A letter, written yesterday by the County-wide Democratic nominees (with the exception of A.C. Wharton), has been described by one reporter as an ultimatum� to refuse to allow District Attorney Gibbons and Sheriff Luttrell from even being in attendance at the local Democratic Party’s annual dinner. Upon reading the letter, Republican Party Chairman Bill Giannini responded, “We as Republicans believe in openness and inclusion, and I am shocked to see this kind of exclusivity and partisanship within the Democratic Party”

“Democratic officials like County Mayor A.C. Wharton and Memphis Mayor W.W. Herenton have been treated with dignity and respect at recent Republican events. Chairman Giannini said “Though the mission of the Republican Party is to elect ethical and effective public servants to office who share the values of our Party, we believe in treating all public officials with respect and would never seek to deny an official admission to a function that was open to the public.

“We do not refuse any public servant who wishes to break bread with us. We as Republicans understand that Democrats are not our enemies. It’s the lack of values, character, and leadership espoused by the Democratic Party that we so stridently oppose.”

The Democratic nominees attempt to justify their intolerance by accusing the Republican Party of relying on lies, deceptions, and dishonesty.� The letter fails to stipulate how this ludicrous claim applies to any of the Republican nominees for the August 3 election, especially District Attorney Bill Gibbons and Sheriff Mark Luttrell, two of the most respected elected officials in Shelby County. These men have served all citizens of Shelby County with truthfulness, honor, and integrity. It also convienently overlooks the two local Democratic State Senators who have been indicted in the Tennessee Waltz scandal.

The Democrats’ letter goes on to say of Gibbons and Luttrell “we will not cease our efforts to oppose this hypocrisy and the cowardness of these elected Republican officials to our party as a whole.� Giannini responded “The Democratic Party is attempting to exclude duly elected public servants from attending a public event. Who are the real cowards here? The Democrats know that when men of character and integrity like Bill Gibbons and Mark Luttrell are placed side by side with the Democratic nominees for the August 3 election, their candidates will pale in comparison to the Republicans.”

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Content of the aforementioned letter:
May 20, 2006

Dear Matt,

As the Party’s Chairman for the Shelby County Democratic Party, we, the below nominees, who are seeking to be elected on August 3, 2006 to public office in Shelby County Tennessee, are writing you regarding our position concerning the inclusion of Bill Gibbons and other Republican office holders in the Kennedy Day Dinner. You, as Chairman, have an obligation to all the Democratic candidates of absolute support and loyalty. In fact, the purpose of a political party in this country is to propose a candidate and elect that candidate, as the candidate should and must represent the values of the party as a whole.

It is our understanding that you have been fully informed of the above situation and of the unhappiness of many true members of the party regarding this problem. By this letter you are herewith being notified formally of our strong request that you immediately contact these Republican officials to inform each that the party does not wish for them to attend the dinner. We believe the party and you are truly obligated, both morally and legally within the Bylaws of the Party to show complete and open commitment to your nominees. It is dishonest to the principles of the party and misleading to the public to allow the inference of approval to be extended to these Republican officials who are currently in office.

As nominees, we believe the Republican Party relies on lies, deceptions, and dishonesty in manipulating public opinion. The inclusion of these Republican officials in one of the seminal Democratic events held in this county lends such an air to the Democratic Party itself.

Accordingly, we will not cease our efforts to oppose this hypocrisy and the cowardness of these elected Republican officials to our party as a whole. A prompt response from you is essentially being demanded by us by Saturday 5:00pm . You can telecopy or e-mail your response to the above noted number. We will await that response.

Shep Wilbun Gail Mathes Coleman Thompson
Rebecca Clark Sondra Becton Vernon Johnson
Reginald French Otis Jackson

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