My Journey from ‘Activist’ to Congress

My Journey from ‘Activist’ to Congress
By Jack Pagano
jack@thetampapost.com
National Harbor, MD

Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack rocked a joyous crowd at the opening night of the CPAC
at the National Harbor, just a stone’s throw from Capitol Hill. The staunch conservative from
the sunshine’s state 3 rd district is trying to take lemons and make lemonade. In Washington that
can be a very arduous task but the former Colorado rancher says it can be done.

Florida’s 3 rd district Congresswomen Kat Cammack speaks to a crowd of conservatives at CPAC23 at the National Harbor, Maryland. 1 March 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

She whipped up the crowd with “We’re all in the ‘FIGHT’ to save our country…” Those words
resonated loudly with the conservative group. The Conservative Political Action Committee-
CPAC continues to get record crowds every year. Last year the CPAC was in Orlando, Florida
due to COVID restrictions but now it’s back in the Capitol region. This year anticipated crowds
are expected to break records.
Cammack is a 3 rd generation commercial “sand blaster” farmer who says she has been to the
lowest valleys only to reach some very high mountain tops in her few years in Congress. She
says, “you don’t get bitter, you get better.” From the heart she took the crowd on an ad-lib
rollercoaster ride of her life: the big downs, homelessness (evicted from her Colorado farm with
no place to go) and food insecurity. She never gave up and had a game plan to succeed.

Florida’s 3 rd district Congresswomen Kat Cammack speaks to a group of advocates after her CPAC talk at the National Harbor, Maryland. 1 March 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

It all started with a President Obama farming bill in 2011 that crushed the housing and farming
market. She campaigned on that injustice. Her relentless pursuit provided Congressional victory
in 2020. She was elected as one of the youngest conservative females ever in Congress. Her
farming charm continues to showcase underdogs in life can overcome adversity, and achieve
success. No underdog now.
Florida’s 3 rd district is like Nebraska’s breadbasket with acres upon acres of farming. The district
comprises a large section of northern Florida. Her “make it happen” attitude is winning over her
district and Congress. In 2022 she blew away the competition with almost 63 percent of the
vote. Now she seeks a “clear, hold and build” kind of philosophy poking failures of the current
administration. She pulled no punches in her talk and the crowd loved her brute honesty.
She knows it’s going to take some brute maneuvers to get all republicans on the “same sheet of
music.” She told the crowd it’s the old three musketeer way, “All for one, one for all…” She
mentioned the Republicans even the ‘Rhinos’ must come together. Republicans of all stripes,
like a band of brothers from the frontlines of World War II must align in spirit and unity
otherwise the democrats will surprise and stun everyone in the 2024 election.

Florida’s 3 rd district Congresswomen Kat Cammack speaks to a happy group of followers after her CPAC talk at the National Harbor, Maryland. 1 March 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Her eye on the prize is to get republicans committed in unity early and elect down ballot
conservatives to include new leaders for Congress in democrat targeted areas.
She’s optimistic her uncanny way to recruit and retain will succeed and envy any military
recruiter looking for future patriots. She’s taking charge in the fight now to get conservatives
elected. She spoke of just 6,000 votes determined the republican advantage in today’s Congress.
Just 4 Congressional seats and 6,000 votes has determined who’s in charge of the Congress. A
lead she says is “far too small” and she wants everyone to know her tactical, ground game plan is
on the move. Her goal: extend the unpredictable 4 seat margin. Will she motivate and inspire the
conservative base and get republicans to unify?

Jack Pagano is a retired Army field grade officer with many decades of Information Operations
experience and currently working remotely in the USA as COO/Strategist for one of
Afghanistan’s biggest Radio/TV networks. His next mission is getting out Afghan journalists he
trained, mentored who are stuck, stranded under the sharia driven Taliban.