There have been many wonderful things written and said about Congressman Charlie Norwood. The bottom line of it all, however, is that people liked Charlie Norwood. His constituents loved him.
In large part, the consistent affection of his district (resulting in reelection six times) was the product of his outstanding service as Congressman. Put simply, he took care of his district; he heeded his constituents; and he stayed true to his beliefs. It is this last trait that endeared him to leaders around the country, especially here at home in Georgia.
Congressman Norwood was elected to Congress as part of the 1994 Republican Revolution. As he was apt to note, he volunteered twice for his country - once for the United States Army (serving a combat tour in Vietnam) and once for Congress. He undoubtedly considered the first 100 days of the 104th Congress as serving political combat duty in Washington, D.C. And, he loved serving.
As reflected by the comments of his colleagues, Congressman Norwood was a good team player. The key was to have Charlie Norwood on the team.
In Republican politics, he was a loyal soldier. Although he always wanted Athens, Georgia (the home of the beloved Georgia Bulldogs) as part of his Congressional district, he often accepted whatever district he got, if it was for the good of the team. When it came to candidate recruitment or fundraising, he was there. Even when it meant putting whatever aspirations he might have had for higher office, he did what was best.
Make no mistake, however, Charlie Norwood never stepped back from his core conservative principles. He never felt that government was the solution to problems. His track record confirms his steadfast convictions in this regard. Whether votes in the United States House or skirmishes with the Administration, Charlie Norwood was a reliable and consistent voice against bigger government.
Among his endearing qualities, there was one that stood out. No one ever had to guess where Congressman Norwood stood on any issue.
It was this candor that made him rather unique in American politics. While most politicians excel at the dodging and weaving that has become commonplace in Washington, D.C., Congressman Charlie Norwood was notable for standing his ground. On more than one occasion, he would say with a smile, "I've been known to get in to a fight or two, and I ain't shy about getting into another one." When he set his mind, there was bulldog determination.
Some might think that Congressman Charlie Norwood was a partisan. He did do his part to maintain the Republican majority in Washington, D.C. until 2006 and leading the Republican party to majority status in Georgia. He was a loyal confidante of both Speakers Newt Gingrich and Dennis Hastert. He gave them both candid and honest assessments on which they relied.
But, Congressman Charlie Norwood was not Republican first. Instead, he was a public servant with conviction. When it came to a compromise on immigration, he criticized his own party. When it came to healthcare (one of his true public policy passions), he led the way on the patient bill of rights. When it came to serving his constituents (be they Democrat or Republican), he was zealous.
Georgia will miss Charlie Norwood, one of its best public servants. The country will miss that candid hard-charging southern gentleman from Georgia - the Honorable Charlie Norwood.