Podcast featuring Jennifer Rae Vliet and Chuck Hand from May 25, 2024.
Jennifer: Thank you so much for being a part of this time with me today. I really am looking forward to talking with you. And, you know, I want to tell everybody a little bit about how I came to know you and your wife. You had attended a couple of the vigils or the rallies that I had put together for January 6th through Look Ahead America. And I remember a specific rally that was outside of Milton Courthouse. The organization wanted it to be pretty neutral looking so that passers-by would come up and ask what we were doing and bring awareness to the people that had suffered such an injustice that were at the Capitol that day.
And so you were wearing a President Trump shirt. I remember going up to Mandy and asking, do you think you could ask your husband to maybe turn his shirt inside out just for right now because we’re just trying to keep this neutral? And she goes, I don’t really think he’s going to do that. And we approached you and you said, “this is my right to wear this.” Do you remember that conversation?
Chuck: Oh, I remember it vividly.
Jennifer: And I loved what you said because my heart is free speech first.
Chuck: Well, what do you think, y’all? The reason we’re even there and all. And I was a participant that day. So it meant a lot to me. So it was like, no, I think I’m going to wear my Trump Won shirt.
Jennifer: Right. I totally understand. And it was such a blessing to get to know you both a little bit better at that rally. And I learned at that rally that you had just experienced what had happened at the Capitol. Can you tell if you’d like to, a little bit about what transpired and what came about as a result of that?
Chuck: A lot. Well, for starters, I want to say, too, when we left that rally over there in Milton, we wound up going all the way to South Carolina to another one after that, and then drove home to middle Georgia. But no, it was at that particular time. That was before we had ever got arrested or anything. That was in our time of walking around, looking over our shoulder, wondering when they were going to come and get us. A lot has transpired since that day.
Jennifer: I bet. I bet. I did look at our database just to get reacquainted to the sentencing, because we have the J6 database. I think we have the only database through Look Ahead America. And so it seemed like you served some time in 2023.
Chuck: Yes, ma’am. And did you have to go to D.C. for that? No. I myself had to serve in the United States Penitentiary of Atlanta. My wife, they sent to Tallahassee with Ghislaine Maxwell, of all people.
Jennifer: Wow.
Chuck: Yeah. Unbelievable.
Jennifer: So was it a 20-day sentence as far as the time served?
Chuck: Yes, we both did.
Jennifer: Well, this is a really important conversation, because with you being there, everybody had a different experience, but there also has been such injustice, and people—
Chuck: Absolutely. And the thing is, too, is the stigma that comes with it, because, as you can see, you’ve got a database, and it’s all public record, to look at our situation, what happened with us and all. And we really were just innocent people protesting that were sent to prison. But then again, if you Google us or watch the news, we were rioters, terrorists, insurrectionists. It’s ridiculous, really.
Jennifer: It is. And especially when you also have the footage to back up, that you’re just there, walking in there, and you’re—
Chuck: Exactly. Exactly.
Jennifer: So, well, before we get into more about that, I want to just say proudly that we’re talking to a man who is stepping up and doing really what needs to be done, being a part of the grassroots movement here in Georgia and getting involved politically. And Chuck is, as a Republican, running, and you’re in a runoff now for the 2nd District congressional seat that’s currently held by a Democrat. And that’s in Thomas County? Is that the 2nd District?
Chuck: Well, no, it’s 30 counties.
Jennifer: Oh, is it? It comprised 30? Yeah. Okay.
Chuck: Yeah, it’s from Macon, Georgia, all the way down to the Florida line, from Albany, Georgia, all the way to Alabama. The largest district this side of Mississippi.
Jennifer: Wow. We have a lot of counties in this state, don’t we?
Chuck: Oh, yeah, 159.
Jennifer: 159, right. So who is the man, Chuck Hand? And why are you stepping up to represent Georgia? What’s the vision that you’re casting, should you get the seat?
Chuck: Well, one that actually represents the people that make up our district, you know? And we need to rebuild our district. Where we come in year after year is one of the poorest districts in not just the state, but the entire country. And we’ve been neglected for quite some time now. It’s time for change, actual, real, fundamental change down here.
Jennifer: Is that area also kind of staunchly Democrat? Or would you say— Not really.
Chuck: Yes and no. I mean, it’s tight. It’s pretty close. We’re about 50-50 down here politically speaking and all. I mean, yes, Mr. Bishop continues to knock down every challenger we put up against him. That’s because we keep sending politicians to go against him. Like I’ve told a few people, some people think, oh, well, he’s just running because of January 6th. No, we started our involvement back in 2018. And I’ve been building these relationships all throughout the district, boosting political involvement and getting more people to turn out and get excited about voting. We’ve been working on unseating Sanford Bishop for years now. And I finally just decided, you know what? I think it’s going to take one of us regular people to do it. So that’s what we’re doing.
Jennifer: So, your campaign, what does that look like right now? Are you going to—you’re having meetings? Are you going door to door? What does that look like?
Chuck: At the moment, well, there’s different levels. Right now, we’re still in primary mode. Well, there’s runoff mode now, which is completely different than primary mode. But you’ve got to hit the people that show up to these primaries and all. Like a general election strategy of going to areas where people don’t vote like us, trying to get them to vote like us, that’s not nothing to do right now. Right now, we’ve mostly focused on all the local GOPs and small organizations and all, people who—the people who go out and vote in the primaries. That’s where we’ve been spending most of our time and targeting.
Jennifer” Right. Well, that’s great. I mean, the runoff is June 18th. Am I correct about the date?
Chuck: Yes, ma’am.
Jennifer: So that’s almost here. That’ll be here before you know it. Yeah. So I just want to put out there for people listening to this to really just lift Chuck and his wife both up in prayer and specifically Chuck, because this is a really special time. And this is a great point that you made, that you’re not doing this just because of January 6th. And a lot of the people that were in D.C. to listen to Trump and just be there to support him, these are very smart people that have known what’s been going on in this country for a while. These are people who have either been involved or have wanted to get involved somehow since you know. And I can remember the morning after the inauguration, I wrote Krisanne Hall. Do you know who she is? She’s the Constitutional Attorney for people who don’t know. And she—I wrote her on Facebook having no clue if she would ever write me back. And I said, what do we need to do to help President Trump and to make this right? And her response was pretty quick, and she said to me, “it starts in your home, in your community, in your county, in your state. You have got to get involved because that’s where it starts”. And that’s why things have ended up the way that they have ended up, you know. Absolutely. Because we don’t get involved enough as, you know, America First people, you know, digging in, digging in. And I thought that was really interesting. And that’s how many years ago, and it still rings true. And you are a walking example of that. And I have to say, getting involved in the Georgia election integrity side of things, I have met some of the most beautiful patriots and people who—they’re just amazing—it’s just time. It’s time to dig heels in and get involved. So, yeah. The regular people are opening their eyes and getting involved. Yeah. It’s a great state full of great Georgians who are America First and Georgia First, you know.
Chuck: Yes, ma’am.
Jennifer: So, well, I thank you so much for this time. And really, we’ll be anxious to see how it goes. And is there anything that, you know, that people can do to help support you in your area? You know, is there anything that you have a charge for everybody? ‘
Chuck: Well, we—of course, donations are always the best. They help with gas and signs and all that good stuff. You can donate at ChuckHandforGeorgia.com But more importantly, more important than dollars are volunteers. You know, just calling, making those cold calls, knocking on doors, whatever. You know, we’ll take all the help we can get because we need it. But, you know, overall, pray for me. You know, just pray for us. We’re trying to make a difference here, really. We’re trying to give representation to the everyday working-class people of southwest Georgia. And that’s just what we intend to do.
Jennifer: Thank you for that. I will definitely make sure everybody can get connected to how to reach you to make a donation, you know, and to get connected in the ways that you had just mentioned. I do want to say that I do believe that it’s going to take a miracle, you know, come this election for November 5th. And I have started a website, jeremiah3227.com, based on the scripture where God says, I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. There is nothing too hard for me. And it’s about praying for President Trump and America on June 14th, which is Flag Day. And it’s also his birthday. And the reason why I’m pointing this out is because it really is going to take, you know, people praying and really trusting God and actually repenting for what’s been going on in this country. So thank you so much, Chuck. I appreciate your time. Thank you. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what happens on June 18th. And I’m just a phone call away, and I’ll be anxious to hear. So thank you so much. And I wish you the best.
Chuck: Thank you. Bye-bye.