Number One Lover: Robin Smith Replaced On Human Rights Board

By Kleinheider Posted on July 11, 2008 at 8:07 pm

Patricia Ann Pierce of Harriman, director of the Opportunity Development Center at Vanderbilt University, was appointed today by Governor Phil Bredesen to serve on Tennessee’s Human Rights Commision. Pierce fills the expired term of Tennessee Republican Party Chair Robin Smith who was appointed to the Commission by Gov. Don Sundquist in 2002.

Smith’s position on the board had come under fire recently due to her actions as party chair. Under her watch, at least two communications were released out of her shop at the TNGOP which made national news for their incendiary nature.

The boldest of which was a press release which caused a firestorm this past February by referring to Barack Obama’s middle name, referencing alleged antisemitic associations and featuring a picture of Obama in what was described as “Muslim garb” but turned out to be Somali tribalwear.

The state’s senior Senator Lamar Alexander, as well as John McCain, Karl Rove and the head of the RNC all rebuked the TNGOP harshly, calling for the removal of the release from the state’s website.

Many in the blogosphere along the way were calling for Smith’s removal from the HRC and cautioning against her reappointment. Of course, reappointments to the commission are unusual, especially those whose original appointments were made by a previous Governor of an opposite party.

For instance, of the other 14 members of the current Commission, 12 were appointed by Governor Bredesen and are serving their first term. One, was appointed by Governor Bredesen to an unexpired term in 2006 and then appointed to a full term in 2007. The other was appointed by Governor Bredesen to an unexpired term in 2004 and then appointed to a full term in 2007.

However, despite the high turnover and the unlikelihood of a Democratic Governor appointing a holdover from a previous Republican administration, on June 2, following yet another controversy, this one over the TNGOP’s video welcoming Barack Obama to Tennessee, Robin Smith wrote a letter to Governor Phil Bredesen defending herself against charges of racism and intolerance and seems to convey, implicitly at least, an openness to the idea of reappointment.

You can read the full letter here. In it the TNGOP Chair decries the tactics of the Democratic Party to smear her and defends herself citing her son’s friendship with an African-American youngster and her own experiences as a child:

I would’ve chosen to let these hollow accusations fall without answer had it not been for my children coming to me with concern and for understanding. You see, my son’s best friend for the last many years is African American who vacations with us and enjoys our home as his. My children have been taught by my husband and me the same teaching I’ve referenced already and have taught for 2 1 years in Bible studies at my church: there is one human race.

Further, my children have heard of childhood accounts of my being called an “n.. .-lover” for playing with African American pals on the playground. I have unfortunately shared on several occasions being “booed” and “hissed” at while speaking, along with former Tennessee Democrat Party Chairman Bob Tuke and other Democrats, to the state dinner of the NAACP in an effort to extend a friendly hand.

My children, along with others, have witnessed my efforts for years through politics to work with individuals of all races and through our church to serve in ministry to the inner city and those who struggle with needs.

UPDATE: TNGOP Chairman Robin Smith responds to the publication of her correspondence to the Governor in an email addressed to “Readers of Post Politics“:

I was phoned about 2 hours ago while driving back home with my family by my Chief of Staff at the Tennessee Republican Party who was seeing for the first time a correspondence I had sent privately to Governor Phil Bredesen to address the attempts to damage my reputation publicly through the appointment I was finishing as a Tennessee Human Rights Commissioner. Let be state very clearly: The correspondence published was written solely by me as a personal statement for my beliefs and values and to defend my integrity; no other individual(s) were involved, especially staff of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Let me first clarify that I have never sought reappointment, as was falsely implied by PostPolitics editorialism. As stated very clearly in my correspondence to the Governor, I understand political appointments and have full appreciation that once my term was complete on June 30, the position was his to fill with a selection of his own.

However, there have been whispers making their way back to me of individuals who wanted to “smear” me publicly, to “embarrass” me, and to distract from my work at the Tennessee Republican Party. Upon hearing several different versions of the same accounts with the same individuals, I chose to write an email addressed to the Governor and his communications staffer from my personal, family email account. The whispers are now absolutely validated by the fact that a private correspondence was publicly distributed by the Tennessee state government server to a press outlet that has consistently been associated with “smears” coming from the same sources that believe themselves to be anonymous.

As noted in the correspondence to the Governor, I have never politicized my term of 6 years on the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. It was truly an honor to serve and to work with individuals who fought against the discrimination that unfortunately continues based on gender, race and age.

In contrast, those who sought to “smear” my integrity used that very position to attempt to gain political points on the field of political play. I made the decision, as noted in my letter, to address this when my teenagers began to participate in family discussions about the matter. We call them “teachable moments.”

Let me be clear, my faith and values drive my beliefs about life, family and the role of government and policy. After the events of the last few months, my commitment to that which is right and good has been absolutely strengthened and my determination increased.

There is always a “teachable moment” in every area of our lives, as we teach our kids and spend a life of learning. The teachable moments involved here are quite apparent:

1. Many who claim to stand for rights, deny them as evidenced by this entire occasion in handling a simple political appointment.

2. Those who claim to stand for rights chose to “smear” those who don’t support their agenda: I was targeted for being a conservative, Christian Republican who chooses to be truthful and candid rather than cater to the politically correct and the elite.

3. Many that portray themselves to be “above the fray” are the most guttural of all, demonstrating their vacant core of any beliefs.

4. There are those who occupy positions of leadership and power to lead who only choose political exploitation: I now join those employees of the Bredesen administration who had their rights denied in the shredding of their harassment claims. I have been publicly slandered and libeled.

5. Truth stands and so do those who defend it. I sincerely appreciate those I know to be committed to more than politics and their own agendas and who are dear friends.

6. The counsel of a brother in Christ, an African American pastor who preaches truth, not hate, directed me toward Scripture that provides summary:

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this: but He who judges me is the Lord…”

Again, a personal word of thanks to those who have been vocal and kind in your support. You will always remembered and treasured. Now, it’s time to move on.

Respectfully Submitted,
Robin Smith

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Tags: Barack Obama, Bill Hobbs, n-word lovers, Phil Bredesen, Robin Smith's best friends, Tennessee Human Rights Commission, TNGOP  

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