RNC Chairman Candidate Gets Involved In The Kent Williams Situation
Posted on January 16, 2009 at 11:07 amA political action committee led by former Maryland Lt. Governor and RNC chairman candidate Michael Steele wants Speaker Kent Williams proverbial head on a plate for accepting the Democratic nomination for Tennessee house speaker — and the committee is putting its money where its mouth is. A press release from the TNGOP:
The installation by Democrats of Kent Williams as Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives this week despite losing the majority in the 2008 elections has galvanized Republicans not only across Tennessee but also across the country into action.
Today, GOPAC, the national Republican organization dedicated exclusively to electing Republicans to state and local offices, presented a financial contribution to the Tennessee Republican Party as a down payment on the effort to replace Mr. Williams with a representative who represents the people of Carter County honestly and who will not use deception and lies in order to advance his own personal political ambitions.
“GOPAC was honored to assist with the election of a Republican majority in the Tennessee House of Representative and looked forward to working with the Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker of the House,” said GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele. “The actions of Mr.. Williams in conspiring with Democrats to make him the Speaker and to elect a Democrat as Speaker Pro Tempore means our work continues for a governing Republican majority in the Tennessee House.
“To kick-off this effort, GOPAC is pleased to be the first contributor to the Tennessee Republican Party’s new project to elect a larger Republican majority and, in turn, the Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker of the House,” Steele said. “We urge citizens across the Volunteer State who want a conservative, common sense majority governing the State House to join us in contributing to the Tennessee Republican Party’s new project.”
“Kent Williams’ betrayal of his party through massive deception and conspiring with the leaders of the opposition, Jimmy Naifeh and Gary Odom, has energized and galvanized countless Tennesseans and Republicans across the nation who have pledged their commitment to electing a principled Republican to the Speaker’s post,” said Bill Hobbs, Communications Director for the Tennessee Republican Party. “The Tennessee Republican Party expresses its appreciation to GOPAC today for the first contribution from a national organization to that effort.
“GOPAC knows the way to defeat the corrupt politics that the Williams-Naifeh-Odom club epitomizes in Tennessee is to defeat Democrats who made this secret deal with Williams, and replace them with Republicans who deal honestly with each other and with the people of our great state,” Hobbs said.
In 2008, thanks to the support of the countless Tennesseans, Republicans won 14 non-incumbent legislative races en route to winning the first Republican majority in the legislature for the first time since the Civil War.
Rather than honor the will of the people in their historic decision to elect him and 49 other Republican candidates to the majority, Williams allowed himself to be installed by Democrats as Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives – despite making numerous promises and public statements of his intention to vote for the Republican Caucus nominee.
Tennesseans have been vocal and active in demonstrating their overwhelming disgust with Rep. Williams’ betrayal.
“It is an honor to stand with great folks and organizations committed to more than political position and power,” commented Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith. “We have already begun to recruit and support candidates committed first to principles that serve this great state. We express sincerest thanks to GOPAC and others who are investing in our efforts.”
Comments
10 Responses to “RNC Chairman Candidate Gets Involved In The Kent Williams Situation”
No is the time, East TN is the place. Where’s the DNC? For years Democrats in East TN have been unable, or unwilling, to support Democratic candidates in East Tennessee, or even submit candidates for election. Yeah, its traditionally Republican - yada yada … IF YOU DON’T PLAY, YOU CAN’T WIN.
OK, Mr. Odum and other state Dems, let’s get the DNC involved, the state party active, the local parties FUNDED, and let’s play ball … Hoard Dean’s 50-state strategy proves that if you play, and play well, you can be rewarded.
[...] Post Politics & that Kleinheider) Tags: Oh the Irony, Robin Smith, Tennessee Republican [...]
Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy????? What the fuck did Howard Dean ever do in Tennessee?
CLICK HERE for even more Republican commentary on the election of Kent Williams as speaker of the Tennessee House.
I bet that’s a Rickroll. I can’t access YouTube here.
- Matthew
Oh wow. That video just made my day.
[...] 16, 2009 by Mark Wanna-be (RNC chair) Michael Steele has set his sights on the Volunteer state, offering up a few coins to the TN Republican Party from GOPAC, paying lip service to the anger and resentment still floating around amongst TN [...]
GOPAC ought to stay the hell out of local and state politics. This will offend many people in Carter County as being intrusive. Let the people in Carter County decide.
I mean haven’t the GOPAC people screwed up enough in 2008?
So, GOPAC is trying to buy elections?
Sounds like that “Pro-English” group.
Well, considering that the TN Democrats have held serve with all 5 House districts and our Democratic governor won all 95 counties in TN back in 2006, I’d say that Dean’s strategy has made some kind of impact.
The bottom line is, you gotta choose your battles.
Bredesen’s the one who told Barack Obama not to campaign in TN.