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PAGE 4A THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023 Opinions “Private opinion is weak, but public opinion is almost omnipotent. Henry Ward Beecher Mike Buffington, editor • Email: Mike@mainstreetnews.com Carlson’s ouster a moment to celebrate The ouster of Tucker Carlson from Fox News is a mo ment worth savoring for those who give a damn about this nation. Let’s be very clear, Carlson was not a journalist. He was not a reporter. He was not even a news anchor. To be charitable, Carlson was a mouth piece for far-right propaganda. Nothing more. His Fox show was stagecraft for what is wrong with this na tion — dark, conspir acy-driven drivel that was designed to appeal to the nation’s worst instincts. He, and those he elevated, are the worst of this nation, not the best. That he was allowed to spout his nonsense year after year without being fired is evidence of how warped Fox executives are in their pursuit of viewers. They hid BS behind the veneer of “news” and hoped that nobody would notice, • •• And the truth is, a lot of people didn’t notice. The only thing worse that Carlson pretending to be a real journal ist was that so many Americans lapped up his nonsense as though it were fact. Viewers embraced him because he told them what they wanted to hear; he told them their fears and biases were valid even when they were bunk. We could make a long list, but here are some of Carlson’s worst BS comments: • He promoted the nonsense conspiracy idea that the 2020 election was stolen away from Trump and hosted nutty conspiracy-mongers to promote that idea. In one in stance, he had to apologize on air for falsely saying dead people had voted for Biden in Georgia. As has been clear ly shown, there is zero evidence of massive voter fraud in 2020. Carlson’s false claims fanned the flames of distrust in the nation and kept the fake conspiracy-mongering go ing far beyond its expiration date. • He downplayed the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. At one point, he said the incident was “order ly and meek. These were not insurrectionists. They were sightseers.” No, they weren’t sightseers, they were violent extremists who attempted to stop the certification of the 2020 election results. It was the most unAmerican event of modern times. To downplay that terrible day as Carlson and a slew of others have repeatedly done is nothing more than right-wing propaganda. • He spread false conspiracy bunk about vaccines during the dark days of Covid-19. At one point, he claimed that vaccines were killing thousands of people even as hundreds of thousands of people were dying from Covid. Among other nutty claims, Carlson said that the military’s vaccine requirement was designed to force out “sincere Christians” and “men with high testosterone.” Carlson wasn’t the only anti-vaxx conspiracy nut, but he was one of the loudest and perhaps most influential. • He has defended Russia and been very critical of Ukraine before and during the war between the two. Carl son has defended Russia’s Putin and slammed Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In 2019 before the war, Carlson said: “We should probably take the side of Russia if we have to choose between Russia and Ukraine,” Carl son’s embrace of dictator Putin and Russia’s invasion of a neighboring country is slobbering acquiescence to an ti-democratic thinking. If Carlson loves Russia so much, maybe he should move there and see how much freedom of speech he would enjoy under Putin’s brutal regime. In the U.S., Carlson is allowed to spout his BS; in Russia, he would land in a gulag. • Carlson, and much of the American far-right, has em braced Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Like Pu tin, Orban is anti-democratic and one of Europe’s most authoritarian leaders. He has consolidated power in Hun gary by changing the rales and laws to suit his authoritarian goals. Carlson apparently likes that idea, as do many on the American far-right. • He has embraced the “great replacement” idea that white Americans are being systematically replaced by im migrants by Democrats so that they can win more elections. It’s nonsense, but is part of the racist theology found cir culating in white supremacy circles. Carlson pretty openly embraces white supremacy values even if he didn’t wear a swastika on his sleeve. ••• It’s difficult to know if Carlson really did believe a lot of the bunk he said on his show, or if it was all just an act designed to cater to American’s base appetites. Internal emails and texts show that Carlson was concerned about ratings and in not reporting facts if they turned off viewers. It could be that Carlson began his show as an act, but later as his influence grew, came to believe his own BS. Still, Fox News allowed Carlson (and many of its other talking heads) to spout nonsense for years. They only fired Carlson after private emails and texts from Carlson showed that he was as abusive toward his employer as he is toward truth. On top of that, he apparently helped create what one former staffer said was a “toxic” work environment. Carlson’s ouster comes on the heels of Fox’s decision to settle a lawsuit over claims the network had damaged a private firm’s reputation by promoting false 2020 election theories. Carlson was a major part of that with his non sense. In the end, Fox stetted for over $700 million, a huge amount even for a wealthy network. • •• For those who value the truth and reality, Carlson’s oust er is a moment to celebrate. But he’s not the only one in the media universe promoting this kind of nonsense. There will be others who rise to fill the propaganda void Carlson leaves behind. American’s appetite for being told only what they want to hear runs deep in today’s culture. People want to hear false noise they agree with rather than truth and facts that rub against their beliefs. That’s what Tucker Carlson did: He spoon-fed people the nonsense they wanted to hear rather than the truth they needed to hear. And in so doing, he took our cherished right of freedom of speech and used it like a knife to stab America in the back. Mike Buffington is co-publisher of Mainstreet Newspa pers. He can be reached at mike@mainstreetnews.com. GUEST COLUMN: True-crime book by Phil Hudgins ‘in a class by itself BY BILLY CHISM CNI NEWS SERVICE Phil Hudgins has written a new book titled “Grace and Disgrace: Living with Laith and the Leader of the Dixie Mafia,” by Ruby Nell Birt, as told to him. I’ve known Hudgins for years as a columnist and senior editor. He’s also written two other fine books. But his third one, just out, is in a class by itself. The genius of this true-crime book is that Phil Hudgins—after more than 20 lengthy interviews with Ruby Nell Birt and her youngest child, Shane Birt, along with dozens of others—let Ruby Nell tell her sto ry in the first person. Hudgins easily could have told the same story of Ruby Nell, wife of one of the most cold-blooded killers in modern-day Georgia history, by simply recounting what Ruby told him. Instead, he gave voice to Ruby Nell, who spoke freely and from the heart, beginning in the first chapter. That’s when she recounted how she came to marry Billy Sunday Birt be fore a justice of the peace on April 14, 1954. He was almost 17. Ruby Nell was a month shy of 13. Ruby Nell’s parents objected. Bil ly Birt had other ideas. He threatened Ruby Nell’s father in such a way that her parents had no choice but to lie about her age and okay the marriage. Ruby Nell, now 80, recalls: “I look at my granddaughters and great-granddaughters today and can’t imagine them being married at twelve or thirteen years old. Actual ly, I can’t imagine any girl being a wife at that tender, impressionable age. But I officially became Bill Bin’s Pretty Woman that afternoon, and I was determined to be a good wife.” Billy Chism Unfortunately for Ruby Nell, her new husband had other ideas. He flaunted his marriage vows without any regard for his young wife. Ruby put it this way: “In 1954, as soon as we were married, he was running around with other women practically every week. And he treat ed me like a misbehaving puppy if I got in his way.” Billy Birt and like-minded thugs living in Winder, Georgia, and the surrounding area of Northeast Geor gia started running moonshine in the late 1960s. Soon, these men put to gether a loosely organized group fo cused on illegal activities—from car stealing, liquor making and burglary to robbery, arson and murder. Billy Birt became a hit man, kill ing for money. He is known to have killed at least 50 people. Ruby Nell, during this time, found herself having babies and looking af ter young children. There were five children. All are still alive. The old est, Stoney, was born in 1959. The youngest, Shane, was bom in 1971. Ruby Nell tells how her faith in God enabled her to withstand the pain she felt living with her hus band. She endured untold torment from the man who said he loved her. She feared for her life. It was only after Billy Birt went to prison for the last time in 1974 that Ruby Nell felt somewhat safe. But she never felt to tally safe and finally divorced Billy in 1986. He died in prison in 2017. As Shane grew older, he remem bered prison visits to see his father. (Shane was two and a half when his father went to prison for the last time.) When Shane was about 16, his father began sharing information with him about his Dixie Mafia hits, offered in bits and pieces. Shane re membered these jailhouse talks, and later shared information with law enforcement. In doing so, he helped solve a 50-year-old triple murder in Boone, N.C. Journalist Phil Hudgins used the experience he gained in his 60 years in the newspaper business to search out and interview law enforcement officers, most now retired. The of ficer most helpful, Hudgins noted, was Robert “Bob” Ingram, a former agent for the Georgia Bureau of In vestigation who investigated two of Bin’s most gruesome crimes, ob taining a confession—twice—in the Boone case from one of Birt’s for mer partners. As for the book, Ruby Nell’s voice shines direct and true throughout the story. Readers will be inspired. Her love for her five children and her faith in God testify to her deep faith and endurance. “Grace and Disgrace” is available on philhudgins.com and amazon, com. Billy Chism, now retired, served as publisher and editor of the White County News, a Cleveland, Georgia, product of Community Newspapers Inc. Remembering dirt roads and blue suede shoes Dear Editor: When I find something to read on the subject of gravel roads, I’m gonna read it, so that’s what I did when I ran across a Buffington article in The Jackson Herald. The article got me thinking about the 1940s and 50s when I lived with my family alongside a gravel road in Missis sippi. That’s where I became aware that a gravel road is not a good surface for roller skating, but I did learn to ride a bicycle and drive a car on that ratted ribbon of dust. Having lived there for two decades, I have many stories from which to choose, but I will narrow it down to just one: The year was 1955 when Carl Perkins wrote and recorded a hit song entitled Blue Suede Shoes. The lyrics of that song resulted in many of us teenage boys purchasing more than one pair. It didn’t take me long, thought, to discover that suede shoes are meant to be worn on city streets and side walks; they are not meant for moseying around on gravel roads. During those years, unlike today’s celebrities who col lect large sums of money for endorsing tennis shoes, Carl didn’t get a piece of the action when pairs of blue suede shoes started flying off the shelf. Sincerely, Claude Diamond Roberts won’t seek re-election in Jefferson Dear Editor: It is with some regret that I announce that I will not be seek ing a subsequent term during the 2023 November election for the City of Jefferson District 5 Councilmember seat. While my intentions at the start of the year were focused on preparing for the upcoming campaign season, my family and I have recently entertained opportunities that will be taking us out of Jefferson in the coming months. Although that move for our family is real, I fully intend to serve the remainder of my term with the same level of dedication and focus as I have during the previous three years on council, whether that be through the end of this year or through my last days as a resi dent of this city. I want to express my gratitude to the people of District 5 who trusted in me to be their voice on council. I want to thank the folks in my district who came to know me and trust in me to be their voice as well. I also want to thank all the folks in the City of Jefferson who have supported me through my time on council. I could not have done this as effectively without your input, wisdom, and guidance. Thank you especially to my fellow 2020 Council Members Steve Kinney, Mac Gramley, Mayor Jon Howell, and Mark Mobley who all supported me as a new council member and as interim mayor during an especially strange time as we faced the challenges of a global pandemic together. Thank you to City Manager Priscilla Murphy for always being available and willing to tackle problems together. Thank you to all persons along the way who have shared their wisdom with me in this time. While I am regretful to have to give up these responsibilities, I wish for nothing but the best for all my associates on council, at city hall, and at all the departments in the City of Jefferson. We’ve done some great work together, but for now my work here is coming to an end. Here’s to you all for making a better City of Jefferson in the years ahead. Thank you, Jefferson. Sincerely, Clint Roberts City of Jefferson District 5 Council Member The Jackson Herald Founded 1875 Merged with The Commerce News 2017 The Official Legal Organ of Jackson County, Ga. Herman Buffington, Publisher 1965-2005 Mike Buffington Co-Publisher Scott Buffington Co-Publisher Alex Buffington News Editor Hannah Barron Reporter Taylor Heam Sports Editor MEMBER • Georgia Press Association • National Newspaper Association • Inland Press Association • International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors Postmaster: Send Address Changes To: MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. PO Box 908 Jefferson, Georgia 30549-0908 Web Site: www.JacksonHeraldTODAY.com Email: mike@mainstreetnews.com Voice: 706.367.5233 Fax:708.621.4117 (news) Periodical Postage paid at Jefferson, GA 30549 (SCED 271980) Yearly Subscriptions: $45 / $40 for seniors
