Here's an example of something Bernie wrote recently to Rep. Debra Maggart, who professed concern about the costs of implementing safer voting systems in Tennessee: (The top two links are to front-page stories in the TN media about the "Battle of Ellis' Farm" as a Memphis wag wrote about it):
http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2009/06/30/top_stories/01ellis.txtwww.dailypostathenian.com/dynamic/News/Story/156956 "Tre told the TBI that I had made a "terrorist threat against a government official" for invoking the Battle of Athens (TN) along with other proud moments in Tennessee history of protecting and expanding the franchise (e.g., women's suffrage, Baker v. Carr), something that I have done consistently in my writings, in my letters to legislators and in my oral testimony to Senate and House committees. Although Tre and Mark Goins were almost always present for my testimony to the legislature, not once did either of them run shrieking in terror from the hearing room when I mentioned the Battle of Athens. (If you aren't familiar with that piece of Tennessee history, when ex-GIs returned from WW II rose up and prevented a
corrupt Democratic machine in McMinn Country from stealing another election, here is an excellent version of the story:
http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1985/2/1985_2_72.shtml "After the TBI visited my farm, they announced publicly the next day that Tre's charges against me were "unwarranted". It is clear to all what he was attempting to do. I really hope that someone in your party (or the courts) will exercise control over Tre before he tries again to silence those who want free, fair and verifiable elections by sending the TBI to "investigate" them.
"It is time for all our Republican legislators to remember how much well-deserved praise Tennessee received on the national stage when our General Assembly passed the Voter Confidence Act with such an overwhelming bi-partisan show of support in 2007. Less than two years later, the Tennessee Republican Party is setting itself up for ridicule and for legal scrutiny for its determined effort to reverse progress when it comes to trustworthy elections. I hope that every Republican legislator who gives much thought to the image you are creating will reconsider being the party of "No" when it comes to elections we can trust and verify in Tennessee. I certainly hope so. We are really counting on you and a few others to lead the way in this regard.
"Our position is, and always has been, that we do not care how Tennesseans choose to cast their votes. After all, our group, Gathering To Save OUR Democracy, has members of six different political parties, including Republicans, involved in our efforts, along with many Independents. But we will never stop working to insure that all votes are counted as they are cast.
"Please don't take what I say personally (though I take Tre's clumsy attempts to use the TBI to intimidate me very personally). But please take what I say to heart. If you have any more questions or want to meet with me or others (hopefully with other Republican legislative colleagues of yours who still believe in free, fair and verifiable elections), we are available at short notice."
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Yeah, like I said, that Bernie Ellis must be quite a character. Just ask him.
