Oops: TNDP’s New Treasurer Gave To GOP And Pinkston Spanks Chip

90 Responses to “Oops: TNDP’s New Treasurer Gave To GOP And Pinkston Spanks Chip”

1. dan writes
   February 21st, 2009 7:36 pm

   I guess Mr Braisteds source didnt text him about that little nugget.

2. TennRod writes
   February 21st, 2009 7:57 pm

   OK, let’s recap:

   Freeman gave $4100 to Corker and $500 to Harold Ford , Jr.

   Freeman gave $5000 to the Republican nominee for Governor in 2002, Van Hilleary.

   Freeman gave $5000 to the Republican nominee for Governor in 2006, Jim Bryson (you know, the one who didn’t win a single county).

   Freeman gave $1000 to Bill Frist’s PAC — the one that worked to defeat Democratic candidates.

   Freeman gave $10,000 to the RNC.

   And now he is the Treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

   If there is a single Democrat in Tennessee who is not pissed off, outraged and generally disgusted with this, please let us know who you are.

   Freeman should resign (if he has any shred of decency) or be fired (if he doesn’t). And Chip Forrester should be facing the same choice.

3. Mike Samoose writes
   February 21st, 2009 7:57 pm

   “Chipster” the gift that keeps on giving. Robin might want to put this clown on the payroll. The “Chipster” is a one man wrecking ball. Speaking of wrecking balls I wonder how the grecian formula representative from Nashville is holding up with these latest developments?

4. Heatseeker writes
   February 21st, 2009 8:39 pm

   Man, I think I should just shut my big mouth and let this one play out on its own. Sounds like Chipper might have shot himself in both feet . . .

   With a shoulder launched rocket.

5. Mike Samose writes
   February 21st, 2009 8:47 pm

   “Monetary N $1,000.00 01/14/2009 ODOM,GARY FREEMAN,BILL” http://www.tennesseeanytime.org

   Supposing this is the same William H. Freeman referrenced earlier. What the hell is Bill Freeman doing giving Gary Odom $1,000.00 the day after the beginning of session? The 2009 session began January 13, 2009. Is that not against the law?

6. The Skipper writes
   February 21st, 2009 8:51 pm

   the chipster had been had on this one…once again showing his lack of ability to lead the tndp. anyone who has been around the last few years know that freeman hates bredesen (not to mention the guy is basically a repub)…all freeman did was take the job b/c he sees it as a slap in the face to bredesen…way to go chip, continue to slap the governor in the face(even if you didnt realize)…oh wait, nevermind, according to braisted you already have all the congressmen lined up and the party is about to be one big happy family under your amazing leadership…who needs the governor anyways.

7. Harrison writes
   February 21st, 2009 8:52 pm

   I said it on a previous thread but I’ll say it again … Chip has stepped in the biggest cowpie ever. He’s going to be wishing he could get this boomerang back.

8. The Skipper writes
   February 21st, 2009 8:58 pm

   maybe they will rename the governor’s roundtable the freeman’s table..offering it up for free is the only way they will get people to attend.

9. Southern Beale writes
   February 21st, 2009 9:20 pm

   Are we sure this is the same Bill Freeman? I just checked OpenSecrets.org and they have a completely different list of donations.

   It is a common name …

10. Southern Beale writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:25 pm

    Here’s another list from Newsmeat of Bill Freeman’s donations. They’re all to Demorats … the Bill Freeman giving to Republicans lives in Blaine, TN.

    I don’t think they are the same person.

11. Southern Beale writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:26 pm

    Errr … make that Democrats.

    No Freudian slips ….

12. Heatseeker writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:26 pm

    Hey, the Skipper asked a good question. Why didn’t Chipper drop those big meetings with the congressmen in the story? Could Braisted’s source have been completely full of shit? Nah, it was a real bona fide Democrat insider.

13. The Skipper writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:27 pm

    …yes its the same bill freeman…

14. Noodles Sarducci writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:31 pm

    Southern,

    Nice try. Discredit the story. Huh? Don’t you think THE ASSOCIATED PRESS verified its facts? We’re talking about a professional news organization, not a bunch of half-assed bloggers.

15. Southern Beale writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:32 pm

    …yes its the same bill freeman…
    

    If you are certain of that then yes, as a Democrat I’m very pissed.

    Geez, I’d be suspicious of a Republican who gave money to Van Hilleary.

16. Harrison writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:33 pm

    Chip even confirmed in the story that Freeman goes both ways.

17. Southern Beale writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:33 pm

    Geez Noodles, you’re wand a tad too tight. And no, it wouldn’t be the first time the Associated Press got a story wrong. They screw stuff up all the time.

18. Harrison writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:40 pm

    There are so many nuances to this story. It’s almost weird. Was anybody else struck by the allegation that Chip, after insulting Bredesen, tried using his name to raise money? Then got busted. Bizarre shit.

19. Heatseeker writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:46 pm

    And then there’s the fact that the best answer Chipper can provide to the question of whether or not he can unify the party is “Well, uh, next year when everybody gets serious about wanting to win some elections, they’ll hold their noses and try to work with my no good, backstabbing, backbiting, lying ass.”

    Those are words that should inspire hope in the hearts of little Chipinista across cyberspace, ain’t they?

20. The Skipper writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:50 pm

    “Was anybody else struck by the allegation that Chip, after insulting Bredesen, tried using his name to raise money?”

    maybe im mistaken here, but this sounds like more proof that chip is NOT actually talking to the governor (or probably the congressmen) like he wants people to think. if he was, i am sure that he would not have gotten called out in public for using the governors name without his permission…

    you gotta give it to the chipster though, he may not of had the cajones to continue to wear his “trademark” bowtie, but he has no problem using the name of the most powerful man in the state without his permission…

21. The Skipper writes
    February 21st, 2009 9:54 pm

    also..for all you chipinstas out there that like to call members of our congressional delegation or governor DINO’s…im waiting for you to step up and be fair, time to call the chipster and freeman out on this one…at least these other guys are not giving money to the repubs…

    yes im talking to you Sean, Ilyssa, Vibinc, Newscoma, leftwingcracker…and any others i missed (i do apologize if i left you off of this list).

    your silence is deafening…

22. Heatseeker writes
    February 21st, 2009 10:02 pm

    I join the Skipper in calling - again - for reaction from the Chipinista. This story has been out for hours. You can’t tell me those political junkies haven’t read it. Is Freeman a DINO? What does this say about Chipper’s judgment?

    Left Hand Wanker?
    vib-baby?
    benintotaldenial?

    Nothing?

23. Donna Locke writes
    February 21st, 2009 10:09 pm

    I guess I got used to this sort of thing in Georgia. We had the Republican House Whip in business with the Democratic governor, Roy Barnes, etc., etc., etc. No secret either.

24. TennRod writes
    February 21st, 2009 10:41 pm

    Yes, it’s the same Bill Freeman. Everyone knows he was a so called “Democrat for Hilleary” and that he gave these contributions to Republicans.

25. AHughes writes
    February 21st, 2009 10:55 pm

    Bill Freeman works for the Democratic Party now. What he did in the past is int he past. Maybe he had the quote unquote, “Come To Jesus” and realized that his values equaled the call of Democrats to be stewards of the constituents of Tennessee. Non the less, he is the current treasurer and he by the responsibility of his office is responsible for DEMOCRATIC VALUES and their prosperity.

    I find it hard to believe that Chip Forrester as a businessman and a person whom has been in REAL political atmospheres, (such as Chicago) would hire a person that would be detrimental to his success. That goes against the laws of rationality. But i could be wrong according to heatseeker cause i’m just a summer school and a semester away from my Masters Degree.

26. Morpheus122 writes
    February 21st, 2009 11:03 pm

    It’s obvious from your comments, AHughes that you are a person with a very good heart and you are committed to the Democratic cause. Good for you and good for all of us! But I’m afraid you’re being blindly naïve on this. Freeman gave tens of thousands of dollars to beat our candidates, including Harold Ford, Jr.

    As Hamlet said, Something is rotten in Denmark.

27. benintn writes
    February 22nd, 2009 12:44 am

    For what it’s worth, Pinkston’s boss seems to have a similar problem to Forrester when it comes to uniting and inspiring people. Bredesen might think he accomplished something by defeating Jim Bryson, but he’s forgotten that the people are the ones who put him there. I’d suggest that Pinkston find a way to get Odom, Naifeh, and Bredesen to stop sniping at each other. As far as I can tell, Forrester is the only one who’s trying to encourage everyone to get along.

28. Eleanor A writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:06 am

    For one, I don’t get the outrage. Bredesen openly campaigns for Republicans; he took money from the Frist family in 2002…(2006 records were down last I looked at the TN SOS website.) Bredesen openly mocked volunteers working for Kerry and Obama to reporters. He and Harold Ford joined the Republicans in actively promoting the anti-gay-marriage amendment back in 2006; members of the TN Congressional delegation routinely vote with the Republicans and support the Republican agenda generally.

    The only thing mildly surprising about this is that Chip Forrester would hire an outright Republican after helping trump up the charge that Rosalind Kurita should be ousted for having received Republican votes in a Dem primary. (This in a state that doesn’t register by party.) Looks like Forrester’s been caught with his pants down.

    But for real…they act like Republicans almost all the time…why is it surprising they’d hire an actual Republican? What would shock me is if Freeman *is* forced out. I think the good-old-powers that be around here assume they can get away with whatever they like, and the rank and file will sit down and take it. Hell, where else are they going to go?

    Sad. But not surprising.

29. Rick Flair! writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:21 am

    Forrester is the only one who’s trying to encourage everyone to get along.

    You mean the guy that ran a negative campaign for party chair? The guy that blamed Bredesen and the congressionals for Democratic loses in Tennessee last cycle, although Bredesen and the congressionals raised all the money and he never lifted a finger to help anyone(even though he was treasurer)? That guy. Oh, yeah, sure. That guy is a uniter alright. He’s the dog that caught the car. Now that he won and he needs Bredesen and the congressionals to raise money for him, he wants everyone to forgive and forget and get along with him. Pretty please . . .

    Eleanor, come on now. Name me one Republican candidate for whom Bredesen has openly campaigned. And taking campaign contributions from the other team is acceptable. All money is green, and you can always tout your cross-party appeal in the general election. Giving money to the other guys-money for the express purpose of beating our candidates-is a totally different matter.

    If Freeman were a private citizen, I wouldn’t be concerned. But he is now treasurer for the Tennessee Democratic Party. The fact that he gave tens of thousands of dollars to Republicans disturbs me.

30. Sharon Cobb writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:32 am

    SB-How many of these names do you recognize? Other than Donna Locke, Eleanor A., I don’t see any regulars, bloggers or commenters. Wait–Heatseeker. I don’t know him/her. But he/she is a regular commenter.
    My point being, the trolls are in full force. (Other than those mentioned) I wouldn’t waste too much time trying to have a rational conversation with any of them outside of Donna, Eleanor and Heat.

31. Sharon Cobb writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:36 am

    PS–As a responsible journalist, I’ll call the party on Monday and find out if it’s the same Freeman.

    We can speculate all we want, but there are different addresses, which doesn’t mean it is or isn’t the same person. But all of this fodder doesn’t help anyone.

    I’ll call Chip–or any of you call Chip, Monday and find out the facts.

32. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 2:09 am

    I take umbrage at those remarks. I’m as regular as they come (in commenting, that is). Meantime, feel free to call Chip. Or you can just read the story where Chip confirms that Freeman gives to Republicans on a regular basis. Why? Because he’s a “businessman.” Great. Just great. I’m sure all you grassroots people love hearing that. Face it: You got played. And the sad part is: You were warned. My, how you were warned.

33. Sharon Cobb writes
    February 22nd, 2009 3:06 am

    “You were warned. My, how you were warned.”

    I want undeniable proof, and I will verify. He may very well be the same Freeman, but what ever happened to fact checking? Some, (not all) bloggers have turned that into a thing of the past or are too eager to be first and wrong rather that second and accurate.

34. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 5:53 am

    Jesus. CHIP confirmed it! Wipe the fairy dust out of your eyes and read the story.

    Speaking of the story: It’s like an onion. The more you peel it, the more complicated it is. Upon fifth read, I’m especially fond of the part that says this Freeman guy benefits from a wealthy tax loophole that Bredesen has been trying to close. Anybody who can afford to piss away tens of thousands of dollars in GOP contributions shouldn’t be enjoying any tax loophole.

    Are you with me? Braisted? Goldeneye? Quacker? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

35. TennRod writes
    February 22nd, 2009 6:23 am

    The FEC website (www.fec.gov) will confirm or you, naive and foolish Sharon, that this is the very William Freeman of Freeman Webb who gave $4100 to Corker (and just $500 to Ford), $1250 to Lamar Alexander, $1000 to Bill Frist’s PAC, and $10,000 to the RNC. It is easy to tell the difference between him and the William Freeman of Tullahoma who is also a Republican donor. They list the home town and employer.

    The state-level contributions of $5000 each to Republican nominees for Governor in 2002 and 2006 are easy to verify as well. They were much commented on at the time, especially in 2002. That’s what THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (you know, the real, credible, longstanding news service) did before they wrote the story. Freemen won’t deny it. He can’t. It’s true.

    The question is not some tin foil hat denial of the facts (SEE: Obama birth certificate wackos). The question is: how can you justify this guy being treasurer?

    Bredesen has never campaigned for a Republican. That is a damned lie.

    Bredesen and other Democrats have accepted contributions from people who identified themselves as Republicans, it is true. To my knowledge, none of them were named treasurer of the Tennessee Republican Party.

36. TennRod writes
    February 22nd, 2009 6:32 am

    As I love this pompous “as a responsible journalist” how naive and foolish Sharon is going to confirm the facts by, what, checking the FEC site, the actual donor lists? No, she is going to call Chip about it.

    Look, there is no way to spin this. The new treasurer gave significant amounts to Republican candidates. Chip himself confirmed it and says it’s OK, because Freeman is a businessman, and giving big money to Republicans once in a while is good business after all.

    And those TDP by-laws about a party officer’s responsibility to support Democratic nominees don’t mean anything if those nominees (Ford, Bredesen, Clement) don’t like Chip.

    Wake up and smell the coffee, you idiots. Forrester and Freeman are already killing he Democratic Party. They should resign or be fired by the Executve Committee.

37. Southern Beale writes
    February 22nd, 2009 6:54 am

    Sharon is correct that facts need to be checked, and I’ll withhold judgment on Bill Freeman until I get verification.

    But as a general principle, the idea that a top officer of a state Democratic party gave substantial contributions to Republican candidates and the Republican Party, especially in the highly polarized, politicized Bush Years, is a big problem for me. Anyone who did so should not be considered for a position like treasurer. These aren’t small donations, these are big money contributions.

    “Democrats for Hilleary”? Are you kidding me? I’m not buying that.

38. The Rep. writes
    February 22nd, 2009 7:52 am

    He offered me money, but I turned it down;-)

39. Newbie writes
    February 22nd, 2009 8:10 am

    I read this blog a lot, but I have never commented before. I am just curious what all of the frequent commentors think about this. As a true Democrat (but certainly no Democratic insider), it make me very angry that the TNDP would give a leadership position to someone who plays both ways. Was there not a more qualified and deserving person for this position?

    I really enjoy reading everyone’s comments…where is Braisted or GoldenEye or Left Wing Cracker? Tell me what you guys think….I can only read so much of Heatseeker or Harrison. Where are the true Dems on this one?

40. Sharon Cobb writes
    February 22nd, 2009 8:18 am

    TenRod,
    I am not being naive or foolish. Of course I’ve been to the site. Did you not see the different addresses?

    So please, don’t be like almost everyone else ready to pounce when a journalist wants to fact check, and who has already started. It would be wrong(for me) to go with this as a story until I confirmed him as THE Freeman, and not a different one.

    The TN. blogosphere can be like a lynch mob more often than a methodical way of reporting FACTS, unless, of course, it’s an opinion piece.

    I actually think it is him. But until I have 100 percent proof, I won’t report that other than saying what I just said, which is an opinion, not fact.

    But to publicly state something as fact about a person that you can’t be 100 percent sure is wrong, beit this or anyone else.

    We only get one reputation, and it’s hard to rebuild it after a blogger makes crap up and spreads it around.

41. Sharon Cobb writes
    February 22nd, 2009 8:22 am

    And regarding voting Republican, while I’ve never done it, I know many fine Democrats who voted for Corker in the primary and then Ford in the general, in order to have a less conservative candidate on the Republican side.

42. Sharon Cobb writes
    February 22nd, 2009 8:43 am

    OOPS–PS–I need to clarify I know this is about donations and not voting, but I want to be sure it’s the same person, and not verified by someone who spins for a living.
    Also, in the name of openness, even though I have never voted Republican, I gave 10 dollars to a very good friend who is a Republican who was running for a city position in another city.

    I thought I needed to add that disclaimer in the name of complete openness.

43. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 8:48 am

    I agree with Sharon on one point: The TN blogosphere is like a lynch mob. That is, until Braisted and his ilk are robbed of their noose — by their spiritual leader Chip, no less.

44. Noodles Sarducci writes
    February 22nd, 2009 8:53 am

    I’m willing to bet that the professional journalists at THE ASSOCIATED PRESS fact-checked this before they ran it. This isn’t a blog story. This is mainstream media.

    As Harrison REPEATEDLY points out, Forrester confirms in the story that Freeman is bi-political. How did Forrester know this but Odom didn’t? Freeman was Odom’s campaign treasurer. I think Odom is lying to us again.

45. Meanwhile . . . « The Architect’s Blog writes
    February 22nd, 2009 9:02 am

    [...] 22, 2009 Over at Post Politics, there’s a storm brewing over why the new Chair of Tennessee’s Democratic Party, Chip [...]

46. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 9:06 am

    Here’s a question: How many “Chip In!” blogathons does it take to balance out Bill Freeman’s giving to the Republican Party? Sharon: If you could add that to your “research,” I know we’d all be grateful.

47. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 9:20 am

    And, Sharon, ask Chipper how much money he has raised this month. Seriously. That’s the true measure of his incompetence.

    I want to hear from Braisted. This story completely discredits his big-time Democrat insider’s claim that Chipper has meetings with four of the five Democrat congressmen set up. If that’s true, why didn’t Chipper say it in the story when asked if the congressmen were on board with him?

    Furthermore, what kind of loser party chair can’t get a sit down with congressmen for at least the first month of his term? What, Chipper, can’t even get them on the phone for 30 seconds? Hey, maybe Bill Freeman can get Marsha Blackburn to talk to you.

48. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 9:29 am

    Hey Braisted: My “sources” tell me there’s already a move afoot on the Executive Committee to oust Freeman and recall Chip. What are your sources telling you?

49. The Avenger writes
    February 22nd, 2009 9:32 am

    This is awesome! A Republican donor becomes Treasurer of the State Democrat party and you all are outraged! Oh my goodness! So, what’s the difference between this and a traitor Republican being voted Speaker of the House by himself and 49 Democrats?? Where is the bi-partisan, we should all work together love? HAHAHAHA!!! Why cant’ a bipartisan GOP guy be your treasurer if Williams can be the Speaker crowned by the Democrats?

    And known Dems on this post admit to voting in Republican primaries to get who they want on the ballot? And then you have the gonads to say we shoudn’t close the primaries because it keeps everyone from voting!!!

    Again, This is awesome!!!!!!

50. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 9:53 am

    I find it amusing that the Chipinista blogset are just totally silent on this matter. So for those of us whom the Chipinista love to hate, I offer this mutiple choice quiz:

    Are the Chipinista:

    A. Angry at Chip over this debacle?

    B. Humiliated that he’s taken advantage of them in such a public way?

    C. Mortified because they don’t know what to say upon learning that a Republican is their new state party treasurer?

    D. All of the above.

51. Ben writes
    February 22nd, 2009 10:04 am

    D.

52. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 10:19 am

    Absent having a dialogue with the Chipinista (who apparently have gone into hiding), I have a few questions that perhaps someone could answer. Did Chip know about Freeman’s Republican giving and appoint him as treasurer anyway? Or did he not even stop to check the man’s contribution history? And where is the vaunted “transition team” in all this? Aren’t they supposed to be helping Chip not make a fool of himself (at least for the first month)? Are they just sitting around brushing their hair and, as Heatseeker likes to say, clipping their overgrown toe nails? Seriously: What gives?

53. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 10:31 am

    Amen, Avenger. A-fucking-men.

    Republicans would be all over this, raising hell about that Democrat-loving Freeman and calling for his head. They stand for something, even if it means kicking the speaker of the House out of their party.

    But the Chipinista? First sign of trouble, they duck their pretty little heads back into their rabbit holes and hope the bad men will go away.

    Someone on PostPolitics last week reported that Chipper said on a political show that ethics don’t matter in politics. That all that matters is Democrats hanging on to power.

    Looks like Chipper meant what he said this time. He’ll steal an election from Rosalind Kurita because Republicans voted for her - without any evidence that she publicly courted them - but he’ll hire as his treasurer a man that gave tens of thousands of dollars to Republicans of his own free will.

    As hard as it is to believe, I think less of Chip and the Chipinista today than I did yesterday.

54. Newscoma » Blog Archive » Dear Chip Forrester writes
    February 22nd, 2009 11:06 am

    [...] A quick question for you regarding this post at Kleinheider’s abode. [...]

55. Ben writes
    February 22nd, 2009 11:30 am

    The problem I have with this Freeman plays both sides it’s just business argument is that he gave a lot more to Corker than to Ford and he didn’t give anything to Bredesen or Clement. It my view, that means he wanted Corker, Alexander, Hilleary, and Bryson to win. How can we have someone in our party leadership that has worked against us in almost every statewide race this decade?

56. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    February 22nd, 2009 11:37 am

    Well, I was out at Folk Alliance last night, and I just got here. This is an interesting development, to say the least, and I want to know more about it.

    Of course, Sharon is right about the trolls. You will notice my name on here now. I know everyone’s name on here except the gutless trolls who bash in secret, not unlike people who hide under sheets.

    When I know more about this situation, I’ll comment further.

57. The Avenger writes
    February 22nd, 2009 11:42 am

    And lets see if the Democrat left wingers have the clout to have their State Chairman let him go?

    The folks on this blog dogged the Republican right wingers for having the clout to have their State Chairman take away Speaker Williams bona fides–Reeemember?

    They howled when the GOP ‘punished” the new speaker and complained this was the death of bi-partianship and the entire state of Tennessee.

    where IS that bi-partisanship that is so necessary to improve the lives of Tennesseans they garbled about constantly because God-Fordid the Republicans had been elected the majority by the people of this state?

    I am rolling on the floor LAUGHING!!!!!

58. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 12:10 pm

    You go, Avenger. Speak truth to power.

    Wanker, are you OCD? You refuse to address Chipper’s incompetence. You refuse to address his dishonesty. You just want to carp about knowing people’s names. Look, I don’t care who any of you are. I can say with close to 100 percent certainty that we don’t know each other. That doesn’t matter.

    The substance of the argument matters. Attacking the messenger is the oldest trick in the book when you don’t have a valid response.

    You, Wanker, have been the first to call Bredesen, Cooper, Davis, and others DINO’s. Why isn’t a major Republican contributor trying to be in Democrat Party leadership a DINO?

59. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 12:46 pm

    By all means, Quacker: Blame the messenger. Face it: You dopes got played, Chip-style.

60. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:23 pm

    Radio Free Chipper? Where are you?

    Mary?

    Vib-baby?

    Braisted?

    Nothing to say?

61. Reality writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:36 pm

    Harrison asked earlier why Chip’s transition team failed so utterly to vet Freeman. A source gave me the following list of transition team members. They should answer for their failure.

    Chairman Chip Forrester
    Elisa Parker - Vice Chair
    Senator Andy Berke
    Sylvia Woods - Executive Committee Member
    Harold Woods - Executive Committee Member
     Meredith Puleo - Financial Assistant
    Vionne Williams - Office Manager
    Devin Brady - Nashville Community Organizer
    Jennifer Buck Wallace - Nashville Community Organizer
    Kathy Chambers - Nashville Community Organizer
     Benjamin Crumpler - Nashville Community Organizer
    Seannalynn Brandmeir - TN Young Dems
    Jerry Lee - TN AFL-CIO
    Giselle Roche - Nashville Community Organizer
    Addison Pate - Press Secretary for the House Caucus
     Jon Faill - Executive Committee Member
    Jerry Maynard - Executive Committee Member
    Vicky Harwell - TFDW
    Steve Turner - Voting is Priceless & Young Dems
    Justin Wilkins - Chattanooga Community Organizer

62. Eleanor A writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:39 pm

    Hmmmm. You guys don’t think making a big grant announcement at Kent Williams’ restaurant, and then appearing with him at an event in front of the press, is “campaigning”? Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. (Don’t take my word for it…believe your lyin’ eyes when you read The Tennessee Journal (vol 35, #3, 1/16/2009).

    Of course, in so doing this (and refusing to help the House Caucus campaign in 2008, and openly mocking the Dem Presidential candidate’s odds in TN to the press), he had nothing to do with the ‘08 election returns. Nope, nothing.

    Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Bredesen is wholly to blame for the moribund state of TNDP - that honor should be spread among many, most especially Naifeh and Wilder, but also the likes of the Party elders who are more interested in wielding power than in helping Tennesseans. The Party needs an overhaul, from top to bottom, and it just may get one once TN Dems lose a few more elections and finally realize an infusion of new ideas and fresh blood is needed.

    That said, Bredesen isn’t blameless. His priority is, was, and will be looking out for #1, and I personally haven’t seen a lot of evidence that he’s given any thought to what happens to the Party once he’s gone. Every Party chair since he’s been elected has been one of his fair-haired boys (and I do mean boys…we’ve only had one woman TNDP chair, ever. Which is pitiful, but it’s also a post for another day.)

    As far as taking money from Republicans? Y’all don’t think there’s a link between who pays your bills and whose legislation and ideology you’re going to support as an elected official? I’m sorry, I really find that funny. I don’t have time to break down all of Breddy’s numbers right now, but I’d bet dollars to donuts the vast majority of his funding is from health care lobbyists and other moneyed interests who aren’t exactly going to hew to traditional Democratic ideology.

    (Thanks for the kind words, Sharon, but I don’t think I’m any more a legitimate commenter than anyone else. I’m just a pissed-off Tennessean who’s tired of ineffective, ineffectual, insular government that ignores the needs of average folks.)

63. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:50 pm

    Great. If Bredesen hadn’t helped Williams campaign, then that means your majority leader Jerry Odom wouldn’t have been able to get him elected speaker (as Odom claims to have done). Which means Jason Mumpower would be speaker. By the way: Did Kent Williams even have a Democratic opponent? I think the answer is, “no.” Eleanor: If I were you, I’d be kissing Bredesen’s fair-haired ass.

64. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 1:59 pm

    Yeah, where was this vaunted transition team in the vetting process? Out playing grabass in the school yard? Didn’t any of them know Freeman is a major Republican contributor?

65. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 2:20 pm

    The amazing thing about Eleanor is: She wants to use Bredesen as a foil to explain and forgive Freeman — but then she spends all her time whining about how bad she thinks Bredesen is (despite the fact that the examples she uses are absurd, inaccurate, or irrelevant). Which is it, E: Don’t like Bredesen and want him out of the party? Or don’t like Bredesen but want to keep him in the party and use him as the excuse for not dethroning Chip and Freeman?

66. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 3:30 pm

    Typical Chipinista communication strategy, Harrison. Make things up. Distort facts. Change the subject. Attack the messenger. Or, apparently, go completely silence when reality is just too scary.

67. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    February 22nd, 2009 4:38 pm

    Look, trolls, if we wanted Republicans, we’d vote for them. Bredesen has been the most Republican governor since Alexander, he’s made McWherter look Marxist by comparison.

    As for Forrester, I want to hear more from him on this.

    If he pisses you people off to this extent, he must be doing a better job than I thought.

68. Ru Paul writes
    February 22nd, 2009 4:39 pm

    Don’tcha know li’l Chip luved that spanking from big ol’ Pinkston.

    Oooo, gurl, you is nasty.

69. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 4:50 pm

    Wanker,

    Morally and intellectually, you are a jellyfish. Gordon, Davis, Cooper, Tanner, and Bredesen are DINO’s, but Chip makes a major Republican contributor a leader of your party, and you think that’s fine.

    How pathetic. Well, you keep waiting for divine inspiration from your lord and master, Chipper Forrester.

70. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 4:56 pm

    Look Steve (if that’s your real name): The problem with you is that you can’t think for yourself. You sit there waiting for Chip to come from his mountaintop roost on high so he can impart to you his version of the facts, rather than accept the objective reporting of the world’s largest news organization. Do Democrats a favor: Think for yourself. For once.

71. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    February 22nd, 2009 5:37 pm

    You don’t know me, yet you talk a lot. You say you’ve done a lot, yet we don’t know who you are, so why should we believe you?

    As for Forrester, I’ve met him one time, and I thought he would take the Party in the right direction. Given he’s only been in office a month, there’s still time.

    I liked Bone, he seemed a good enough sort, I could have gotten behind him had he won.

    The mere fact that a few of you (or, more likely, one posting under assorted pseudonyms), cannot let this go says to me that you have serious problems, or that you have lost power or money with the election of Forrester, or you wouldn’t bitch so unrelentingly.

    Time will tell if this is a screw-up or not. You, on the other hand, cannot speak rationally on teh subject.

    I know this much, let this drop and maybe a more reasoned overview can take place. Keep fighting like this, however, and I will fight alongside Forrester for as long as it takes to change the culture of this party in this state.

    Now, I’m done with you.

72. Mike Samoose writes
    February 22nd, 2009 5:43 pm

    “Now, I’m done with you”

    Anybody want to bet how long that lasts?

73. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 5:46 pm

    “Time will tell if this is a screw-up or not.”

    Hello? Quacker? Chip appointed a Republican as treasurer of your party. Someone who financed GOP candidates against Democrats running for statewide office. Someone who gave to Republican PACs and even the RNC — organizations dedicated to beating Democrats.

    I got news for you: Time called. He said you’re a dope for getting played by Chip.

74. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 6:26 pm

    There goes your OCD again, Wanker. That’s the only thing that explains this paranoid delusion that all critics of Chipper are one person. See your doctor lately?

    You are a hypocrite, Wanker. How can you, of all people, believe that it’s kosher for Chipper to hire Republicans for leadership positions in your party? You are also brainwashed. What? Can’t think for yourself? Got to wait for Chipper to tell you what to think? Is Chipper the second coming of Jim Jones or what?

    Fight on, Wanker. If you’re the best soldier Chipper can find, Bill Haslam can start picking out his rug for the governor’s office.

75. TennRod writes
    February 22nd, 2009 8:13 pm

    The Federal Election Commission website clearly lists Freeman’s contributions to Republicans, just as reported by the Associated Press, the world’s largest professional news organization. Forrester himself confirms it.

    You can look at the site yourself.

    Sharon, what exactly do you need to have confirmed? That you are in simpleminded denial? Are you a better source than the FEC or AP?

    Come on. Get real.

76. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 9:24 pm

    Where are all those Democrats that railed against Kurita? You listening, Wanker. “Oh, she voted for a Republican. She’s gotta go!” But it’s acceptable to contribute big money to defeat Democrat candidates? Say what?

77. Ana Garcia writes
    February 22nd, 2009 10:00 pm

    I’m depressed. The Republicans are already making fun of us. What’s next? Tax problems with Chip?

78. Donna Locke writes
    February 22nd, 2009 10:21 pm

    I’m not gonna look it up, but I’m wondering about Freeman’s fairly recent total contributions to Democrats state and national. It really isn’t terribly unusual for business people to cover all bases, if they have the means. Kinda suspicious though, given the amounts. That’s why I was wondering about the totals given to Democrats. But heck, I think they ought to keep Freeman on. He may be the only there with a clue. Seriously.

79. Harrison writes
    February 22nd, 2009 10:40 pm

    Perfect. So Freeman has not one but two Republican endorsements. Now if only Hobbs would chime in, we could go for the trifecta.

80. Donna Locke writes
    February 22nd, 2009 11:11 pm

    Well, consider this scenario: Let’s say I leaned a certain way but had the bucks to influence the other side (a side might be useful to me in certain ways as well) … what would I do?…

81. Heatseeker writes
    February 22nd, 2009 11:29 pm

    So you’re saying that Freeman is a Republican plant, Donna? Hmmm, interesting thought.

82. Donna Locke writes
    February 22nd, 2009 11:58 pm

    I’m saying the opposite is possible, that he may be a Democrat — of sorts; of the sort that has existed in this state — and tries to have influence over the Republicans, the most business-friendly Republicans, via donations, and tries to “moderate” certain types of Republican influence perhaps.

83. Harrison writes
    February 23rd, 2009 12:12 am

    This cryptic talk is giving me a headache.

84. Eleanor A writes
    February 23rd, 2009 12:12 am

    Harrison: Not that I owe you an explanation, but I’m no fan of Bredesen, Freeman or Forrester. Where’d you get the idea I’m a Dem loyalist? I think the whole lot of ‘em should be taken to the woodshed, personally.

85. Heatseeker writes
    February 23rd, 2009 12:16 am

    Problem is, Donna, those people don’t usually go for leadership positions in either state party. If you’re just trying to play both sides, why would you? It’s one thing to be a Democrat. It’s another thing to be treasurer of the state Democrat Party.

    I think the other way is more likely. Could Freeman be a Tennessee Republican Party plant? Or Robin Smith and Bill Hobbs that smart?

86. Donna Locke writes
    February 23rd, 2009 12:22 am

    I like many of the Democrats, and I totally get what the Democratic women in my county are doing in terms of women’s issues, etc., but, like the GOP, the Democrats are factionalized. And, the Democrats have done run me off, baby. With their behavior.

    I gotta quit — I can barely keep my eyes open here and I have a chapter to revise before sleep. I’d just like to say I wish we would all get together on some things that really matter.

87. Sharon Cobb writes
    February 23rd, 2009 1:31 am

    TennRod-
    Did you not notice the different addresses for Freeman? I want to verify the one who is donating to the Republicans is the TNDP Freeman…or not.

    IF that is verified, then I will be upset, to say the least. There’s a good chance it is him, but a good chance is not 100 percent, and until I know that the Freeman who donated to the Republicans on the FEC site is the same one working for the TNDP, I cant report that.

    I will be happy (sad) to report it once I verify it.

    Ans whoever was dissing Steve Steffens, please stop. He’s a fine man who is very active in party politics in Memphis, and is one of the better progressive bloggers.

    Those of you who insist on acting like high school kids and all the name calling only make the real bloggers and/or journalists on both sides look bad.

    Grow up.

88. Bill Freeman Donated to Minnesota Candidate With Really Goofy Name » LIBERADIO(!) writes
    February 23rd, 2009 7:02 am

    [...] - and by everyone I mean all the internets trolls over at Post Politics - are in a tizzy over the campaign contribution history of the new treasurer of the Tennessee [...]

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90. Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Gave Extensively To Republicans : Post Politics: Political News and Views in Tennessee writes
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