walking through the capitol, I couldn’t shake the
feeling of hurt caused by how poorly my own party treated me. It felt like a betrayal when they campaigned on the very issues I championed but failed to support behind closed doors. This experience has been formative, akin to navigating a circular firing squad.
Philip Singleton: What it’s done for me, Janelle, is you’ll never hear me speak poorly of another Republican, and it’s rare for me to criticize a Democrat. I attack policy, supporting good policies and opposing bad ones. This has strengthened my resolve. I’ve stood alone on the House floor, voting no amid a sea of yeses. When asked why I voted against it, I explained based on policy beliefs. For example, I opposed a new tax, aligning with our party’s stance on reducing taxes and government size.
Philip Singleton: What it has done is insulated me. Voters know that when they look me in the eye and ask for my opinion, I will tell them the truth. They understand that there’s no way to persuade me to do something I believe is wrong.
Janelle King: Great! We’ve finished discussing the deep questions. Now, let’s have some fun with
a few quickfire questions “would you rather” questions.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this snippet of my discussion with Philip Singleton. To hear the entire interview, please click on the link below. https://youtu.be/DyvD-T06eIE
