This is in response to Ms. Christin Hayes letter of concern that she submitted. Ms. Hayes, my name is Wil Hammond; I am the State President for the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats and a student here at UTM. I would like to clear the air of a few off the mark comments and accusations that you made in your letter in the only way that we as College Democrats know how, with honesty, integrity, and tact.

First off I am from Martin, TN, so like you I know a little about the political climate in West Tennessee and I know this, you said “and now that there is some stiff competition, they simply don’t know how to respond.” This, like many of the other statements you made is just simply untrue Ms. Hayes. As a matter of fact eleven College Democrats from this campus alone were trained in local campaign management. In the past year six of these students have interned in Nashville, three of those served for Governor Phil Bredesen, two have managed and won local races, and two have also worked on and helped to win statewide races. So the statement that you make about us “simply not knowing how to respond” is a little unfounded.

The next concern that you addressed is the supposed use of “juvenile tactics of whining and name-calling.” Ms. Hayes, who is really using “juvenile tactics of whining and name calling”? When you start your letter by referring to our group as a bunch of “liberals”, we represent those of all political beliefs in our party that is what makes use unique. We have Conservatives such as U.S. Representative John Tanner, who represents you and me and was reelected by over 70% of the people he represents last year. We have our liberals, just as you have your extremists like Jerry Farwell and Rush Limbaugh in your organization, but we all join together under the Democratic flag to fight for equal rights for all Americans, healthcare for those who need it, jobs for those who lost theirs, and a clean environment so that our hunters here in West Tennessee will have safe and healthy land to hunt on.

”Need I remind him of the 7.2 percent economic growth that we achieved in the last quarter? This was the largest economic growth in nearly 20 years.” I do not dispute this Ms. Hayes, but what you failed to mention is that it would take a growth of close to 300,000 jobs per month for the next year for this President to reach an unemployment rate that existed when President Bill Clinton left office. Our economy has never, and judging by the less than 75,000 jobs that were created in the same quarter that you are speaking of, and will never reach this rate no mater how much you cut taxes. One could also argue that this growth was spurred by a war. Which one I can’t really say, is it the war on terrorism, or the war with Iraq?

It seems that we started with a well founded war on terror after the attacks on innocent Americans. It seems now though that our war on terror has transformed into the Gulf War part two. Osama Bin Laden has morphed into Saddam Hussein and we are no longer “devoting all of our efforts to find and bringing to justice those who where responsible for the attacks” as President Bush promised after the attacks on American lives.

Even the people in charge said they lost all traces of Osama Bin Laden almost nine months ago, about the time we went into Iraq. So what is the truth? The Bush Administration and the Pentagon lied to the American people about the capture of Jessica Lynch, we still have not seen hide nor hair of any “weapons of mass destruction”, and we have yet to catch either leader we have went after, sounds more like weapons of mass distraction to me.

All the while our President is on a two week fundraising tour across America to raise double the amount of money he spent last election, which set a record as being the most ever spent on a Presidential race . If you where to take all nine democrats that are running for President and pool their money that would not even be half of what President Bush raised in two weeks.

Now facing “stiff competition” who is it that is scrambling to respond?

Have no doubt about it though we as Democrats are just as American and patriotic as you, and we totally and without question support our men and women who have preformed their duty as they have been trained to do. We thank them for their sacrifices and pray for their safe return. Serving your country is the greatest sacrifice you can make.

With that said, after extensive research, yes Howard Dean did not serve in Vietnam, he received a medical reprieve for a back condition, but at least he showed up. George W. Bush was a member of the Texas Air National Guard where he showed up for one drill and the closest he came to seeing action was many years later shooting a campaign ad aboard the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln . It sounds to me like that is closer to the definition of “draft-dodging” than the one you provided for Governor Dean.

As for the “pot smoking”, at least Governor Dean will admit to his indiscretions so that others don’t make the same mistakes.

Where as George W. Bush refuses to this day to answer questions about the cocaine habit that he has been accused of having less than 15 years ago.

Ms. Hayes if you wish to debate these or any other issues with me or other members of the College Democrats we will be more than happy to do so. As a matter of fact in order to raise the level of public debate on this campus I, behalf of the College Democrats, challenge you to a six part series of debates in this newspaper next semester. The topics will be selected by the Editorials Board of this newspaper. One every two weeks so that others who are concerned with these and other issues can have their voices heard. No “whining”, “name calling”, or “childish acts” that you have accused this organization of doing, just the facts in black and white.

If you would like information about College Democrats email us at; action@tfcd.org or check out our website at www.tfcd.org. I wish all of you good luck with your finals and a safe holiday break.