Editorials

By KEN PAULSON
First Amendment Center

NBC News has asked Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign to stop airing an anti-Newt Gingrich ad that includes an excerpt from a 1997 “NBC Nightly News” report featuring Tom Brokaw.

The political ad shows the former NBC anchor reporting that Gingrich had been reprimanded by the House Ethics Committee.

NBC and Brokaw have protested that the use of the clip violates copyright law and exploits Brokaw and NBC News’ journalistic credibility.

By FRANK GIBSON
TPA Public Policy Director
When the First Congress met in New York City in 1789, the Acts of the First Session required the new government to publish all bills, orders, resolutions and congressional votes in at least three newspapers.

A few years later, Tennessee adopted its constitution. It requires the legislature to “publish” any amendment approved by the General Assembly, giving notice that the next legislature also will have to vote on it.

Who can blame Roane Countians for feeling a bit sold down the river in the latest redistricting effort?

Not only does the plan carved out by the Republican majority split the poor residents of the city of Rockwood into two separate legislative districts, but it also leaves Roane County with two state representatives — neither of whom live in the county.

State Rep. Julia Hurley of Lenoir City, whose 32nd District gained more of Loudon County in the redistricting, has shrugged off any part in the change.

By KEN PAULSON
First Amendment Center
I remember being called down to the principal’s office at my public high school in spring 1972.
No, I wasn’t in trouble.
When I arrived there, I was handed a phone and told to call the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They had a question for me.
“Are you Christian?” came the inquiry over the phone.
It seems that I’d been nominated as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes high school athlete of the year and my times on the track were not enough to shore up my nomination.