[Brian Mosely]

The next day, police spokesman Don Aaron held a news conference to announce Westmoreland was suspected of exposing himself to two teenage girls at another hotel in March. Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland, said the media "hounded the man to death."

"Hounded to death"...this story was out for...what? 3 or 4 days...and it was only when the older alleged incidents came to light when the media spotlight was turned on him with any focus. Some state reps must beleive that the papers in TN are their own little public relations machines published just for ther benefit.

[GailA]

Tennessee papers are the mouth pieces of the pro income tax supporters. They are very LIBERAL, they were restrained if any thing in their reporting. They reported the facts as they came out and nothing more. NO spin, no hype.

Talk radio is the bad boy here according to some lawmakers.

You bad low life talk radio junkies are to blame for westmoreland taking the coward's way out. You talk radio junkies are to blame for his committing sexual preversive acts on minors too. (sarcasam)

[gg188]

An arrangement of chrysanthemums and lilies from House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh stood on Westmoreland's desk at the rear of the House chamber, and someone had placed a cigar — Westmoreland was seldom seen without one — beside the flowers.

Relative to phallic symbols, Freud once said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." I don't think that is the case here.