news-record.com

The subject line of an e-mail from House Speaker Thom Tillis today:

"For IMMEDIATE Release: My letter of Resignation"

As it turns out, there was no need to stop the presses. As Tillis explained in the body of the e-mail:

"The continued partisan and sometimes ruthless antics of the left aided by some in the mainstream press, will continue to threaten or stifle legitimate efforts to improve the situation in North Carolina for all involved. Therefore, effective today, I have resigned myself to embracing this reality and making the best of it."

The bold-itals are mine so you don't miss the cute turn of phrase.

At least two Charlotte television stations noted the remarks today. You can click here and here to read those stories.

This is a variation on a theme of sorts for Tillis. Earlier this month, he sounded a similar tone in a Facebook post announcing he had canceled his subscription to the Charlotte Observer.

Bonus material: My online acquaintance Andria Krewson pointed to this CJR story about another Republican's attempt to "work the refs."

Tillis' full e-mail is below:

Friends,

I have concluded that most (but not all) of the mainstream media will not report on a balanced basis. Either through deadline calls, sloppy reporting, and/or momentary memory lapses, many will continue to report with a bias towards a liberal or progressive liberal stance. You need only peruse their blogs, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts to see clear evidence of this. The continued partisan and sometimes ruthless antics of the left aided by some in the mainstream press, will continue to threaten or stifle legitimate efforts to improve the situation in North Carolina for all involved. Therefore, effective today, I have resigned myself to embracing this reality and making the best of it.

Wait a minute, you weren't thinking something else were you? In fact, my resignation has inspired me to adapt an old joke I heard years ago--all in fun.

A newspaper reporter saw a man walking out of the Democratic National Convention when he saw a vicious pit bull had broken away from its owner. The dog was charging a small child who would have almost certainly been killed but the man grabbed the dog and threw it over a ledge to its death.

The reporter rushed up to the man and said, "Sir, you are a true hero. Tomorrow the headlines will read BRAVE DEMOCRATIC ACTIVIST RISKS LIFE TO SAVE TODDLER."

The man said "Actually, I'm a republican."

The reporter said "Okay but it still was brave so we will run with LOCAL CITIZEN ADVERTS DOG BITE."

The man said "That is very nice of you but in the spirit of full disclosure I must tell you I am the republican Speaker of the House in North Carolina and I'm just leaving a peaceful protest at the Democratic Convention."

The reporter looked at the man, closed his notebook, and walked away.

The next morning the headlines read "RIGHT WING EXTREMIST PROTESTER KILLS FAMILY PET."

Have a great weekend, Thom T.

Representative Thom Tillis
Speaker of the House
North Carolina House of Representatives

Contact Information:

Phone:
(919) 733-5828 -- Legislative Office / Raleigh
(704) 248-2980 -- Home Office / North Mecklenburg

Legislative Assistant:

Joe Nolan (email: joe.nolan@ncleg.net)