Inglis hopes to convert former foe

Bob Inglis is on a mission.

The Republican candidate for the Fourth U.S. House District believes he can convert a former Democratic foe into a Republican ally.

Inglis invited Andrew Wittman, a Greenville Democrat who lost the party's nomination for the Fourth Congressional District in June, to speak to a group of Republicans at Wade's Restaurant Tuesday.

It was the second time Inglis has invited Wittman to speak at a Republican Party gathering.

He spoke to the First Monday club in Greenville earlier this month.

Wittman, a former U.S. Marine and Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputy, campaigned on several Republican Party themes.

Wittman supports Social Security reform and is pro-life.

But funeral home director Brandon Brown soundly defeated Wittman in the Democratic primary.

Inglis believes Wittman would make a better Republican.

"I see him struggling with the reality of the Democratic Party and how it's not accepting of his beliefs," Inglis said.

But during his speech to about 15 Spartanburg County Republican's, Wittman said both parties fail to represent the interests of ordinary Americans.

Wittman said both political parties have become so combative they put their ideology above all else.

"Not everything is bad on one side of the aisle and good on the other side," Wittman said. "Who cares who gets the credit as long as it benefits the people? We need to find common ground."

While he conceded his pro-life beliefs likely cost him the Democratic Party nomination, he indicated he was not about to switch parties.

"I'm not here to endorse Bob," Wittman said.

He defended Democratic Party themes such as public education and said the Republican Party is not as open to compromise as the Democratic Party.

"It's more wide-open on the Democratic side," Democrats are like herding cats. It's a big tent we all have different motivations and seek common ground. Whereas the Republicans are expected to be in lock-step."

Those in attendance were impressed with Wittman and most of his ideas.

"He talks like a Republican in many ways, which is why he was defeated in the primary," said Paul Manly of Roebuck. "But it's hard to mix a Democrat with a Christian because the Democrats have really set the stage for abortions."

Wittman, the son of missionaries and a member of a church affiliated with Bob Jones University, was quick to remind those in attendance that "God" was not a member of the Republican Party.

"Somehow we thought God was a Republican," Wittman said. "He's not. He's not even an American. Saying that would get me shot in some parts of the Upstate."

Inglis said he believes Wittman is merely being polite to the Democratic Party.

"He's being extremely generous to the Democratic Party," Inglis said.

"He's been respectful. But because of his ideas he was rejected by the Democrats."

Tony Taylor can be reached at 562-7219 or tony.taylor@shj.com.

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JOHN BYRUM
Andrew Wittman of Greenville, who lost the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House to Brandon Brown, answers a question at Wade's Restaurant. Bob Inglis, the Republican nominee for Congress, left, holds these meetings, called "Let's Talk," twice a month to discuss policy.

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