GA Governor's Forum

The Patriots in LaGrange had a great evening at the GA Governor's Forum. There were about 350 LaGrange and nearby citizens in attendance educating themselves on the candidates for an important gubernatorial election. Many thanks to Ellen Gilmore for taking the lead in organizing this event, and to all the candidates that were able to make the event tonight. Jeff Chapman missed the forum due to the legislative schedule of the Georgia Assembly and Austin Scott dropped out of the race to run for a US Congress position instead. But the remaining five candidates (Nathan Deal, Karen Handel, Eric Johnson, Ray McBerry, and John Oxendine) did an excellent job despite some tough pointed questions. I will be posting pictures and videos in the next couple days. At the end of the event, we had a straw poll of the LaGrange Patriots to determine which candidate seemed to resonate best with our people. Here are the results of our straw poll...

Ray McBerry - 152 (57%)
Eric Johnson - 47 (18%)
Nathan Deal - 29 (11%)
Karen Handel - 20 (7%)
John Oxendine - 19 (7%)

WRBL Coverage of Patriots Protest

WRBL in Columbus covered this week's protests outside the LaGrange Daily News. They did a very fair job in presenting our issue and letting the Patriots voice their concerns. Check out the video footage below from their website. Thanks to everyone who came out for the protest and a special thanks to Kahty Ropte from the Harris County Tea Party group for helping organize the protest.

LDN Protest Update

We almost suspended the planned picketing of the LaGrange Daily News when we were promised an apology in the Saturday paper. However, we were disappointed with what was actually printed which was significantly different in tone and attitude from what was promised. Therefore, the planned picketing on M-W from 3pm to 6pm will go on as planned. Here is the official statement from the LaGrange Patriots President...

Regarding publication of the scandalous cartoon and picketing planned for LaGrange Daily News. We have negotiated in good faith with the publisher of the LaGrange Daily News to get an apology and thus forego the picketing. I was promised by the publisher that the LDN would say, “I sincerely apologize to those individuals who were offended by the political cartoon that was published in LaGrange Daily News’ opinion page.” Instead, this was substituted: “To those individuals who were offended by the political cartoon that was published in LaGrange Daily News’ opinion page, I’m sorry."

“I’m Sorry” is what children say when caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Adults say “I sincerely apologize” when they do indeed wish to sincerely apologize. Then, to add insult to injury, two anti-Tea Party letters were published alongside the half-hearted apology.

As a result of this duplicity, we feel betrayed and will, therefore, support Harris County Tea Party and others in their decision to picket LDN Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. We encourage all to participate. Please remember that we must take the high road. Our picketing activities should be peaceful, respectful and dignified. Tawdry or vulgar signs are prohibited, as is crude language.

Yours sincerely,

Ford McLain
President, LaGrange Patriots

Tea Party Editorial Cartoon

On April 13th the LaGrange Daily News published a scandalous "cartoon" on its Op/Ed page. It suggests that Tea Party groups are racist and in league with the Ku Klux Klan. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The LaGrange Patriots organization firmly believes in our US Constitution and in the First Amendment. The LaGrange Daily News' selection of this cartoon is not, however, a matter of free speech. It is a matter of judgment. This particular syndicated cartoon was selected from perhaps dozens of alternatives for publication. This is not a matter of freedom of the press. It is a matter of decency and common sense. We have received calls and e-mails registering concerns and in many cases outrage over that cartoon.

In our small and somewhat intimate community, I believe this newspaper has done a regrettable disservice to our citizens and to the LaGrange Patriots. The mere suggestion that our group is composed of racists or KKK members is repugnant to us. When one considers the racial make-up of this community, one could easily interpret that graphic as inflammatory. LaGrange Patriots is a group of concerned citizens exercising our legitimate right to free assembly and free speech. We come in many colors and from many different backgrounds. The choice of this insulting cartoon which implies that we are a racist organization is deeply offensive.

We encourage all who read this to voice their concern and outrage to the LaGrange Daily News in forceful but courteous and lawful ways. We have requested an apology for their unfortunate choice of material for publication.