Hilly Boy's Deception (as in the Lovely Tennessee Rep. Matthew Hill)

Looks like the battle is on in the 7th District:

Phillips… pledged to run a positive campaign "on what I can do and what I can bring back to Washington County."

…"When a man or woman came for help, I never asked ‘Do you belong to the Democrat Party or do you belong to the Republican Party?'" Phillips told supporters. "It's not about party lines. It's what about Fred Phillips can do for this community."

Tennessee Democratic State Executive Committee member Tom Jessee, who will be running Phillips' campaign, said Hill is vulnerable.

"He is the epitome of a candidate who can't get any traction in Nashville to get things done," Jessee said of Hill.

Phillips' candidacy unfolded when a group of supporters picked up qualifying petitions without his knowledge on Monday. They gathered 200 names, according to Northeast Tennessee Democrat Chairman Marion Light.

"We were going to give him a chance to at least think about it," said Light. "We showed him the petitions to say ‘Now here is something for you to think about.' ... We wanted to see if there was bipartisan support, and there is based on these signatures and conversations."

Not surprisingly, Hill sought to be as divisive as possible:

"In November, the people of Washington County are going to have a very clear choice between a conservative Republican and a liberal Democrat."

---Here’s some more more positive coverage of Phillips’ decision to run against War Protester Hill, from the Johnson City Press:

…Phillips was lauded by Jonesborough Mayor Tobie Bledsoe for his 48 years of service to Washington County.

“Fred knows the importance of local government,” Bledsoe said. “And we need someone in Nashville who understands us and the small towns of Northeast Tennessee ... Someone who knows the importance of roads and schools.”

Phillips said he was aware of various nominating petitions supporting his candidacy that had been circulating around the county during the past week.

“There are many challenges and concerns facing Washington County, such as education, improved roads and highways, homeland security and providing affordable and adequate health care. I bring decades of experience in state and local government to these issues and if given the opportunity will use that experience to represent all of the citizens of Washington County, regardless of their political persuasion.”

Phillips said that for 42 years, when a man or woman has come asking for help or employment he never once asked them what (political) party they were affiliated with.
…Phillips said he couldn’t say no to the people of Washington County.

“And I want the people to know that I will vote my convictions in Nashville,” he said. “I will be in no one’s hip pocket. The issue is who can do the most for Washington County.”

Phillips will challenge freshman incumbent Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, for the seat. When asked about his thoughts on running against an incumbent, Phillips didn’t hesitate.

“In ’94 I beat an 18-year incumbent by a final vote count of 2-1,” said Phillips, referring to his victory over Washington County Sheriff Ron England.

Phillips admitted he was still a bit overwhelmed by the number of people who had signed petitions supporting his candidacy.

“When I found out these workers went door-to-door, I was astounded,” he said. “That told me that there is a need for some new direction from for Washington County.”

---In other news, here's a nice post about resume padding by Hilly boy, and here's one about the hefty pay raises for the Hill brothers at their non-profit radio station. And Daddy Hill still gets to live in a hourse valued at nearly $400,000.
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Finally, Hilly boy has some competition from Fred Phillips.

"A popular Democrat in what is largely considered a Republican county, Phillips has shown the ability to overcome party lines in past elections..."

Even if Phillips doesn't win, he forces Hilly boy to answer for his pathetic record. Plus, Hilly boy has to engage in more public speaking, which is not exactly his strong point. It is a good day indeed.

Here's the JC Press's story about Phillips picking up papers, and here is the Tennessean's link.

In other news, here is a new anti-Hill blog. He's getting more popular by the day.
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Somebody needs to tell Tennessee Rep. John Mark Windle that his fellow legislator, ole’ Hilly boy, is a war protester. Windle is true patriot who suffered wounds in Iraq, something Hilly boy would never have the guts or heart to do.

In other news, here is a great link about a letter to the editor at the Johnson City Press. It appears some voter in Johnson City is not too impressed with Hilly boy's grammar.
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I love the way the last part of this story was arranged. Hilly boy and friends declared they were not "do-nothing legislators," and then admitted that they had not yet secured water for Sulpher Springs. Water? I thought this was the 21st century. Is it really that hard? Here's the end of the story:

Davis responded during the breakfast to recent comments about do-nothing legislators.

"This is a hard-working group that has passed a lot of legislation over the years," said Davis... "These are not do-nothing legislators."

Davis said legislators are still working to get water for a part of the Sulphur Springs community.

Sounds kinda do-nothing to me. By the way, Davis was not talking about Hill, because daddy's boy has not passed a lot of legislation over the years; he's only been there one year.
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So, Hilly boy is wasting his tax-funded time in Nashville by trying to force the 10 Commandments in Tennessee courthouses. He is not trying to bring more jobs to this area, or to improve health insurance access or lower the sales tax on the poor. He is trying to make sure the ACLU sues Tennessee while our taxes pay for it.

As a Christian, I support the 10 Commandments, but I also own a Bible. I can read them any time I want. Plus, they were part of the Old Testament. Does Tennessee State Representative Matthew Hill really adhere to remembering the Sabbath every Saturday? This kind of legislation opens the door for a Taliban-like government in the future. It is just un-American. Here's what some others have had to say about Hill's antics:

(Kingsport Times-News story): Crowe and Hill seem to care more about what goes on the walls of county courthouses than in classrooms around the state. If it were otherwise, both lawmakers would instead be sponsoring legislation to raise standards and improve funding of Tennessee's K-12 educational system.

…But their approach shows an ignorance of constitutional law that is as profound as it is appalling.

…In essence, the Supreme Court found that motivation matters. Justices concluded the outdoor Texas display of the Decalogue, which was more than 40 years old, permissible, but ruled that the more recently mounted indoor displays of the Ten Commandments in two Kentucky courthouses had an overtly religious motive. "The touchstone for our analysis is the principle that the First Amendment mandates government neutrality between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion," Justice David Souter wrote for the majority.

"When the government acts with the ostensible and predominant purpose of advancing religion, it violates that central Establishment clause value of official religious neutrality,'' Souter said.

In other words, it is one thing to resist the removal of chiseled text from a public building - regardless of what it says - when it is an historic part of that building. Religious quotes and images have adorned all manner of public buildings including the Supreme Court for decades, even centuries.

But it is quite another to use the Ten Commandments, as Crowe and Hill obviously intend, as a taunt to unbelievers or as a provocation to legal action.

…Crowe and Hill may certainly acknowledge the spiritual power that God exercises over them. But they cannot, as members of the Tennessee Legislature, demand their fellow citizens follow their particular religious philosophy. In this country, no matter our ethnicity or faith, we have equal rights, something apparently lost on Crowe.

…But would they feel the same if they lived in a region where the predominant religion was Buddhism? Or Islam? What if a majority of the Tennessee Legislature were Muslims and voted to place the principal teachings of the prophet Mohammed around the walls of county courthouses? Or what if they were Buddhists, and passed a law which encouraged large, bronze images of Buddha to be placed in the lobbies of all our public buildings?

It is precisely because our Constitution prohibits government sanction of any religion that America has avoided the religious wars that have killed millions and destroyed nations.

The fact is, our courthouses will dispense justice whether replicas of the Ten Commandments are on the walls or not. Strengthening academic standards and providing adequate funding for schools, on the other hand, can make the difference between continued mediocrity and success for tens of thousands of Tennessee students who deserve a fighting chance in an increasingly competitive world.

Messrs. Hill and Crowe have embarrassed themselves, their constituents and our state. Would they have done so were it not an election year?

And from a little down the road:

(WVLT news story):"Anytime you interject religion, you're gonna get a lot of folks on both sides hyped up. It generally takes away from a lot of other things," says State Senator Tim Burchett.

Some taxpayers aren't so sure: "I just don't think it's that big a deal, that there are other things more important," says Knox County taxpayer Jim Boehms.

As for whether the ACLU planning to sue, on constitutional grounds if either bill does pass, it's saying "wait and see".

This hinges on intent, specifically what other documents a city or county government might make part of a display or monument. Ten Commandments alone, would be begging for a court fight.

Here a few more links to the legislation: Knoxville News-Sentinel, Chattanoogan and WBIR.
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In other news, this guy, and about 6 others, is running for the 6th District House seat. Unlike Hilly boy, at least Ford is a "lifelong resident of Jonesborough."
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