Political Abuse of Power by Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall (action alert)

Bill Hagan ^ | 12/10/2005 | Bill Hagan

[WJHII]

My fellow Republicans,

As many of you are aware I have been dismissed from my job at the Houston Home Journal. Danny Evans the publisher of the Journal has cited financial reasons as his official position for my dismissal.

Sadly this is not the reality. I writing to inform you of the actual events and ask you for your help. On October 25th 2005 I published one of my bi-weekly columns on the subject of Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall’s voting record. Marshall called the Houston Home Journal to complain about this article and was offered the opportunity to write a column of his own defending himself against the truths I had published. Marshall declined as even he could not deny the reality of what I had written.

It was at this point that Marshall called the publisher Danny Evans, I am unsure of their personal relationship, to complain about my column. Mr. Evans and the Houston Home Journal had agreed of their own free will to publish my column which had been triple fact checked. After this conversation my column was pulled from the pages of the Houston Home Journal and today only appears in the Canadian Press (which I find ironic as I am a Georgia journalist). Approximately one week later I was informed that my position was being eliminated. It is clear that there is a direct correlation between my conservative brand of journalism, Jim Marshall’s protest (and I suspect called for my dismissal), and the fact that I have lost my primary source of income just in time for Christmas.

I loved working for the Houston Home Journal which I believe is the only “conservative” newspaper in this area. If Danny does not wish to carry my column then that is his right as a publisher but my work for him as a journalist never crossed the line between journalism and commentary. The direct result of Jim Marshall’s actions was interference in the Rights of a Free Press and my right to earn a living as a journalist.

It is for this reason that I am asking you, my fellow Republicans, to write to Mr. Evans and demand my reinstatement as a journalist at the Houston Home Journal. The silencing of a journalist because he holds conservative views is an action I would expect from the New York Times not the Houston Home Journal.

I am not the type of person who often turns to others for help but I feel that the only way to correct this injustice is through community action. It is the members of the GOP that own the businesses that advertise in the Houston Home Journal and it is conservative readers that purchase the paper. The reality is the only why I am going to be able to correct this situation is through the support of Houston County’s Republicans.

I thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Bill Hagan

The email address of Danny Evans is devans@evansnewspapers.com

The offending article follows:

Link: http://williamjohnhagan.blogspot.com/2005/10/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing-by-william.html

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

By

William John Hagan

Houston Home Journal (Perry/Warner Robins, Georgia)

10/29/2005

I am perpetually astounded by the Southern Democrats that we send to Washington who paint themselves as conservatives while stabbing their hapless constituents in the back upon arrival. These wolves in sheep’s clothing are more then happy to support their constituents on visible issues such as the War on Terror and abortion. Yet, when voters aren’t looking, they are out there casting ballots like drunken Yankee liberals at a DNC rally.

Houston County hasn’t had to worry much about this type of louse thanks to the exceptional representation of Republican Congressman Jack Kingston. Kingston, during his time in Congress, has faithfully represented the interests of the people who sent him there. For example, Kingston is currently working to eliminate the income tax, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and defending the American farmer. Now, however, thanks to redistricting, Houston County will be losing the powerful Kingston who is the influential Vice Chairman of the Republican Conference. In his place, we will be gifted with a light weight Democrat by the name of Jim Marshall. The only good news is that Houston County will have one year before we have to deal with him.

Evidently, someone forgot to tell Marshall, that Georgia is part of our nation’s agricultural heartland and that our economy is highly dependant on the success of family farms. There are over 40,000 farms in Georgia which make up 29% of the state’s landmass. Thanks to tax-loving politicos like Marshall, Georgia’s family farms could soon become a thing of the past. Marshall voted against repealing the Federal Death Tax, a piece of legislation that has been killing off small family farms and businesses for generations. The Federal Death Tax affects Houston County’s farmers more than most landowners because they are normally land rich and cash poor. According to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, “Farmers spend a lifetime re-investing their money into the land and unknowingly force their family to pay the estate tax. As a result, this tax is causing families to sell their farms to developers, sometimes prematurely, denying future generations the opportunity to farm the land. Thus, the federal estate tax is ending family legacies, and eliminating open space throughout our country.” Support of such cynical and obnoxious social engineering should, in and of itself, spell the end of Marshall’s career.

By voting against repealing the Death Tax, Marshall has demonstrated a total distain for Georgia’s farmers and has revealed what lies beneath his veneer of false conservatism. The death tax results in the failure of 70% of family businesses when they pass to the second generation. As a result of Marshall’s beloved Death Tax, the children of Houston County’s farmers and small business owners can be forced to turn over up to 55% of their parent’s property to the federal government. Jack Kingston, Mac Collins, and Johnny Isakson have all fought to repeal this tax; while, Marshall stood by his party boss Nancy Pelosi, and her liberal comrades, rather then the people of Georgia. In fact, good old boy Johnny votes along with San Francisco’s uber-liberal Pelosi 73% of the time and then turns around and calls himself a conservative.

If this isn’t enough to sink the idea of allowing Marshall to represent the people of Houston County, then consider his recent vote against the Gasoline for America's Security Act. This common sense bill, which passed without Marshall’s support, is designed to allow the United States to diminish its dependence on Middle Eastern oil. The bill authorizes the President to designate Federal land for construction of new oil refineries and prohibits gasoline suppliers from overcharging consumers. Considering what a negative impact that the gas crisis has had on our economy, national security and pocket books it was down right un-American for Marshall to, once again, abandon his faux conservative values and vote with his liberal pals in Washington. But he did.

During his two terms in congress, Marshall has not only attempted to harm the American farmer, our national security, and take money from our pockets by supporting noxious energy and economic policy but he has also opposed much-needed tort reform, and voted against banning tax dollars to international organizations that allow abortion. Jim Marshall’s views, and votes, do not reflect the people of Houston County. If the good voters of this district want to attain the type of true conservatism and honest representation that they deserve then, come next November, it is essential that we just say “no” to Marshall’s unwelcome invasion into our community.

William John Hagan can be visited on the Internet at: http://williamjohnhagan.blogspot.com

or emailed at

William_Hagan@excite.com

[ncountylee]

Just fired off a polite Email.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*BUMP*

[WJHII]

Thank you very much

[WJHII]

Thank you very much

[eyespysomething]

ping

[WJHII]

Thank you very much

[1lawlady]

Another polite e-mail sent.

[fieldmarshaldj]

We all know how important it is that we get Mac Collins back in Congress where he belongs. Jim Marshall is way too liberal for that district, period.

[WJHII]

Thank you very much

[WJHII]

I could not agree more, but Jim Marshall is going to do whatever it takes to hold on to power.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I'm a bit hopeful we will recover both the Marshall seat and the John Barrow seat (GA-12), since the lines have been drawn in a less 'Rat-gerrymandered fashion. In Barrow's case, he has a potential primary problem if Denise Majette follows through to run against him (she hasn't decided whether to challenge him or fight a rematch with Cynthia McMoonbat).

[GeronL]

well, there goes the freedom of the press....

I guess the commies might get their revolution yet.

[maica]

Curious that financial problems affect the reporter who criticizes a Congressman. Just a coincidence? Sure!!!! Where is the ACLU when actual censorship is taking place? /rhetorical question

The silver lining is that this event can be used as a hammer against his reelection in '06.

[WJHII]

I'd rather strave to death then ask the ACLU for help.

[maica]

Of course, that is understood.

[WJHII]

The email address of Publisger Danny Evans is devans@evansnewspapers.com

Please write him!!!!

Thank you,
Bill

[WJHII]

The email address of Publisher Danny Evans is devans@evansnewspapers.com

[Clintonfatigued]

Very well-stated. And a previous posting here mentioned that Vice President Cheney has made two fund-raising events for Collins which netted some $250,000. This will be a key race.

[WJHII]

I had the pleasure of being at one of these events and it was great. I think Mac has a good chance to beat Marshall and I plan to help him, that will be the best revenge.