I read a recent letter from Roy Burrage on the Chattanoogan bemoaning campaign cash that was his fourth hit piece on the Chattanoogan about Rhonda Thurman. I think that shows he has some personal vendetta against Ms. Thurman.
In any event, in this hit piece the writer told several blatant lies. We all know Roy has a flair for the dramatic so that in itself is not significant but the point he tried to make seems to be that it is wrong for people to give campaign money to someone they support if it is against a candidate that the writer supports. He implied that I had stated that I wanted to be a “king maker.” That is strange for someone, according to this writer’s own words, who “went to ground,” several years ago. To us mere mortals that means that I divorced myself from political activity. I would think that if I wanted to be a “king maker” that I would have stayed active in politics but that is just me.
In order to show how bizarre his conclusions were, he forgot to tell you how the candidate he supports is being financed by several “king makers.” For a guy like Mr. Fairbanks who promised everything from fire halls to school equipment to win the primary, a tax increase is the only way.
In an article in the Chattanoogan some of Mr. Fairbanks' donors were revealed:
Henry and Kelley Luken (ever hear that name?) $3,000
Committee to elect Gerald McCormick $1,000
IBEW PAC $500
Homebuilders Association $500
Hamilton County Education Association (I wonder how he got that endorsement, can you say tax increase for schools?) $300
Chris Clem (member of Election Commission) $250
Jim Vincent (former commissioner and state rep) $250
Friends of Bo Watson (State senator) $200
Rob Philyaw (running for judge) $150
Jim Hammond (Sheriff, wanting budget increase) $100
Oscar Brock (son of Bill and political insider) $100
And of course, that political gadfly, Charlie Hunt.
Don’t these sound like some “king makers” to you? You can always tell someone’s future behavior by his financial backers. Look at the traditional “raise taxes” support he is getting from the sheriff, Hamilton County Education Association and the IBEW who are all traditional Democrat supporters. Is this really, really the “Republican” nominee?
Now let’s compare that to Rhonda’s donors.
Kenneth (Tim) Price (ex-king maker) $750
Tim Potter $500
Richard Floyd (retiring state rep) $300
Ernie McCarson $250
Ronnie and Resa Payne $200
Gregg Juster (VP Tea Party) $150
Bernice McClendon $150
There are no “associations” or sitting politicians except for one who is retiring. Almost all are individuals and friends of Rhonda.
The real point is that the establishment/power structure bunch want Randy Fairbanks for what he can give them. Both sides of the editorial TFP are for Fairbanks. The sheriff and the Hamilton County Education Association want a tax increase since both were pushing for budget increases this year that were shot down by Fred Skillern. These people supporting Fairbanks is a sign that the deal is done. Luken, Brock, Gerald McCormick, Bo Watson, Chris Clem, etc. all want someone who is malleable and “on board.” That was never Fred and won’t be Rhonda. This is Mr. Fairbanks “playing the game.”
One might say that his supporters are a sign of across the board support. Really…and I have some swamp land in Soddy I want to sell you.
What I think is reprehensible is that a segment of the Republican Party has turned to Democrats to get people elected. These people ambushed Fred Skillern, who was the most conservative person ever to be a commissioner. It is being done in the Fleichmann/Wamp race and was done in the District 1 primary. The Republican Party should be ashamed of itself.
When Rhonda Thurman wins, and she will win, I wonder how many of these people will show up at her door with their hat in their hand. If I were her, I would tell them all where to go.
Tim Price