“Can you hear me now?” All politicians had best pay close attention.

In 2006 and 2008, the American people reminded the Republican Party that it had strayed from the values that brought the GOP into power in the first place.

Democrats seemed to take the 2008 elections as some kind of mandate for big government and big spending. Yesterday in Massachusetts, the people sent yet another message.

Scott Brown did not tout political party. He focused on service. Someone referred to the seat that “belonged” to Sen. Ted Kennedy. Scott Brown quickly replied that the seat did not “belong” to anyone except the people of Massachusetts.

Sanford Bishop has held office for nearly two decades. He betrayed us. In the past year, Southwest Georgians flooded his office with calls and showed up at his District offices pleading with him to represent them. He turned a deaf ear to his constituents. He chose instead to serve Nancy Pelosi and the liberal establishment.

Maybe Bishop has placed a false sense of security in the farmers who have traditionally supported him.  That is a big mistake.

Farmers have a rock solid foundation in the basic freedoms of Americans. They will not sell out those values for paltry peanut or cotton quotas. Farmers are listening to their friends at church, civic clubs, out hunting, and over coffee and biscuits. They do not like what they are hearing.

Bishop’s big problem now is that with Massachusetts, people in Southwest Georgia believe that they can elect a Republican. In November, all across this country, incumbents will be giving the unthinkable concession speech. Americans will again be asking, “Can you hear me now?”

Donald E. ColeGeorgia Republican PartyCordele, Ga.