the unspoken rules of campaign season

During the campaign season, one would like to believe that there are unwritten or unspoken rules that are understood by candidates running.  When unfortunate or unexpected situations arise, like the loss of a loved one that is the family member of someone running for office, their opponent usually suspends their campaign, at least publicly, during the time of mourning.

   Tennessee House District 76 Democratic candidate, Mark Maddox, lost his sister, Janet Maddox, earlier this week.  Here is her obituary, as listed, on the funeral home's website:

Services for Miss Janet Leigh Maddox, 51 of Dresden, will be held August 9, 2012 @ the Dresden Cumberland Presbyertian Church @ 2p.m. in Dresden, TN., with burial to follow in the Sunset Cemetery also in Dresden. Ms. Janet's visitation will be held August 8, 2012 @ Dresden Cumberland Presbyterian Church from 4 til 8 p.m. It will resume August 9, 2012 @ 10a.m. til funeral time. Janet is the daughter of Sam Maddox & Bonnie Jones. She is also survived by her Step-Father Kenneth Jones, two brothers, Mark(Kerri)Maddox of Dresden, TN.& Ricky(Bianca)Jones of Tulsa, OK. She was preceded in death by one brother Tommy Maddox. The Family has requested in lieu of flowers all donations maybe made to CDS Center in Martin, TN. or Dresden Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dresden, TN.

First, and foremost, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Maddox family for your loss of beautiful Janet.  I have heard such wonderful and inspiring stories about her, and I know that her impact on the lives of many will continue on.  For those of you who do not know Janet, she was part of  Community Developmental Services (CDS) and the Maddox family are big advocates of this program, and what it does for members of their community.  The Maddox family, as mentioned in the obituary, asked that donations be made to CDS or the Dresden Cumberland Presbyterian Church in lieu of flowers.

Janet passed on Monday morning.  At 10:23am, that same day, State Representative and current Republican candidate Andy Holt had the audacity to notify all members and staff of the Tennessee State Legislature via an email from his assistant Donna Anderson of the loss of Janet:

Rep. Andy Holt just learned this morning of the passing of Janet Maddox, sister of former Rep. Mark Maddox. We will give more information as it becomes available. Please remember the Maddox family during this time of sorrow.

While it was a nice thought, it apparently was only a thought, and not fully thought through.  In my opinion, Andy had NO right whatsoever to take it upon himself to make this known to everyone.  I know that if I was running for office, and an incident like this occurred just a few hours after the passing, I would not take kindly to my opponent for doing something he had no business in doing.  Some people might feel that this isn't horrible or as tasteless as I find it to be, but it does get worse.  I made the mention of an unspoken rule known by anyone running for office to temporarily suspend their own campaign, AT LEAST PUBLICLY, for a period of time for the candidate and their family to grieve peacefully.  Unfortunately, Mr. Holt doesn't believe that these sort of unspoken rules apply to him.  Not only did he take it upon himself to notify the legislature of Janet's passing, but he even had someone put an Andy Holt Conservative for Congress sign up within 100 feet of Mark's mother, Bonnie's, home.  His mother had to pass this sign at least five different times this day while going back and forth making arrangements for Janet.  Call it a coincidence or maybe plain ignorance....no matter what you call it, I would bet on it that this was pre-meditated by Andy, or his campaign staff, without a doubt.  Not only is this tacky and tasteless, but it truly shows what kind of a character Andy Holt really has.  Not to mention, there is nothing conservative about crass ploys like this during a campaign.  The more people I talk to about Andy Holt and how he consistently believes that nothing ever applies to him...kinda like he thinks that he is the supreme ruler of his land......in Andy Holt world that is....the more people are completely turned off by him.  Andy, do you really have no shame?  Next time you try to pull something like this i IMPLORE you to think, think, and think again.  My mother always told me to think before I speak or act......it's unfortunate that no one taught you how to do the same thing.

Lastly, I would encourage those that are in as much shock as I am over the way Andy Holt has conducted himself this past week to counter his ignorance by either making a donation to CDS or the Dresden Cumberland Presbyterian Church in honor of Janet Maddox or to Mark's campaign that he is running against Andy Holt.  Let's respond in a positive manner to Mr. Holt's negative one.

welcome.

well, congress will be back in session in the great state of tennessee here soon.  hearing about LOTS of wonderful bills going to be introduced, similar to OR WORSE than those introduced last year thought to be controversial.  tennessee is going to attempt again to introduce a bill that requires drug testing in order to receive food stamps, unemployment benefits, or the like.  they tried to pass this last year, but there was a hefty price tag attached to it, so it did not pass.  another BIG bill that is getting lots of national attention is one that makes it 'OK' to bully kids so long as you are a Christian or Republican.  Well, the rhetoric specifically says this:
via TPMMuckraker

The proposed bill would amend the state's current anti-bullying law to specify that the anti-bullying policy should "not be construed or interpreted to infringe upon the First Amendment rights of students and shall not prohibit their expression of religious, philosophical, or political views" as long as there's no physical threat to another student's property.

Now my question is, what happens if this person commits suicide because of the bullying?  Recently, in East Tennessee we lost a young man, Jacob Rogers, after being bullied repeatedly in school.  Now, we have religious right-wing groups like F.A.C.T. blaming it on alcohol or drug abuse.  What is wrong with the world today?  Why are Conservatives using the same rhetoric that they used against the African American community against the LGBT community?

Now let me give you an idea of where I am at in West Tennessee.  My state representative is the oh-so-wonderful, Rep. Andy Holt (R).  He's well known in these parts for introducing a bill that would allow guns on campus.  As a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, a school in his district, I will tell you that he did not, to my knowledge, discuss what students on this campus thought of a bill like this. Most students on campus were very much opposed to a piece of legislation like this being introduced.  I will tell you this, I am doing anything I can to ensure that Mr. Holt is NOT re-elected this November!

My state senator is Lowe Finney (D).  Senator Finney is a wonderful man who genuinely fights for the real values and beliefs of those in West Tennessee.  We may not see eye-to-eye on every issue, but he is willing to listen to his constituents and take what they have to say into account.  He is someone that I can count and depend on.  The unfortunate part of this is that is the recent redistricting maps introduced go into effect, Senator Finney will no longer be my Senator, but I will gain another Senator that I am fond of, Senator Roy Herron.

Now, the biggest winner is my member of Congress.  His name is Stephen Fincher.  He is a freshman member of Congress.  He may be more well-known for being voted as one CREW's (citizens for responsibility of ethics in washington) most corrupt member's of Congress.  The list consists of fourteen members that includes 13 representatives and 1 senator of which 10 of the 14 are Republican.  For more information on Mr. Fincher and his "corruptness" you can look at CREW's page on him here.  Now keep in mind, Mr. Fincher was in office for ONLY about six or seven months before he was lucky enough to win this award!  Now, if ever there was someone I did not want in office, it would be him!  Again, I will be working diligently this election year to do what I can to ensure that he is a one-term representative!

So, here's a little insight into what I will be discussing here.  I will talk about efforts of groups across the state of Tennessee doing what they can to ensure the rights of all Tennesseeans and Americans.  I will discuss mostly local and state politics and issues.  More so, in regards to West Tennessee.  I will also be discussing the big topics of the 2012 election.  Including, my full support in the re-election of President Barack Obama!  I would appreciate if you would share this blog with other political junkies that you know!  Any and all support would be appreciated!