Beavercreek , Ohio , Monday, March 23, 2009: Today, according to John Mitchel, Marilyn Reid violated his First Amendment right to free speech by confiscating copies of a news article describing a pending lawsuit against Reid, Greene County Commissioner and Executive Chair for the Greene County Republican Party. Before the monthly Greene County Republican luncheon meeting at a public restaurant, Reid gathered up the handouts that were placed on the tables, saying, “This is a Republican meeting, not a lawsuit meeting.” Former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel John Mitchel is an elected member of the Greene County Republican Central Committee and challenged Steve Austria in the March 2009 U.S. District 7 Republican primary.Question for Mr. Mitchel: When did the Greene County GOP become the government? Just so Mr. Mitchel is aware, here is the First Amendment to our Constitution:
In response to the incident, Mitchel commented, “Ms. Reid has taken it over the top. For years she has exploited her leadership position with the Greene County Republican Party for personal and family gain, but this flagrant violation of a constituent’s right to free political speech seals the deal on her self-interested motives. Elected members of the Greene County Central Committee who are invited to the meeting, have just as much a right to express their opinions as Ms. Reid. Apparently Marilyn has no use for dissenting viewpoints coexisting with her agenda. This is an embarrassment to the Republican Party and an insult to Greene County citizens, particularly those who have served in the military. It’s time for Ms. Reid to step down as Greene County GOP Chair in favor of someone who is willing to listen to those who may have opinions different from their own.”
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.The Greene County GOP may be many things, but Congress is not one of them.
I'm sure there is another side to this story...and I'm sure Mitchel is just being his usual ornery self, but this is ridiculously absurd. I sure hope I don't have to school a retired Air Force Colonel on the Constitution of the United States...this was a dumb mistake and typical of his "brand" of politics. Shout down everybody who disagrees with you and make sure you throw in some scary lawyer-like sounding language. When they aren't intimidated by your antics, blast your accusations out to every media outlet and email list you have available to you.
Also: Make sure to send it to the Republican Liberty Caucus...which is --near as I can tell -- not interested in advancing the cause of Republicans or Liberty...at least in Ohio anyway.
I don't know...maybe I'm just overworked and cranky, but this press release just set me off.....
