This past weekend I had the pleasure of, once again, attending the RedState Gathering. I began my 90 mile drive to the nearest airport at 4 am Friday morning. Two flights later and I was in Charleston before lunch. I arrived at the hotel and checked in to my room before meeting up with Erick and Neil to go to Staples and Chick-Fil-A. This was a priority mission since Vermont oppresses me by not having any Chick-Fil-A restaurants at all, not just on Sundays as it is for free Americans. Also, we needed more badge holders and lanyards due to doubling our registrations in the last week leading up to the event.

Upon our return from eating God’s gift to fast food, Neil and I promptly started stuffing those lovely gift bags with various coveted items, like Sen. DeMint’s book; The Great American Awakening: Two Years that Changed America, Washington, and Me, in preparation for registration. Everyone was of high spirits even though there was much work to do.

Fortunately the conservatives who frequent RedState, and some friends who write at other sites, are always willing to pitch in any way they can. Whether is was Matt DeLuca stuffing bags, or Gavin DeFreese [aka RSBooBooKitty] and Alumni Contributor Brian Simpson manning the registration desk, you’d be hard pressed to find someone not willing to give of their time to provide a helping hand.

This willingness to pitch in, to give one’s time and efforts freely was just a small example of the greater sense of community that is inherent in the conservative movement.

As the event got going and the attendees were enjoying the time engaging with the stellar conservative candidates and current office holders such as Sen. DeMint [SC], Gov. Scott [FL], Rep. Scott [SC-CD1], I couldn’t help but be drawn back to a Bible verse I had read on my flight down to Charleston.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed
Proverbs 13:20

Throughout the weekend I found myself surrounded with wise men like Leon Wolf, Ben Domenech, Thomas Crown, Soren Dayton, David Bufkin, Moe Lane, Brad Jackson, Erick Erickson, and many others, all the while with nary a fool to be seen. As people like Adam Hasner, Ted Cruz, and Gov. Nikki Haley took the stage for their speeches they further confirmed that we were there together for not only our own edification, but the edification of our nation, our party, and our cause.

I would like to thank the attendees, the honored guests, and of course Gov. Rick Perry, whom I am supporting, for making this such a wonderful event. More so I would like to thank the fellow contributors and alumni of the front page at RedState who are daily the wise men with whom I walk. You all have contributed greatly to my wisdom and I thank the Lord that I get to talk to you each day.

This is why I call RedState my home and this is why I have sacrificed in order to attend this annual gathering since its inception.

Aaron B. Gardner

P.S. I would like to give a special shout out to the wonderful people at American Majority; Drew and Ned Ryun, Raz Shafer and Matt Robbins, as well as the guys from Political Gravity; Matt Armstrong and Roy Magno who demo’d their GOTV/VoterID software for me in the hotel Bar. These guys are conservative stalwarts who are paving the way for us to take our party, and ultimately our nation back from the edge of destruction.

P.P.S I apologize if I forgot anyone… it was a big event.