TN. First Lady Andrea Conte Perpetuates The Cycle of Traditional Politics

Last night (August 31st) in Nashville, Tennessee's First Lady Andrea Conte hosted a town hall meeting at the Governor's mansion. Questions were posted by local area High School seniors to the two candidates of the parties, Beverage Distributor Mike McWherter of Jackson and Mayor Bill Haslam. The event was not open to the public but was streamed over the internet according to reports.

It is evident that Ms. Conte has fallen in line with the League of Women Voters, many of the State's major newspapers and most of all the broadcast media and a number of Colleges and Universities by not including any of the active Independent candidates for Governor.

Despite recent Voter Polls in the Country and our State...news organizations, and certain advocacy groups continue to dodge the Independents by not including them in forums, debates or covering their campaigns citing moving targets of criteria which includes, providing proof of having paid staff members, having multi campaign offices statewide, not raising enough money, not having enough positions on topics...the list changes from week to week. They need to know times are changing with the internet and and technology and what they are propping up is old school. While many Statewide organizations have ignored us, Google my name and see what comes up on a National basis. It might surprise you.

It is evident that there are folks who pull the switches who do not want you the Tennessee Voter to know that there are other views and thoughts on State Government. The two parties are content with each other, but yet they are going to use their power to keep everyone else out of the picture. It is virtually impossible for a third party to run in Tennessee. There are laws on the books that make that option null and void. So everyone else must run as Independents. I know there are some independent candidates who do not take this challenge seriously and are not truly active candidates Statewide...thus we are all lumped in together.

Not all groups are closed societies only open to the candidates of the parties. I have been invited by some radio stations, have been interviewed or had a release published by a newspaper, and even have appeared on two different television stations in the State. I have participated in some forums across the State and recently accepted an invitation from Vanderbilt and will appear in a debate in Chattanooga in October. But most of the outlets and organizations do not return calls, return emails, fail to publish press releases, letters to the editors from me and supporters..which is quite disturbing.

While this campaign has been challenging..it has been rewarding. 1000's of my introductions to people bring smiles...(maybe because they feel sorry for me-Ha) especially when they hear that I am an independent candidate for Governor. They nearly all have the same comment...we're tired of the same ol same old. Its my quest to reach out to more people like this and to get the word out....that you do have another choice, an independent choice...an independent voice. If you have grown tired of traditional politics and want another voice heard...you can do something about it...Call in to the radio shows, write the newspapers, send emails to the television stations, send notes to organizations like the League of Women Voters and let them know..you want more..you want to hear from the Independent Candidates (most notably Bayron Binkley).

I hope you will continue to help us spread the word on our Campaign.

Binkley For Governor Press Release on Education

The following Press Release was recently sent to media outlets across the State of Tennessee...both printed and Broadcast during the week of June 17th, 2010. As an Independent Candidate of Governor, these media outlets have shown little interest in publishing any release from our Campaign prior to the Results of the Republican Primary on August 5th, 2010. In order to help provide this information to the general public via the internet, we are including it here for world wide distribution on the internet.

Binkley For Governor Press Release

For Immediate Release
Date: June 17^th, 2010

Independent Candidate for Governor, Bayron Binkley, spoke recently at an annual education forum in Brentwood hosted by the Professional Educators of Tennessee. Binkley, who is an avid supporter of Schools of Choice (the voucher system), addressed several education issues including Tennessee’s newly adopted Race to the Top program. “Our teachers can teach until their gums bleed, but unless we get a full measure of support from parents, we may not see the results we strive for . . . Parents need to step up with support, encouragement, and guidance [to help] their kids prepare for class.”

To address the issue, Binkley is proposing an education contract as a prerequisite for student enrollment. Before a student can enroll in school, parents would have to sign a contract outlining the requirements and expectations for both parents and students. Specifically, the contract would outline the responsibility of parents to help their child with homework, attendance, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and adhering to school rules and policies. The contract would also specify the disciplinary measures for non compliance. Further, by not signing the contract, parents would effectively waive their right of free public education or, in today’s manner of thought; they will have “opted out.” Binkley adds that, “The state is bound by our constitution to provide for a free public school education, but the wording [is such] that the General Assembly can set the eligibility standards for this education. If parents do not recognize the value of free education and take ownership and responsibility in that education . . . then basically they are waiving their right [to that] opportunity. Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures.”

Other Gubernatorial Candidates who participated in the forum included Republicans, Zach Wamp and Ron Ramsey, Democrat Mike McWherter, and Independents Brandon Dodds and Samuel Duck.