Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is good Morning Beat Friday morning, seven twenty on WBT.
Bowen Beth here on the Great Colossus. So our friend
Ruth from Maryland. I looked down and she was still
hanging on, and I said, is she e been on
(00:21):
hold all this time? And she has, but she's listening
on hold because you know what she was saying, she
doesn't get us after a certain period of time.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh my gosh, Ruth is hanging on to hear us.
So Ruth might be our new fave.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I hope it's been worth it, I assume. So if
she's still there, yeah, yeah, So let's go to the
WBT hotline and welcome US Congressman Mark Harris from D eight.
He joins us once a week, and right now he's on,
you know, on leave from Washington. He's at home doing
constituent work and such with the break in August. But
I'm assuming things are about to ramp back up after
(00:54):
Labor Day. Congressman, good morning to.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
You, Good morning, bow and Bear. Great hear your voice
this morning.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, it's always great to hear your voice. We love
that you join us every Friday.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
It's huge.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Well, it's a blessing for me and I enjoy updating
folks on what's happening and sharing some perspective. And this
has been a difficult week for the country in so
many ways, but we are we're just continuing to press on.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
You're definitely right that it has been a difficult week.
How are you feeling as we are heading into this
Labor Day weekend, especially given what happened in Minneapolis and
how the country is grieving over the fact that these
two a durably beautiful young people lost their lives while
(01:47):
praying at school, and then so many others injured, some
of them still in the hospital. How are you feeling
this morning and what message would you want to send
to your constituents.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Well, obvious, we've all got to continue to pray for
the families of these two two children, eight year old
and ten year old. It is it is a tragedy.
And I've been following and seeing the families of these
children as they put out statements, as they've actually gone
(02:21):
on media to share things they want to share about
their children, and we've got to continue to lift them
up in prayer and this entire community, I mean, many
of the children that whose lives were spared in the
midst of that craziness. It's amazing just to see those
families knowing their children have been traumatized. And you know,
(02:46):
as a dad, as a granddad, now I have grandchildren
that are the age of those children, and many of
them they go to Christian school. And when I saw
the event just unfold, of course, immediately my mind went
back to just two years ago when we were going
through this in Nashville with a shooter. And then of
(03:07):
course when it initially happened, you never know about the shooter.
You never know what they're going through or what led
to this situation. And then of course as the news
came out, things became even more apparent of what we
were dealing with. And it's just it's just a challenge.
I mean, I've been sharing a message as I did
(03:27):
interviews yesterday about this that we've got to we've got
to have serious conversations in this country about mental health.
But at the end of the day, we've got to
come to recognize that when we've gotten ourselves in a
position at times of affirming a mental health crisis, and
we can't do that because when you when you affirm
(03:50):
a mental sickness rather than really seek to treat it,
people get hurt, and I mean we we've seen that
time and again going all the way back what happened
in Charlotte on the light rail, and I know the
conversations you guys have had about that that this guy
had already been arrested seventeen times there in Charlotte, and
(04:13):
it's a real crisis that we've got to begin to
get some answers for.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Are you concerned about some of the cuts that are
happening due to kind of the broader realignment of the
Department of Health and Human Services right now when it
comes to mental health and trying to get people into
places that can get them the help that they need.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Beth, I'm not as concerned about the cuts that are
being made as far as the finances, because it is
just like you stated, it is a rearrangement, and I
think that we've just got to find better ways. There's
a lot of again we come back to it, waste,
fraud and abuse that has gone on in government spending.
(04:57):
But I do think that we've got to recognize where
we are and prioritize the things that need to be
made a priority. And I think that's where we are
right now with this mental health situation, and I think
moving moneies around to get them where we most need
to help is what we need to be considering.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
We were talking to David Shadwick yesterday. We always spend
a little bit of time with him on Thursday mornings,
and of course you share something in common with David.
You both have been pastors of large churches in the
Charlotte area. And when something like this happens, like it
did in Minneapolis earlier this week, at a place of
worship and kids at that in that place of worship,
(05:41):
I think about people like you because unfortunately we are
at this place in America and in the world where
places of worship have to think about things strategically as
it relates to security, and you have to make sure
that you have law enforcement in place for services and
some that I think, you know twenty thirty years ago
(06:03):
you wouldn't even I mean I thought about growing up.
I know who the policeman is who directed traffic across
the street when I went to church, but I never
thought about, you know, an armed security officer would need
to be there during the Sunday service.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Well, you're exactly right, Bo, and that is something that
we've had to consider, obviously more and more in recent years.
And of course my wife, she teaches at a Christian school,
and I've heard after every one of these incidentss heads
get together and they begin to think, Okay, what are
we going to do to make things more secure? And
(06:38):
steps are taken, and we do that in our churches,
and it causes people to begin to question, you know,
how safe am I? And I keep reminding people, and
this is true of a believers, that we need to
stop and remember that we're not to live with a
spirit of fear. But we've been given a sound mind
and that's what the Lord for us. And so we've
(07:01):
got to continue to be wise. We've got to continue
to make the decisions that are best for the safety
and security of folks. But again, we can't we can't
live in fear.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I love that message, Congressman, to remind people that that
is how we were intended. We aren't intended to live
in fear. That is that is a message that I
think a lot of people probably need to hear, as
they do feel fearful when we see headlines like this one,
and when we grieve with these these families This.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Is Good Morning Bet with Bo Thompson and the Path
Crowd Man seven thirty five on WBT on your Friday morning.
It's Bo and Beth talking to Congressman Mark Harris, who
joins us every Friday, sometimes in the district and sometimes
in DC. And Congressmen, know what is the schedule? Are
(07:55):
you headed? Are you headed back right after Labor Day?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
We are. We are due to fly back in on Tuesday,
and so I'm going to be heading back on Tuesday
to be gearing up. I think we have votes Tuesday
evening day after Labor Day, we kick right back in,
and so a lot of activity, a lot of decisions,
a lot of deadlines we're heading toward, and so great,
(08:19):
great deal of things to do.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
So President Trump on truth Social last night posted something
Actually this is an earlier yesterday, but point being, it's
one of his most recent truth Social posts, and I
think it's an interesting notion. I'm curious to get your
take on this. He said, we won every aspect of
the presidential election, and based on the great success we
are having, we are poised to win big in the midterms.
(08:42):
We have raised far more money than the Democrats and
are having a great time fixing all of the country,
destroying mistakes made by the Biden administration, and watching the
USA heal and prosper. The results are incredible, a record pace.
In that light, I am thinking of recommending a national
convention and to the Republican Party just prior to the midterms.
(09:03):
It has never been done before. Stay tuned. That would
be something and quite frankly, if anybody would ever do it,
I think Trump's the guy. But what about the idea
of an off year election national GOP convention.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Well, listen, I think that's a pretty novel idea. I
think it's interesting to consider. I had never thought about it,
I had not heard heard it until the President put
it out there. I think it's something. It goes to show.
Bottom line, it goes to show just how important these
midterms are to this president and really to the country.
(09:42):
We have had an incredible start to this administration and
these first two years. I believe, just like these first
eight months have been so rapid fire in activity and
the steps that we've been able to make, and we
all realize that the midterms are crucial and we're either
going to be able to continue making the progress that
(10:05):
we're making moving the America First agenda forward, or we're
going to hit a wall if things were to go
poorly in the midterms. So there's a lot at stake
in this election coming up in twenty six. Of course,
we got municipal elections that are going to happen first,
and there's always a lot of stake there. But I
think the President is basically it's almost like a challenge
(10:28):
that he would say, Look, we're not afraid to go
national and put everything out there of what we've done,
because we believe in what we've done. We believe the
American people. I mean, you look at what's happened in DC.
The poll that AP did said that eighty one percent
of Americans are recognizing that crime is a major problem.
(10:49):
And I think in that same poll, fifty five percent
approved of the President's handling of the situation. So I
think the President realizes that momentum is with him and
if we can get that national message, and look, can
you imagine he continues to know how to message, he
knows how to present, he knows how to get really
(11:12):
and truly his information out there to the American people
in a creative way and an effective way, and I'm
sure he's willing to take that, take that home and
take that challenge.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Well, he's the first president, you know, sitting president to
have rallies, like election style rallies during the time he's
in office. He did that all the time during his
first administration, and that became kind of commonplace. But I
guess the real or another set of questions, uh dovetailing
from from the one about the notion of the off
year convention, would be, Okay, does all the all the
(11:47):
media outlets cover it the way they'd cover a traditional convention,
and then would the Democrats follow suit if it looked
like it was gaining steam, to make sure they had
their voice out there.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
So, well, who's the headliner?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You know, Chris, We're nominating a president candidate at the
conventions every four years.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
Like to all the senators who are really stand up, it'd.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Be like renewing your wedding veils. I'm gonna I'm gonna
renew my presidency or something like that.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
But anyway, well, it's a great question, and again that's
been one of the problems that Democrats have continued to have.
They just seem to be leaderless right now. And I
mean there's people are even throwing stones that they're on
head of the Democratic National Convention. They're just all kinds
of things that are going on, and they're somewhat rudderless.
(12:32):
And again, I think when when you see blood in
the water, I think it's the time that you've got
to You've got to just move forward. And the President
sees this and recognizing that the Republican Party, we have
a strong leader, we have a strong majority that's working together,
and we're moving the nation forward, and seize that moment
and promote it. And you know, the media has to
(12:55):
cover the president obviously everywhere he goes, and this is
a great opportun unity perhaps, And look, I'd love him
to come back to Charlotte. We've been the great place
to host it in North Carolina.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Hey, wouldn't that be fun?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Have a you could get us some access, couldn't you
If that happens here.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
I would do all I could count.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
While we have you.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Before we let you go, I wanted to ask you
about because you're headed back up to Washington, d C.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
On Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
One of the dominant headlines of what's happening within the
administration is the quote showdown at the CDC as President
Donald Trump wants Director Susan Monterez to no longer be
the head of the CDC. And this is someone that
he nominated and someone that the Senate just recently confirmed.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
But it has to do with this the idea of.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Everyone working in the administration being aligned with the president.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Do you think that this is a good idea?
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Well, obviously, to your point, you want any kind of
war organization that you're running, whether it's a country, an administration,
or a business or whatever, you want everybody that is
serving in leadership to be moving in the same direction
and share the same priorities in what you're doing. And
I think that that is just a situation right now
(14:18):
where the president needs to have the confidence in the
people that he has running various organizations and various parts
of the administration. And I think you've got to You've
got to allow him that ability to make those calls.
And and so I think that that's that's what this
issue comes down to, is the confidence that the president
(14:39):
has and the people that he has working with him.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Congressman Mark Harris joins us once a week here on
Good Morning BT headed back to DC, and that is
where you'll be next week. I assume when we talk
to you, but we appreciate, we appreciate the time as
always and have a good holiday weekend coming up.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Well, thank you very much. I hope y'all have a
blessed week and looking forward to talking with you next
week