NO MIDDLE GROUND
By TOM BRAUND
Information is fungible. If you don’t give in to the press’ demands and you’re toast – they think. They don’t run up against many who have a pretty decent foundation in civics, history and law or one with a heckuva lot more life experience and integrity individually than they have collectively.
Freedom of the Press is for individuals, not organizations. The corporate “press” has no “right” to break ANY laws.
Channel 2 (KTUU) News trespassed on my clearly posted property uninvited to do their story, not mine. If they do it again, I will arrest for trespassing and violating my privacy (Alaska law).
The media may ask a public figure questions, which I am under no obligation to answer. If you don’t answer, they roast you with lies and invented scenarios.
If you answer, they probably will roast you with lies and invented scenarios if you are 1. Christian, 2. Patriotic, and/or 3. honest.
Once you withdraw, you’re no longer a public figure. I am Christian, patriotic and honest; the grounds for their War On Tom. They could not intimidate a Marine or shoo me away, as they like you to think they have.
Why I really withdrew has to do with a principle out of The Human Being Operator’s Manual (the Bible): Relationships are more important than institutions.
On Feb. 14, 2018, I accepted the governor’s appointment (offered through his Legislative Director Darwin Peterson, not the governor) in the early morning.
My intent: Do what’s best for Alaskans, come what may. Within a couple of hours, my friend’s desperate need became apparent to me. She had nobody else who would “be there” for her since the State withdrew its long-supplied assistance.
She tried to get me to continue with the appointment. I refused because a person is not one to be thrown into the gutter when helping is uncomfortable or inconvenient and no other “duty” supercedes. I could not be both in Juneau and available to her need, simultaneously. Hence, my decision a few hours later – to withdraw.
There is nothing more to my decision. The press may have a field day with this; don’t believe a word they say.
Nat Herz of the Anchorage Daily News deals quite well in lies and backstabbing. I get truth from Suzanne Downing of Must Read Alaska and Joshua Fryfogle of The People’s Paper.
The Establishment press made libelous statements and twisted three of my Facebook entries to look like evil. Not one word of evil is in them. One was about a relationship. Another was about a U.S. senator who turned on Alaskans and her duty. The third obviously is a much-circulating internet joke.
Gov. Bill Walker’s administration, without asking me one question, took the media’s lead and published that they didn’t know of these bad things prior to appointing me. I will publish more detailed follow ups on Facebook as No Middle Ground Part 2, etc., as I am able.
Alaskans, ask for specifics at Tom Braund on Facebook. Please identify yourself.
Tom Braund was appointed by Gov. Walker on Feb. 14 to serve as the senator for District E, but withdrew within the day. Mike Shower was appointed and has been confirmed as the senator.