Blue Collar Muse

At Tennessee News Platoon, in response to a posting of Tennessee House Rep. Susan Lynn’s response to the release of a GOP House Caucus internal memo, a commenter identifying himself as Elmer Gantry tries to either besmirch Lynn’s character or redeem Williams’s character or both.

You can read the memo here to catch up on the backstory and read Gantry’s comment here. My frustration and outrage at the lack of character and integrity demonstrated in drive-by commentings such as this meant that my response was likely better recorded here and not in that more serious forum. Nor am I ashamed of being associated with my opinions.

@Elmer Gantry -

Sir … your thinking is so muddled on so many points it is difficult to know where to begin.

Let’s compare the alleged behavior, shall we?

Are you seriously suggesting the environment of a parking garage in the company of a colleague or two or a private conversation in the hall with the same is the equivalent to the entire GOP caucus in the midst of a celebration?

Are you seriously further suggesting the activities described in the two alleged incidents are equivalent? On one hand you have a lawmaker separating herself from her colleagues to return home or for a private conversation. That separation is interrupted by Williams imposing himself on Rep. Lynn without invitation and on both occasions Williams action was viewed by witnesses as inappropriate. You juxtapose this with the setting described in article you quote. That setting was a highly public, celebratory atmosphere where the purpose was expressly to be in solidarity with other GOP lawmakers. In such a setting it is entirely appropriate for colleagues to share a hug. Further no witness is suggesting Rep. Lynn behaved inappropriately by hugging Williams.

I’m unclear on the conclusion you are attempting to create in the mind of anyone reading your words. I can only assume it is the worst conclusion possible. But the events just won’t permit you to legitimately smear Susan Lynn. Just as Kent Williams’ behavior leaves us with questions about his character, Lynn’s behavior leaves no questions about hers.

Kent Williams’ inappropriate behavior gave Rep. Lynn reason to be concerned. Being a woman of grace and integrity, she chose to protect her reputation and that of Kent Williams, then and now, by discretely contacting her caucus leadership and resolving the matter in house and refusing to substantially comment on the matter to this day. She handled the matter professionally and with class. Kudos are due Lynn’s husband and Jason Mumpower for their restraint and professionalism, as well. I’ll even congratulate Kent Williams on his ability to recognize the gift with which Lynn repaid his oafishness and his backing off the bad behavior.

You want to twist a gracious act and a professional courtesy and suggest Lynn is somehow in the wrong. If she hugged him at a joyous, public event then something or everything about Lynn’s earlier statement must be discarded. Kent Williams must not be a bad man and Susan Lynn must be a bad woman. It cannot be that Rep. Williams learned a lesson and refrained from repeating his unacceptable behavior. It cannot be that he traded his unacceptable behavior for acceptable behavior. It must be that Susan Lynn’s account was false. Kent Williams behaves despicably and you defend him. Susan Lynn behaves in a gracious, forgiving and adult fashion and you besmirch her character.

And you do it behind the name Elmer Gantry. Kent Williams is having to publicly answer for his actions. That is how it should be. He is known by name. You would have Susan Lynn publicly answer for Kent Williams’ actions, as well. That is most definitely not how it should be. You have no problem using her name. Big words in a big mouth.  But you won’t stand by your words, opinions and principles. You won’t answer publicly for your actions.  The only one unnamed here is you, Elmer.

Your anonymous treatment of another human being denies Susan her right to be confronted by her accuser. If you have a charge to level, state it plainly and put your name on it. We can debate its merit and see who is right at the end of the day. It’s adult maturity 101. You appear to be unaware of even the most basic interpersonal communication. Not only are you ignorant, not only are you incapable of logical and rational thought - you are shameless and  gutless.

Care to defend your opinions?  Care to dispute mine?  My name is Ken Marrero and I’ll be waiting for you right here.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 8:44 pm and is filed under 1st Amendment, Blogging, Censorship, Family, Individual Responsibility, Internet Interests, Kent Williams, Nashville Nuggets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.