This is a public response to Rick Phillips from Shannon Gasaway. The opinions expressed in this letter are hers.
Dear Rick Phillips,
I just read your letter to the editor on Now Habersham and most likely, if past patterns hold true, will see it in the area newspapers next week. There is no Gasaway clan. It’s just Dan and me. The letter to the editor about you and the Giles was from me. Those facts, those thoughts, and those words were mine. And I stand by what I said, despite your attempt to persuade the public to think otherwise.
You say that my words are atrocious and are just a bald-faced lie. I hope others reading this will do what I just did. I Googled the words “Rick Phillips, Brian Kemp” and I got pages of Google results.
The first result is from June 12, 2018. It says, “In a statement, Kemp campaign spokesperson Ryan Mahoney pointed out that Kemp is only one of the investors in Hart AgStrong and accused Phillips of being one of political rival Casey Cagle’s top donors.” There it is. Top donors pay for expensive TV ads, which you did, but you went further. Not only did you donate money, you donated an issue, an issue that eventually was going to be decided in court. You used that issue to try and make people think Brian Kemp couldn’t be trusted. You used that issue to try to put your man in as Governor. These are facts. Calling me a bald-faced liar doesn’t change facts.
Another Google result is from October 1, 2018. It says, “A new ad from state Democrats says a lawsuit over a $500,000 loan supports their claim that Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp “can’t be trusted… The Democratic Party of Georgia is paying for the ad, which began airing early Saturday morning in the Atlanta television market for Stacey Abrams, Kemp’s rival in the general election… The lawsuit that’s the focus of the ad was filed by Toccoa businessman Rick Phillips,…” I’ll repeat what I said in my original letter. You almost got Kemp beat by Stacey Abrams.
As far as campaign contributions go, anyone can look them up. They can Google “Georgia ethics commission, campaign reports.” Anyone can see you have contributed over $10,000 to the Erwin campaign, which is a hefty political investment. But you went even further. You paid for the Giles’ ads against Dan, even though you have never met them? And now your wife has to pay for the current ads because you cannot?
In the midst of describing yourself as what amounts to a modern-day Andy Griffith, you called me a bully. Your tactic is all too familiar to me. It’s called a smokescreen and smokescreens can be persuasive. Your bait will look good to some, but others will see through it and won’t take the bite you’re offering. People will have to decide for themselves.
Let me reiterate. This is a letter to you from me. My words, not my husband’s. I said this to you last week in our Facebook exchange, which is easily accessible on my public Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Shannon Gasaway
Homer, Georgia
