A New Role For Hobbs At TNGOP
Posted on June 4, 2009 at 3:27 pm
As of today, Bill Hobbs is no longer the Communications Director at the Tennessee Republican Party new party chairman Chris Devaney tells Post Politics.
Hobbs is not through with the party, however. He will be staying on with the party in a consulting role at least through the transition.
All other current employees will continue to serve in their current roles as the new chairman and his volunteer transition director Dean Rice continue to re-examine and reassess the organization of the Party.
Devaney, in a conversation with Post Politics, made clear that this is not a dismissal and that Hobbs will continue to work with the party.
“Bill Hobbs and I have a good working relationship and he will be continuing to help us as we work through our transition,” said Devaney.
Asked if this new relationship between Hobbs and the party has definite end date, Devaney said it was a personnel issue that he would not discuss in detail.
“What we are trying to do is build the best professional political and fund-raising team we can as we move towards victory in 2010,” explained Devaney. “Bill will continue to help us in pursuit of that goal.”
Hobbs tenure as Communications Director was not without controversy.
In February of last year, the TNGOP sent out a controversial press released entitled Anti-Semites for Obama in which the now President was referred to by all three of his names accompanied by a photograph of Obama wearing native Somali garb.
Both of Tennessee Senators as well as national Republican leaders denounced the release.
Later that year, the TNGOP took fire for a YouTube video produced by the party questioning the now First Lady’s pride of her country.
President Obama went on Good Morning America the next day and told the TNGOP to “lay off” his wife. Sen. Corker and others asked that the video to be removed.
Hobbs has been the Tennessee Republican Party’s Communication Director since October 2007. Prior to that he worked as a media relations specialist and blogging coach at Belmont University from January 2003 through April 2006.
Hobbs has also worked as a journalist with several news organizations including the Tennessean.
Hobbs lives with his wife and children just outside of Nashville. Hobbs could not be reached at the time of this posting.
UPDATE 5:14PM — Bill Hobbs comments on his new role:
“The Tennessee Republican party won a historic victory in the November 2008 election, against incredible odds. History has shown that successful revolutions often need new leaders and new strategies to sustain their victories, and Chairman Devaney is - with great energy and focus - moving rapidly to make the changes necessary so that the Tennessee Republican Party can hold and expand on the legislative majority we won in 2008.
The party made great strides in the use of the Internet in the last two years, but that’s just the foundation and a small piece of what is possible, and I look forward to helping Chairman Devaney and the party build on that foundation.
I also look forward to providing my experience and expertise in communications and new media to other political organizations, candidates and corporate clients.”
Comments
36 Responses to “A New Role For Hobbs At TNGOP”
Personally, I think this is a mistake. You can say a lot of things about Hobbsie, and I’ve said most of them, but I would never call him ineffective.
He fired up the base and moved the message in his direction, which is what a Communications Director is supposed to do.
They will regret this; as a Democratic partisan, I am relieved that he is gone.
Devaney, in a conversation with Post Politics, made clear that this is not a dismissal and that Hobbs will continue to work with the party.
“Bill Hobbs and I have a good working relationship and he will be continuing to help us as we work through our transition,” said Devaney.
What’s that line about lipstick on a pig?
Maybe the Palin/Plumber 2012 ticket has an opening for a nationally recognized communications guy?
But seriously, I agree with LWC.
“Proudly lowering the level of political discourse in Tennessee”
Did someone actually answer the question, “Is it worth destroying your state just to win elections?”
It has been suggested in other circles that his next stop is Chattanooga to work on a certain Congressional campaign, whaddaya think?
I think the TNGOP will be like the rest of the GOP, an astronaut who has left the spaceship and is drifting away on a tether that threatens to snap at any moment.
The TNGOP has a fair chance of taking the governorship next time, but the way things are shaping up, including the changes under Devaney and friends, the GOP may well lose some seats in the legislature and find themselves out to pasture with the other elephants down at Hohenwald.
It’s a return of the old Guard, to be sure..
Hobbs “moved the message in his direction”? I don’t buy that. He got his own name in the press more often than he did the name of any GOP candidate. Other than being bashed as a gaggle of nitwits, TNGOP disappeared from the mainstream media under Hobbs.
Hobbs had no impact on elections, which is the only reason that political parties exist. The GOP elected officials in Tennessee obviously believe he’s a liability.
Eh, he’ll land on his feet.
Love him or hate him, he pushed the buttons and he got it done. The ‘08 GOP Victory was a team effort and Bill was apart of that team.
I think results speak for themselves. Who seriously thought the Republicans would win the majority in the State House in 2008? I know the Democrats sure didn’t think it would happen. Hobbs played a big role in that Republican success despite the national tide towards the Democrats.
This is true, JB. Whatever one thinks of Hobbs, there can be no denying he is a fount of knowledge in detail that he can call up and organize clearly in an instant. And, as one of the pioneers, he truly gets the new media.
A-HA! he’s going to be a CONSULTANT now….
Come on, be real. Hobbs didn’t play “a big role” in any election. What exactly do you think that he did?
Scooter McRae: pick a less idiotic fake name. You are well recognized as one of the trolls that interject your lame and ill informed thoughts at every turn, and then do multiple posts under different names.
Now, on to Hobbs. He did a lot during the elections, he kept a glove in the faces of Democrats, and idiots like “scooter mcdouche” are just mad that Hobbs got results. He wasn’t always rational, but Hobbs never lost sight of his goal, and that was his job. I may not agree with him, but I respect him. I wish him all the best.
The grassroots recognizes and truly appreciates all the hard work and effort of Bill Hobbs. When a man does a job because he believes in it instead of what he can get out of it, it always shows.
Um, Terry, he WAS getting paid, I believe. He might well believe in the cause, but he wasn’t volunteering.
She didn’t say he was Stevie. He had the double bonus of being paid to do something he loved doing anyway.
And Scooter, LWC and Randy Neal aren’t really relieved he’s gone. Hobbs was an easy peg for them to hang all manner of distractions from whenever he sent out a message for the party. Some bland partybot will likely replace him and then the Democrats will actually have to respond to just the messages the Republicans send out.
[...] original here: A New Role For Hobbs At TNGOP : Post Politics: Political News and … This entry is filed under Communications. You can follow any responses to this entry through the [...]
Hobbs did an amazing job, and as a democrat, I’m relieved. He knew how to spin with the best of them, and he knew how to utilize new media and did so so effectively, he pissed off the President. That’s pretty big.
Just a sidebar, in 2005 when Hobbs and I put together political lunches for bloggers, (he invited the right, I invited the left) candidates from both sides met with us ON the record and answered questions from all the bloggers. We were able to inform our readers from the horses mouth–not just our opinion–and that is what is sadly lacking in the TN. blogosphere–it’s all about “Me me me” instead about the issues and who is taking what position and all bloggers having access to them. When Bill and I did the lunches, all bloggers had access to candidates.
But that was back when it wasn’t about a couple of people who think they run the blogosphere, but about the issues and stories.
He added a lot to the credibility to online journalism–back before it was “cool” and he deserves to be recognized for that as well.
And on a personal note, when I had my hysterectomy, unlike any lefty bloggers offering to help, Bill and his wife were the first to email me with offers to help.
Even though I haven’t seen him in a few years, I could call him today and say I need help and he’d be there, because that’s a side you didn’t know about him because he didn’t talk about it, but that’s him, too.
Good luck, Bill. While politically I’ll stab you in the back,(and of course you’d do the same to me) personally, I’ve got your back.
Hugs and best to Mary.
Its like the GOP wants to lose.
Hobbs has a higher profile and more name recognition then most of the elected RINOs.
[...] Its like the GOP wants to lose. Hobbs has a higher profile and more name… [...]
[...] Its like the GOP wants to lose. Hobbs has a higher profile and more name… [...]
[...] William Howard Hobbs is out as communication director of the TNGOP, which quite frankly surprises me… There are many times that I would scratch my head, roll my eyes, shake my fist to the sky and sigh deeply with some of his antics, but no one can say that the man wasn’t stealth with his pressers. Jackson Baker, however, was not surprised at all. [...]
[...] Its like the GOP wants to lose. Hobbs has a higher profile and more name… [...]
“elected RINOs”
What is this even supposed to mean? Don’t you realize that the point of a political party (a real political party, not a crackpot one like the Constitutional Party) is to govern, and that means having elected officials? Without your “elected RINOs,” the Republican Party would be a collection of marginal, powerless nutjobs.
What will Hobbs be “consulting” on: racist voter turnout, hate speech 101, or craven divisiveness?
Where are those who complained about Bill using Ubama’s middle name”? If it was bad before the election why is it OK for him to do so now?
And one wonders if his bride remains proud to be an American after hetels the world its troubles are our fault.
Face it, the Squishies have taken over TNGOP. Screw principles. Before we know it, they’ll be having sleepovers with Chairgimp Chipper and the Chipinista. White wine spritzers and arugula for everyone!
How long before Corker, Haslam, and Devaney rehabilitate Don Sundquist and roll him out for the Statesmen’s Dinner.
Meet the new boss, Tennessee Republicans. Same as the old boss.
[...] Corker’s people come on board and Hobbs is out. [...]
I love all the GOPasaurs stealing a rhetorical device from the Vietnam War in describing Hobbs’ tenure at TNGOP:
“It was necessary to destroy the village in order to save it.”
Don’t worry, right-wingers, you can always unite behind Ron Paul.
Thank you, Sharon, for those kind remarks. My wife’s name is Anna, though.
Come on, Hobbsie. Admit it. The Squishies have taken over TNGOP. Go along to get along is the order of the day.
This breaks my itty-bitty heart. Hobbs did more for Democrats than a gazillion dollars in contributions. His rampant racism and penchant for lies embarrassed even most Republicans. It took a lot of steam out of the right-of-center sensible folks. They may not vote Democratic, but they won’t be turning out for the party of nutcases that Hobbs portrayed.
Devaney, as reported, indicates he won’t have a communications director. As a former reporter and press operations guy, he may feel he can handle the job himself.
LOL! The Squishies never really lost control of the GOP. Name a true conservative who has gotten elected to a statewide post? Ed Bryant? Nope. Van Hilleary? Close but no cigar. It went to millionaire Bredesen instead. Just like Alexander and Corker, and soon-to-be Governor Haslam. The righties have tried and tried, but to no avail They do have Ramsey in the state senate, but still no Mumpower. The country club GOP still really runs this party; so they let Robin Smith and Hobbs take the ol’ car out for a spin, but make no mistake who the keys belong to.
[...] may have left her little buddy Bill Hobbs behind in Nashville so she can run for Congress, but she’s still bringing the crazy [...]