Bill Greene responds
Bill Greene, a Republican candidate for the 10th Congressional District vacated by the death of Rep. Charlie Norwood, responded to my post from earlier this morning in the comments.
Since the man is running for office, it's only appropriate and fair that I post his response in an actual post ...
So much speculation, so little knowledge of the facts. So here are the facts.
On the evening of May 22nd, the Greene for Congress campaign was holding a private fundraiser at the Community Center in Watkinsville, Georgia. A Whitehead campaign staffer, Brandon Phillips, arrived as it began and placed Whitehead campaign signs all around the building (NOT just in a private yard, we have the pictures) where the Greene fundraiser was being held. I approached the Whitehead staffer, who was standing by his truck in a private driveway getting more signs out, and asked him to take down the signs around our building, which he refused to do. Then the owner of that property asked me to step off of his property, which I did. As I left, I mentioned to him that (A) I'm sure Jim Whitehead would never approve of placing his signs all around the building where his opponent's private function was being held, and (B) I'd hate to see them lose all that money, since the people inside the building would be coming out shortly to pull up the signs there were not on private property. (And yes, there were Minutemen inside as well, which Phillips knew in advance.)
I went inside to greet all of our supporters, and our campaign manager, Eric Spohn, went out to take pictures of the signs and the truck's license plate (to show Jim Whitehead what his people were doing), at which time the Whitehead staffer jumped into his truck, threw it into reverse, and attempted to run down Eric. Eric jumped out of the way at the last second, pushing off of the truck as it sped by, putting a small dent in the side.
All of this happened right in front of the police station (which is attached to the Watkinsville Community Center, where our event was being held), the two of them were questioned, and they were asked if they were pressing charges against each other (against Phillips for assault with a deadly weapon and/or attempted vehicular manslaughter, against Eric for property damage). Eric said he didn't want to have to do so if it could be solved between the two of them, as he didn't want to have to bring all of his witnesses (some of whom were minors, there with their families as volunteers at the event) into court. Phillips, it turns out, couldn't file charges, because it wasn't his truck.
So no one got into a fight. No one was arrested. No one filed charges. The signs were all removed (both the dozens surrounding our building, and from the yard of the private home -- apparently, someone was simply paid off to put a sign up for the evening). Our event went great. We all went home.
Unfortunately, this is just another example of politics as usual. What we had was a foolish young man, making several foolish mistakes. He was foolish to put dozens of signs around his boss's opponent's private event. He was foolish to try to stop the Greene for Congress campaign manager from taking pictures of his truck & license, by attempting to run him down. And he was foolish to think that this is how politics is done -- which is what the voters of Georgia are sick and tired of. Jim Whitehead should do the right thing: this staffer should be fired (or if he was a volunteer, banned from the campaign), and I hope he learns his lesson and avoids foolishness in the future.
That's what happened. I was there. You weren't. End of story.
Except for one more thing: I called Jim Whitehead's campaign several times, and left messages asking him to return my call, so we could discuss this incident. He hasn't done so.
First off, many thanks to Greene for responding. I took some liberty and poked a good bit of fun at him, and he responded with a little dig of his own, but also with a thoughtful response. Our vast political differences aside, I appreciate it good sir (he didn't pick up my comment about 'The Hulk' ... I meant that primarily due to how big is ... have you ever seen him ... the man is solid).
Second, with a little bit of defense of the reporting done by the Athens Banner-Herald, and my resulting commentary, the primary piece of information that was available to used to build such reports comes from the police report from the event. Phillips makes some strong accusations in said report, and those accusations appear to be supported by many witnesses there (we approach a he-said/he-said situation because you indicate those witnesses would side with your staffer).
Still, this witnesses thing, with all due respect, makes me wonder. Since they would appear to be the most impartial folks involved in this thing, what did they see?
Since the man is running for office, it's only appropriate and fair that I post his response in an actual post ...
So much speculation, so little knowledge of the facts. So here are the facts.
On the evening of May 22nd, the Greene for Congress campaign was holding a private fundraiser at the Community Center in Watkinsville, Georgia. A Whitehead campaign staffer, Brandon Phillips, arrived as it began and placed Whitehead campaign signs all around the building (NOT just in a private yard, we have the pictures) where the Greene fundraiser was being held. I approached the Whitehead staffer, who was standing by his truck in a private driveway getting more signs out, and asked him to take down the signs around our building, which he refused to do. Then the owner of that property asked me to step off of his property, which I did. As I left, I mentioned to him that (A) I'm sure Jim Whitehead would never approve of placing his signs all around the building where his opponent's private function was being held, and (B) I'd hate to see them lose all that money, since the people inside the building would be coming out shortly to pull up the signs there were not on private property. (And yes, there were Minutemen inside as well, which Phillips knew in advance.)
I went inside to greet all of our supporters, and our campaign manager, Eric Spohn, went out to take pictures of the signs and the truck's license plate (to show Jim Whitehead what his people were doing), at which time the Whitehead staffer jumped into his truck, threw it into reverse, and attempted to run down Eric. Eric jumped out of the way at the last second, pushing off of the truck as it sped by, putting a small dent in the side.
All of this happened right in front of the police station (which is attached to the Watkinsville Community Center, where our event was being held), the two of them were questioned, and they were asked if they were pressing charges against each other (against Phillips for assault with a deadly weapon and/or attempted vehicular manslaughter, against Eric for property damage). Eric said he didn't want to have to do so if it could be solved between the two of them, as he didn't want to have to bring all of his witnesses (some of whom were minors, there with their families as volunteers at the event) into court. Phillips, it turns out, couldn't file charges, because it wasn't his truck.
So no one got into a fight. No one was arrested. No one filed charges. The signs were all removed (both the dozens surrounding our building, and from the yard of the private home -- apparently, someone was simply paid off to put a sign up for the evening). Our event went great. We all went home.
Unfortunately, this is just another example of politics as usual. What we had was a foolish young man, making several foolish mistakes. He was foolish to put dozens of signs around his boss's opponent's private event. He was foolish to try to stop the Greene for Congress campaign manager from taking pictures of his truck & license, by attempting to run him down. And he was foolish to think that this is how politics is done -- which is what the voters of Georgia are sick and tired of. Jim Whitehead should do the right thing: this staffer should be fired (or if he was a volunteer, banned from the campaign), and I hope he learns his lesson and avoids foolishness in the future.
That's what happened. I was there. You weren't. End of story.
Except for one more thing: I called Jim Whitehead's campaign several times, and left messages asking him to return my call, so we could discuss this incident. He hasn't done so.
First off, many thanks to Greene for responding. I took some liberty and poked a good bit of fun at him, and he responded with a little dig of his own, but also with a thoughtful response. Our vast political differences aside, I appreciate it good sir (he didn't pick up my comment about 'The Hulk' ... I meant that primarily due to how big is ... have you ever seen him ... the man is solid).
Second, with a little bit of defense of the reporting done by the Athens Banner-Herald, and my resulting commentary, the primary piece of information that was available to used to build such reports comes from the police report from the event. Phillips makes some strong accusations in said report, and those accusations appear to be supported by many witnesses there (we approach a he-said/he-said situation because you indicate those witnesses would side with your staffer).
Still, this witnesses thing, with all due respect, makes me wonder. Since they would appear to be the most impartial folks involved in this thing, what did they see?
posted by Jmac at 10:26 AM
9 Comments:
What does the presence of Minutemen have to do with anything, other than reminding me that I'm not voting for Greene?
I'll trust you when you apologize to Terri Schiavo's family for abusing their trust. How much money did you personally make from the shameless exploitation of her name?
I wouldn't take your word for anything.
What, anonymous? Who abused the Schiavo family trust?
Awesome.
I don't actually recall writing anything about Terri Schiavo to be honest, and Lord knows I didn't make any money from it ... shoot, I don't make much money from anything.
This is all you then Nicki.
Or, as I read the exact same comment posted at Peach Pundit, this is directed toward Greene.
My apologies, jmac. All directed towards Greene, and his integrity.
Nicki. The North Country Gazette posted at length on Greene's abuse of Terri Schiavo's name. Article of February 19 and 24 of 2006 are good summaries. They should still be online. Also, this from LifeNews:
Terri Schiavo's Family Blasts New PAC, Money Not Being Used Right
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 20, 2006
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new political action committee founded by a conservative activist
to promote lawmakers who supported Terri Schiavo's right to live is coming under fire from her family.
They say the group is not affiliated with their efforts and may not end up supporting any candidates.
Earlier this month, LifeNews.com reported on the creation of Terri's List. William Greene, president of
the RightMarch, a conservative political group, says his organization will counteract the efforts of
Michael Schiavo's TerriPAC.
However, Terri's family says Greene is exploiting Terri's name and has asked him to stop using her
name in association with his political group.
"Any sources soliciting contributions on behalf of Terri other than the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation
are not affiliated with or endorsed by Terri's Foundation or the Schindler family," Terri's parents wrote on
their web site in response.
"If you are receiving any contribution requests of this nature, please bring this immediately to our
attention as they could be mail or Internet fund-raising schemes," they added.
Terri's father Bob Schindler explained, "People like this who fail who obtain permission to use Terri’s
name exploit her name."
Greene's web site says the money raised will support a nationwide advertising campaign "to support
statesmen who tried to save Terri Schiavo." However, a link to the ad does not work.
According to a North Country Gazette article, Greene's RightMarch PAC has raised a total of $49,200
but has given only $3,100 to any candidates.
Much of the money has gone to an Internet consulting firm, the Georgia-based Strategic Internet
Campaign Management, that Greene runs.
Of the total disbursements of $44,058, over $41,500 went to Greene and a partner, the Gazette
reported.
Ah. Got it. Good point, that. But there are so many great reasons not to support Greene that I'm having trouble choosing.
I mean, there's the uberconservative family values language, the medically inaccurate anti-choice talk, the "we got Minutemen" business -- I could go on all day.
Niki -- I'm conservative. None of Greene's position bother me much, and I agree with most. There's just something about being a phony or in it for the money that I just can't stand, no matter what the ideology. Same problem with Al Sharpton, although I think it would be fun to have a drink with Al, and yeah, I expect to get stuck with the tab.
By the way, cute dog!
Anon
Bill Greene is a man who runs around calling himself "Dr. Greene" when in fact his alleged Ph.D. is from a scam online diploma mill that he himself was involved with running. So what else can you expect?
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