I first helped Rep, Stacey Campfield with a campaign in 2006, when he defeated establishment candidate Gary Drinnen in the Republican Primary, and defeated Democrat Schree Pettigrew in the General Election by 12 points. Then, as now, Campfield's political opponents and intra-party detractors said that he was guilty of "antics," and was "immature." We must assume by "antics," that they meant forcibly raising issues that the then-Democratic Leadership in the House tried to sweep under the rug, and by "immature," these critics mean that Stacey is unafraid to bring attention to truth and reality, even when it looks unsavory.
We are all to be reminded, after all, that these same people said that Brian Kelsey was immature and filled with "antics"-we call him Senator Brian Kelsey, nowadays...
Now, the Society of Stacey Campfield Haters believes they have hit on just the thing that will finally rid them of the Energizer Bunny of Tennessee politics when Campfield was escorted from a Tennessee football game on Halloween night after being discovered wearing a mask. We won't discuss how Campfield removed the mask when asked, and how he cooperated with the authorities, despite the false impression left by the Knoxville News-Sentinel that Campfield did anything wrong. We won't talk about how Campfield was escorted from the stadium simply because an officer of the law violated Campfield's rights under the color of law and ordered him from the stadium without any cause at all. We won't even talk about how Campfield saw no signs informing him not to wear a mask, and that even in being tossed from Neyland Stadium he cooperated and did what he was asked. Nevermind that election to the General Assembly does not cause one for forfeit one's constitutional rights, that won't be discussed in this space today.
Except to say this: That's all you people have got? How desperate can you be politically, and how much personal hatred can you have for one person?
What crime has Stacey Campfield committed, except to act on the views which he has expounded to his constituents, and to do exactly as he promised that he would do if elected to the House of Representatives? Answering constituent phone calls himself whenever it is possible, instead of referring everything to his secretary and his intern, as so many people on Capitol Hill do? Talking to constituents in person like a neighbor instead of just a politician?
Those things are bad enough to many of our establishment friends, but by themselves, they won't get Stacey Campfield's name run through the mud or false allegations brought against him in the press. No, what did that is that when Stacey Campfield was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly, and saw the atmosphere reeking with filth and the air at the Plaza stinking with corruption, he decided that there was no disinfectant like sunshine, and he used the new medium of blogging to hang the Legislature's dirty laundry on the clothesline of State, national, and even world opinion-and we can't have openness, God forbid.
They've called him everything from a juvenile delinquent to a slumlord-everything but a child of God. Yet, as the scriptures tell us, we shall know the truth, and the truth shall set us free. Stacey Campfield's constituents know when they are being lied to, and they know their Representative isn't the one being deceitful. Gary Drinnen tried to defame Stacey Campfield, and Schree tried to run him through the mud. Ron Leadbetter has tried that once before, too-strange coming from someone with an otherwise fine reputation. How did that work out for Mr. Leadbetter the last time he went up against Stacey Campfield in a political campaign?
It's the same group of sour grapes complainers who want to return East Tennessee to an era of politics that has long since passed who are trying so hard to destroy Stacey Campfield. All of their money and efforts will be met by the voters this time in the same manner the people of the 18th House District met them with every previous attempt-with the political black eye that they so richly deserve. Next year at this time when the same folks want to whine and complain, they can always call Senator-elect Stacey Campfield. Next year as this year, I am sure that Masked Man will wish them a Merry Christmas.
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