Thursday, October 18, 2007
Odom: State Seal Belongs to Everyone
Posted by Jeff Woods on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 at 11:05 AM
"Representative Odom asked for a cool grand each from a bevy of special interest groups on an invitation marked with the state seal," the center's president, Drew Johnson, said in a press release. "Odom's poor judgment sends the message that it's the same old pay-to-play business as usual on Capitol Hill."
Odom scoffs at the complaint. "I think the state seal belongs to all Tennesseans," he says. "I don't think anyone has a monopoly on it. I've got it on my door. I've got it on my stationery and on my card and so does my staff and so does most every legislator down there. To me, it's like the state flag. It's a symbol of our great state. And it sounds a little trivial to me when someone starts questioning how it's used and when it's used. The Republican Senate caucus website has a state seal on it. A lot of individual senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle have it on their websites. I've got it here on my notepad. It's everywhere."
Comments (6)
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Unfortunately for Odom, the State Seal does not "belong to all Tennesseans" as he claims. Article III, Sec.15 of the Tennessee Constitution states, "There shall be a seal of this state, which shall be kept by the governor, and used by him officially, and shall be called the Great Seal of the State of Tennessee." Governors have understandably allowed the Seal to hang in areas in the Capitol — such as Odom's office — and other state buildings. Likewise, governors allow legislators to use the Seal for official correspondence. In fact, it would be downright silly for any governor to try to stop a legislator from using the Seal in such a way.
We just don't think that the Seal should be used for fundraising... too many Tennesseans think the state Capitol is for sale as it is and any lawmaker using the Seal for a fundraiser doesn't help erase that image.
If the Seal "belonged to all Tennesseans," as Odom states, I could open up a strip club and use the State Seal as the logo. (Although I don't know how popular a strip club would be with a big neon State Seal on the outside...)
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Boooooooooooring... Can't the TCPR come up with something a little less trivial to put out stupid press releases about?
As one who ran against Odom in a primary once, I understand how hard it is to come up with dirt on him, but this is laughable. If that's the best Republican interest groups can come up with, we Democrats should get a clue and make Odom Speaker of the House before it's too late.
Okay, I can't believe I'm about to agree with TCPR on anything, but Odom shouldn't use the state seal on fundraising materials. He might as well write on the invite, "buy a piece of government tonight!" Is this a hanging offense? No. But it is inappropriate, and symbolic of an attitude rife in both parties that when you donate to a campaign, you aren't supporting a candidate, you're buying access and influence.
Well put, lk. The seal might as well be the USDA stamp on the steak, letting you know exactly what you're buying.
(Although I don't know how popular a strip club would be with a big neon State Seal on the outside...)
After Woods' article last week, it just sounds redundant.
