Songwriter Lee Thomas Miller launched his campaign for the Republican nomination to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District from his home in Brentwood today.
“I’m a songwriter, the smallest of ‘small business.’ I’m a small town guy who grew up being taught that every decision should be rooted in common sense. That patriotism and walking with God are part of everyday life. That nobody owes me anything- it’s up to me to earn what I get,” Miller said in his announcement statement.
“I’m definitely not a politician and have no desire to ever become one!” he added.
The conservative champion of religious liberty explained why he decided to enter the race to succeed Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07), who is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Bob Corker (R-TN).
“I’ve been writing the stories of real Americans for as long as I can remember. Stories about life and loss. Love and regret. Songs about innocence and youth. Songs about faith and the struggle to keep it. I give a voice to those who can not find the words they are looking for. I give a voice to those who are not being heard,” Miller added in the statement announcing his campaign
“If politicians ARE hearing our voices and stories, they aren’t listening or doing enough to bring good jobs to our rural areas, secure our border and enforce our laws, to relieve the burdens that health insurance premiums and unpaid medical bills have on our families, or to address the fact that America today isn’t what it used to be — much less what it should be,” Miller said.
“I am asking the voters of the 7th Congressional district to allow me to earn their trust, support and votes so I can take their stories to Washington in a way no one has ever done before. I believe that by working together we can make sure Congress listens to our voices and concerns,” the songwriter said in the statement, which continued:
Lee Thomas Miller is an award winning conservative songwriter who lives in Williamson County with his wife Jana and their four kids, all of whom attend public schools in their community. He has penned hit songs for top country artists, including Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Jamey Johnson, and Chris Stapleton. Most people know his hit songs, like “In Color,” “The Impossible,” “You’re Gonna Miss This,” and “I’m Still a Guy.” With seven No. 1 songs, 10 top 10 songs and three Grammy nominations the son of Kentucky tobacco farmer and a small town librarian is a widely respected and successful songwriter.
But in a business where conservative Christian values are not always embraced, Miller has been a courageous and outspoken leader in the culture wars. In 2006, Lee and his wife Jana were part of a group of Praying Parents who gathered regularly to pray for the children, the teachers and the Lord’s protection over the elementary school their kids attended. Predictably, the ACLU sued them to stop it. But Lee and Jana didn’t back down, they fought back! They and the other parents even filed their own lawsuit to protect and preserve the free speech and religious freedoms of their kids. Ultimately they were successful in protecting those freedoms for all students in the district.
When not writing songs, or fighting for religious liberty, Miller spends time lobbying Congress regarding protections of intellectual property as President of the Nashville Songwriters Associa-tion International (NSAI). “Unfortunately, I have learned that while we “VISIT’ the Capitol to share our concerns with Congress, the special interests and professional political class are ‘permanent residents’ — giving them influence that regular citizens like us can’t overcome.” Miller noted.
“Our values and our livelihoods are under attack, yet too few of us are fully engaged in the fight. Protecting unborn life, cutting taxes and regulations that cripple our economy, particularly in the farm communities like the one where I grew up, and securing our borders and enforcing our laws, seem to be priorities for everybody except the politicians,” Miller added. “They WILL be my priorities, and with the help of those who live and work in this area we can make sure we get heard in Washington on those issues and more.”
Miller is the second candidate to announce in the race for the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District. Last month, State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) announced he is running for the nomination.
Miller’s announcement was accompanied by a YouTube video, which can be seen here.
https://youtu.be/CspoW-T1tnc
[…] faces songwriter Lee Thomas Miller in the August 2018 Republican […]
Hmmm, conservatives in the Seventh District have to make a choice as to who will be their next congressman. On the one hand we have Mark Green who has received the coveted endorsement from the conservative Club For Growth as well as the House Freedom Caucus. On the other hand we have Lee Thomas Miller a songwriter who wrote “. . .seven No. 1 songs, 10 top 10 songs. . . .” Then again, on the one hand we have Mark Green who has been a conservative leader in the State Senate for six years for which he has a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 87%, on the other hand we have Lee Thomas Miller who has never held public office before.
A tough choice for conservatives to make? No, not tough at all. VOTE GREEN!!!!
” I give a voice to those who can not find the words they are looking for. I give a voice to those who are not being heard,” Lol, seriously? This is his message? He needs to start penning a new song, “How I got My Ass Kicked by Mark Green”.