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Parting shot: Briley blames bloggers
Posted By katie allison granju
State legislator Rob Briley made his final farewell today, blaming the press - and bloggers in particular - on his way out the door:
“The right to a free and open press though comes with a responsibility, and from my experience over the past year, that responsibility is not being lived up to,” Briley (D-Nashville) said from the main House podium.
“We used to talk about the politics of personal destruction. Well that’s no longer what’s going on. It’s the publishing of personal destruction, and we owe it to ourselves to do better than that. We owe it to the rest of our society to do better than that.”
Late last year, Briley was the center of the Nashville media’s attention after he was arrested and later convicted of DUI and charged with felony evading arrest for leading police on a 100-mph plus high-speed chase. The felony charge was suspended.
A police video was released chronicling the traffic stop, in which Briley made suicidal threats, and the incident occurred at roughly the same time Briley was going through a divorce and allegations of marital infidelity.
Briley, a self-acknowledged alcoholic, later went to rehab and is not seeking reelection to his House District 52 seat.
Briley said that government needs to be “as open as possible.”
“But the press needs to understand that if they’re not responsible with that information, that they’re not going to have access to it anymore,” Briley said.
In addition to the mainstream press, Briley criticized bloggers, remarking that “just because you say it, doesn’t make it true.”
That part about info “not being available anymore” sounds like some sort of threat. I can’t figure out what he means. Is he implying the press shouldn’t report on or discuss an elected lawmaker with the many documented legal and ethical problems Briley faced in the past 24 months?
I have tremendous sympathy for anyone dealing with addiction or mental health problems. But part of getting well is owning those problems, and taking full responsibility.
Briley’s problems do not belong to the Tennessee press corps.
Having said this, I wish him well, and hope he finds a post-political career that is satisfying, healthy and peaceful.
May 20th, 2008
Sorry Briley that the press wasn’t willing to give you a continuing pass on your publicly displayed bad behavior while in public office at your taxpayer-funded job. Maybe the private sector will be kinder to you. Good luck and good riddance!