The devil’s train and the drunken engineer

The Devil’s Train is long and black
It rides on rails of fear
It’s headin’ for destruction now
With a drunken engineer

Oh see the greatness of the crowd
That waits beside the track
They’re leavin’ on that Devil’s Train
And never comin’ back

Oh Lord, please stop that terrible train
Before it is too late
And teach them how to bow their heads
Before it steals their fate

The Devil’s Train will take you
To a land of groans and pain
You’ll spend your days in sorrow
If you ride that Devil’s Train

“The Devil’s Train” performed by Hank Williams; lyrics by M Foree-Carlisle

Tennessee Republican House leaders called lobbyists to the station last week in Nashville to pass along “information that might be of interest to them” concerning anticipated changes to departure times, routes, and fares.

From Tom Humphrey, Humphrey on the Hill, September 5, 2010

In meetings they called last week, House Republican leaders told legislative lobbyists that polls show their party is virtually assured of solid control of the state House as well as the Senate after the November elections.

Democrats say the meetings appear an attempt to intimidate the lobbyists, who can influence political contributions by their clients and political action committees, and are reminiscent of GOP tactics in Washington when the party controlled Congress.

The Republicans involved say they simply invited the lobbyists to hear information of interest to them.

…

One lobbyist, who asked not to be identified, quoted House Republican Whip Debra Maggart of Hendersonville as declaring during a meeting, “The train is leaving the station and you’d better get aboard or be left behind.”

Maggart said she may have said “something like that” but “without the part about being left behind.”

Question: If you are at a train station standing on the platform and you do not “get aboard” the train before it leaves the station, what happens?  In Maggart’s world, apparently nothing.  Either it leaves the station or it doesn’t.  If you don’t step onto the train, reason would suggest that you indeed get “left behind.”

Driving the train was House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, who thought he was performing a public service of sorts.

She (Maggart) and House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada both said there was no intimidation afoot and no direct solicitation of political contributions.

“I wouldn’t want to make it look like we were twisting arms,” said Casada. “It was information we thought would be relevant to them; They are working in a world of living with legislators…. Information that, if they want to have pro-business candidates stay in office, they need to know.”

“What they do with that information, that’s their decision,” he said.

Merriam-Webster defines a lobbyist as one who “conducts activities aimed at influencing public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation.”  Yes Glen, I’m fairly certain these individuals, who by definition try to influence public officials, are well aware that they “are working in a world of living with legislators.”  You wanted to inform them that the legislative train was headed full-speed to Republican-ville, but you claim that you weren’t making direct solicitations of contributions?

Let me get this straight in my head here Glen.  You and Maggart want lobbyists to get aboard your train before it leaves the station.  They need to get on this train because if they don’t, they will be left on the platform.  They also need to get on the train to ensure that pro-business candidates stay in office.  How does that work exactly?  What is the point of inviting them onto your train if not to receive campaign contributions from their clients?  What is the benefit to lobbyists and their clients if not to receive a “return” on their investment? What “decision” are lobbyists to make in light of your information if not to start financially backing Republican candidates?  No fare to ride this train?

Let me give Casada and his crew a bit of information that might be relevant to them:

From the Tennessee Ethic Commission’s “Guiding Principles of Ethical Conduct for Public Officials,” Article 3, Section 1, Number 7:

A public official should not, by his or her statements or conduct, give reasonable basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence him or her, or receive favoritism in the performance of his or her official duties, or that the official’s decisions are affected by the kinship, rank, position, or influence of any political party, entity or person.

I’m tired of hearing one party bellyache over the practices of the other party only to do the exact same thing when given an opportunity to do so.  It is clear that Casada has no problem with the practice of courting contributions from special interests; his problem is that his pockets weren’t the ones being filled.

All aboard?  No thanks.