Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed potential candidate for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, Omar Hamada in-studio to talk about what has motivated him and why he may run for the open seat.
Leahy: A good friend from Williamson County, Omar Hamada. Omar, you’ve pulled papers to run for the 5th Congressional District. You haven’t announced yet. We’ll ask you the big question in about three minutes.
Hamada: All right.
Leahy: But we want to learn more about you were also in the Special Forces.
Hamada: I was U.S. Army Special Forces. I got into the National Guard, actually in medical school, and spent four years in a MASH unit in Tennessee and loved it. But after four years, I got kind of bored with it. We were down at Fort Sam Houston and San Antonio.
The Green Berets were actually running our combat casualty care course. And after the two weeks, a couple of them came up and said, hey, Doc, how’d you like to go to SF? I said, I’d love to. And I spent the next 10 years in Special Forces.
Leahy: 10 years in Special Forces?
Hamada: Yes. It was incredible. The best decision I’ve ever made. Better than medical school.
Leahy: Wow! That’s really something. Now, in addition to serving in Special Forces, you’re a strong Christian. Tell us about that.
Hamada: I am. I came to Christ at 4 years of age and really advancing Christ’s Kingdom has been my core foundational truth that I base everything in my life off of, whether it’s in medicine or business or politics or what have you. It always comes back to advancing his Kingdom.
I’ve had some great mentors like Adrian Rogers, the late Adrian Rogers in Memphis. At Bellevue, Leighton Ford, who is Billy Graham’s brother-in-law, is still a good friend, Godly man, and others. So really my whole goal is to change hearts and minds, liberate the oppressed, and save our nation.
Leahy: Before we get to the big question, one little point to get out: You were elected chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party.
Hamada: Yes.
Leahy: But you only served there for about six months. You left. Tell us what happened.
Hamada: Yeah, huge mistake. I had several people come to me three different times begging me to run because somebody else was running they didn’t want in place. So I finally said, fine, I’ll do it. But I was in the middle of a very contentious, long divorce. That was very difficult.
I was also in the middle of a significant health problem that I think was due to all that where I ended up with a ruptured colon, spent two months at Centennial in the hospital, almost died. And then also lost my dad at the same time.
So it was just everything at once. Williamson County GOP at the time was very contentious. Even the board was difficult. People just wouldn’t align. And I was just like, you know, it was a life issue.
Leahy: You needed to make a change.
Hamada: Yeah, some life issues, and it was a perfect storm.
Leahy: Are you ready for the big question?
Hamada: Bring it.
Leahy: The big question is, now you have pulled papers to collect signatures to file by April 7 to run for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District. You need to file those by April 7.
Now, you know, Beth Harwell announced her candidacy on this very program recently. I’m going to ask you this question. Are you prepared to announce your candidacy in the 5th Congressional District GOP primary on the show today?
Hamada: No, I’m not prepared today. Sort of like my friend Andy Ogles. I think there are some issues there that we’re trying to overcome. Primarily, I’ve got two young kids.
I’ve got four children: two girls, 18 and 22, are both graduating. And then two boys, 12 and 16. They’ve been through a lot these past few years. And my decision is really primarily based on some discussions I’m having with them.
I am prepared, if I enter, to go full steam ahead and full-bore and win this thing. But I’m not prepared to make that announcement right yet.
Leahy: When do you think you will be prepared to make the go, no-go decision? Because I’m looking at the calendar, Omar.
Hamada: Tick-tock.
Leahy: Today is March 7. You are going to have to file those papers by April 7. One month from today. What’s your date upon which what is the date certain upon which you’ll say yes or no?
Hamada: Two weeks. And I’m really conflicted, because I feel like my goal has never been to be a politician. I kind of hate politics, honestly, but I’m a fighter. And I feel the same way today as I did on 9/11. I feel like our country has fallen off a cliff and it’s on fire.
And we have to get people up there to fight for it. A contingency of people that are going to fight. People who are conservative. And right now, more of the same types of politics just isn’t working. It’s giving us what we have now where we get Republicans get up there and don’t really do anything.
Leahy: Today is March 7. It’s Monday. You said two weeks is your decision date.
Hamada: Drop-dead.
Leahy: Drop-dead date. That would be March 21st.
Hamada: 21st, roughly.
Leahy: Okay. I’m going to invite you to come back on the program at 6:00 a.m.
Hamada: Alright.
Leahy: Monday, two weeks from today, March 21st. Will you make your decision then?
Hamada: You’re holding my feet to the fire.
Leahy: Will you come in?
Hamada: Yes, I’ll come in.
Leahy: Okay. And now you can make the decision before that. But if you haven’t, you can announce your decision right here on the program.
Hamada: Perfect.
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Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
