A Mighty Voice for Disabled Americans: An interview with Brian Donegan, founder of Can-Do Conservatives

By: Julianne Thompson

The world of politics can be rough, almost unbearably so at times.   It is not for the weak, or the thin-skinned.  It takes someone special to break barriers and be noticed in the political arena, and 27 year old Brian Donegan is getting noticed.

Brian is legally blind, and was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palette, no physical nose on his face, and other disabilities he likes to call “blessings”.  He has had over a dozen surgeries, and in 1982, he was given less than six weeks to live. 

To the casual observer, Brian is disabled.  To those who have had the pleasure of knowing Brian, he is one of the strongest men you will ever meet.  Brian believes he survived for a reason.  He believes in a Higher Power, which put him on this earth and gave him those “blessings” to make a difference.  And what a difference he is making in the political arena.

Brian’s journey into politics began when he- being a Republican -was following the race for RNC Chairman.  He stated “Each candidate had a plan for the Party and many of them felt that it was necessary to reach out to different groups that have been missing from our coalition:  African-Americans, Hispanics, women, young voters, etc.  However, I noticed that one group was missing, the disabled.  It was at that point I felt it was time to do something.”

He continued, “I am sick and tired of being championed by liberal Democrats because they are the only people that have reached out to the Disabled.  We are being used as pawns on a political chess board with their vote-buying entitlements that latch us on to the Government ball and chain.”

As a result, Brian formed a 527 organization called Can-Do Conservatives of America to be a voice for the disabled.  Brian regularly speaks at Tea Parties, rallies, GOP events, and travels for his cause.  He stated, “Despite my organization being established for only eight months I have had some exciting travels.  I have traveled all over Georgia, South Carolina, Indiana, and Michigan, among other states.  I just returned from Washington DC, where I answered Michelle Bachman’s call to protest the Pelosi bill.  I spent my birthday week in September in Iowa, where I campaigned for one of my movement’s first supporters, gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats.  His third son, Lucas was born severely disabled. Bob’s inspiration to run for Governor in the first place, was to enable the disabled in his state.”  

Brian feels that while in general the GOP has done a poor job reaching out to the disabled, he finds there are some very notable exceptions, “In her speech to the RNC Convention last year, Governor Sarah Palin promised that if elected as Vice President, special needs children would have an advocate in the McCain administration.  While on the trail in October 2007, at a time when his campaign coffers were filled more with dust than cash, Governor Mike Huckabee paid $400 for a haircut to be donated for autism research.  And South Carolina Lt. Governor André Bauer has been a champion for the disabled and the elderly while serving the people of the Palmetto State,” he said.    

When talking to Brian, it is evident that no one has inspired him more than former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. “I am very dedicated to Governor Huckabee.  Being a volunteer for his 2008 campaign for President changed my life.  At the time I was lost and looking for direction.  I served his campaign as Meet up Organizer in Gwinnett County, GA.  I also blogged on his behalf, and stood on street corners handing out literature.   While the campaign was not ultimately successful, I gained the much-needed confidence I had been lacking and found my direction for the rest of my life.  I plan to make sure he knows about my organization when he comes to town next week on his book tour,” he said.  

Brian continued, “There are other candidates that have inspired me from my own state of Georgia: Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine (who is running for Governor) and Gerry Purcell (who is running to succeed him as Insurance Commissioner) are two examples.”

 Nothing has inspired Brian’s involvement in politics more than the healthcare bill that just passed the House of Representatives November 7^th.  He said candidly, “The debate over health care reform is as personal as it gets to me.  If the Omnibus Healthcare bill was law back when I was born would my life had been deemed worth saving by the government?  I sincerely doubt it.  Neither would the lives of other people facing grim prognosis.  That is why I am standing up and fighting as hard as I can against this bill and for a solution that is based on common sense.  I am not against health care reform.  We need a plan that extends coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, the allowance for buying insurance across state lines, and other solutions that can be achieved through the private sector without increasing our federal debt and growing the size of government.”

While he is not ruling out an eventual run for political office, Brian’s first priority is to stop the healthcare bill from passing the Senate, but he does have long term plans for Can-Do Conservatives.  “I would like to ultimately have a Chapter of the Can-Do Conservatives in every state.  I would like my organization to be recognized one day as a legitimate major Conservative organization, like the Christian Coalition, National Right to Life, and other organizations,” he said. 

Brian is well on his way to meeting the goals he has set for his organization.  His life is a testimony to defying the odds.  He is a strong and dedicated man who has not let physical disability stand in his way of making a difference.  Disabled Americans have a mighty voice in Brian Donegan. 

Brian plans to continue on the speaking circuit, and can be contacted at bdbopper@gmail.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/CanDoConservatives.   For further information on Can-Do Conservatives of America, please visit http://www.candoconservatives.com.

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