I am writing this in response to Chris Goldston’s June 5 article, “Tax Concerns are Politically Motivated”, and his June 16  article titled “Reader Expresses Disagreement with Tam’s Praises”.

In the June 16 article, Goldston mentions an ethics complaint filed by the Republican Party against Brian Tam.  However, what Mr. Goldston neglected to mention is that the complaint was dismissed by the State Ethics Commission as unfounded.  What Mr. Goldston also neglected to mention is that the Republican Party was doing exactly the same thing for which it based its complaint against Tam.  Many readers may recall receiving a telephone call from the “Chaplain” of the Republican Party, asking them to vote for one Republican candidate over another in the primary election.  The party was willing to spend its money on these telephone calls, yet lodged a complaint against Mr. Tam for using his campaign funds to send out a letter asking for support for one candidate over another.  What hypocrisy. 

In the June 5 article, Mr. Goldston also stated “Still, every now and then something will be said or done that even catches me by surprise.” And he also said “Politics makes for some strange stories.” I couldn’t agree with him more, on both points.

Mr. Goldston goes on to explain that the Forsyth County Republican Party, in 2006, issued a resolution in favor of the residents of Lanier Golf Course.  This is true.  He states that the entire executive committee of the GOP felt that the residents near the golf course were a victim of a “bait and switch” by the owners of the golf course.  This isn’t quite true, as there were some members who just didn’t agree.

However, the most disturbing of Mr. Goldston’s statements concerns the origin and intent of this resolution.  He states that “At Mike Busse’s initiative, we adopted a resolution as a party in support of the Lanier Golf Course residents.”  Chris Goldston either has the worst memory since the keeper of the Rose Law firm records, or he is being dishonest with the readers, because it just didn’t happen the way he would like your readers to believe. 

The resolution (and a similar one in favor of the residents near Bethel Park) was neither at Mike Busse’s initiative, nor was it a genuine effort to support the residents of Lanier Golf Course.  Rather, it was an effort to pander to them, to endear the GOP Executive committee to them.  Why?  The Lanier Golf Course residents were large in number, and the GOP leaders needed their support at their convention in early 2007.   At the time the resolution was passed, we didn’t know who was going to run for Chairman, but we knew we wanted the winner to be “our” (yet to be determined) guy.  The residents of Lanier Golf Course weren’t being supported.  They were being used. 

I know this to be true, because I authored the resolution in question.  At no time did I receive any input, suggestion, conversation, or any other form of communication from Mike Busse on this issue.  Not only was it most certainly not “at his initiative”, he was barely even a participant.

My experience working with Mike Busse is that I know him to be a truthful man. 

I don’t believe he would have knowingly participated in using an issue that was so important to so many people for his own personal gain.  Further, I can’t imagine that Chris Goldston’s article isn’t bothersome to him as well.  I can only hope that Mike will not disappoint the people now, and will set the record straight by coming forward with the truth.

Politics does indeed make for some strange stories, Mr. Goldston, starting with yours.  You are doing your friend no service at all by publishing these untruths. 

Respectfully,

Anna McManus
Former First Vice Chairman, Forsyth County Republican Party
Former Second Vice Chairman, 9^th Congressional District Republican Party
Alternate Delegate, 2004 Republican National Convention