A Free and honest exchange of ideas

Why We Do a Weekly Republican Address

Hello, this is Representative Dick Campbell of Orrington with the Weekly Republican Address.

House Republicans want to thank all of you who read, listen, watch, and share our weekly message. Your engagement supports something vital to a healthy democracy: a free and honest exchange of ideas on public policy.

This week provided yet another example of why trust in the media continues to erode. A recent Gallup poll found that only 31% of Americans say they trust the mass media a great deal or a fair amount—the lowest in five decades.

Here’s a personal example: Earlier this week, I submitted a 241-word Letter to the Editor to one of Maine’s largest newspapers. It responded to their editorial on the national Title IX sports controversy.

In the letter, I used the term “biological males” twice. Once, I referred to allowing biological males “to participate in biological female athletic competitions.” Later, I wrote, “Biological males with their strength and size thrown into female sports after decades of success in achieving equality in athletics via Title IX is just not right!”

The newspaper told me they would only publish my letter if I agreed to replace “biological males” with “transgender athletes.”

That crosses a line. When a media outlet dictates what words I must use to express my opinion, it limits free speech and undermines political dialogue.

George Orwell once warned: “There is no swifter route to the corruption of thought than through the corruption of language.”

Silencing voices by controlling language is not journalism—it’s censorship.

To be clear, not all media outlets take this approach. Many television stations still strive to present both sides of the story. That’s how it should be. Citizens deserve full access to both perspectives before drawing their own conclusions.

We believe that when Mainers hear both sides—without filters or restrictions—they’ll often agree with our common-sense positions.

That’s why we continue to share this Weekly Republican Address: to speak directly to you, unedited and unfiltered.

You get to decide whether or not you agree. That’s how democracy is supposed to work.

This has been Representative Dick Campbell with the Weekly Republican Address.

Thank you for listening, subscribing, sharing, and following us on Facebook, TikTok, X, and Instagram.

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Representative Dick Campbell of Orrington is currently serving his ninth, non-consecutive, term in the Maine House. He is the Ranking Republican Member on the 131st Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.  In previous terms, Campbell has served on the Banking and Insurance, Energy and Natural Resources, and Select Housing Committees. Rep. Campbell graduated from Brewer High School and went on to attend secondary education at Eastern Maine Technical College and the University of Maine.  Dick served in the Air Force for eight years. During the Vietnam War, he served in the Maine Air National Guard. Rep. Campbell is the owner of Campbell LLC, a Design and Building contract company. His career experience also includes service as a member of the John Bapst High School Board of Trustees, as president with the Bangor-Brewer YMCA Board of Trustees, and as a co-chair with the Eastern Maine Soapbox Derby.  Dick serves his hometown of Orrington as President of the Old Home Week Committee and is also a member of the historical society.

Less than 3 weeks left in the session-and still no action on Maine’s biggest problems! On Thursday, Maine House Republicans held a morning briefing prior session, calling for action on issues of concern to Mainers.