Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Legislature / Politics / Woods Memphis Flyer's Jackson Baker Defends His Honor
Posted by Jeff Woods on Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 4:47 PM
House Democratic leader Gary Odom is claiming to his pissed-off colleagues that he didn't tell the Memphis Flyer's Jackson Baker that Jimmy Naifeh is a witless, doddering old fool who brought all the party's troubles down upon them. (OK, Odom didn't really say all that. We're paraphrasing.) It's the old "I was misquoted" gambit. Works every time, doesn't it? Pith asked Baker whether he stands by his story and whether Odom was tipsy when he made his comments. (The only logical explanation for such stupidity on his part.) Baker's response after the jump:
"Hell yes, I stand by my story. The remarks about Naifeh were a portion of a much longer dissertation by the Leader on the subject. They were quoted as said. Yes, there was an audience attuned to the conversation. At this point, I'd like to keep their names out of it, but, if need be, I'll have to mention some. Suffice it that several folks were listening, some of them very closely.
"No, I didn't tape record it. Wish I had. (I record most conversations with political figures.) The conversation was held at a Memphis midtown bistro at a crowded table, but I can't say that Odom was drunk. He also never said 'off the record' or 'between you and me' or any of those cautionary phrases that I always respect.
"I would point out a key portion of my original account: 'In point of fact, Odom - who had intended to challenge Naifeh for the Speakership had the Democrats maintained their majority - chose, when asked point-blank, not to dispute the interpretation that his involvement in the Williams affair had been aimed at both Naifeh and Mumpower.' That is, he never said directly, 'Yeah, I meant to knock out both of them muh-fuhs,' as some of the paraphrases I've seen in the Nashville media would seem to suggest.
"There may have been a slight nod, but no spoken assent or denial. It was one of those situations in which silence is, and should be, taken as agreement. It was immediately after he was asked 'point-blank,' in fact, that he began his remarks about Naifeh, which, again, were quoted as said."
Comments (3)
Showing 1-3 of 3
I was there, and while I wasn't close enough to hear, I know that Jackson talked to Odom for at least 30 minutes, if not longer. I also know Jackson well enough to know he's not going to get something like that wrong.
like
dislike
Posted by
LeftWingCracker
on February 25, 2009 at 5:04 PM
