You Took The Scalp, Don’t Be Afraid To Claim It
Posted on June 17, 2009 at 12:53 pmRoger Abramson talks directly to those that drove the Sherri Goforth story:
We’ve been here before. Remember Bill Hobbs back in 2006? A big deal was made in the press about that goofy Muslim cartoon he put on the Internet, his employer (Belmont University) was mentioned in the articles (even though Belmont had nothing to do with that cartoon), putting Belmont in a position where it really had no choice but to save face publicly by giving Hobbs the heave-ho. I remember talking to some folks in the local press back then and getting this general reaction: “Well, that’s silly. They shouldn’t fire him.” As though the press accounts somehow had nothing to do with it; as though Belmont was just sitting around and just up and arbitrarily decided to can him. It’s like someone shooting a guy in the head and being surprised that they fall over dead. “Well, I’ll be damned. He died just like that. Huh. Never saw that coming.”
The probable outcome of this episode will be the termination (one way or the other) of Sherri Goforth. So, don’t act surprised. And don’t act like you had nothing to do with it. Own it. Hell, be proud of it, the “greater good” and all of that.
A Man’s Got To Have A Code
Posted on June 16, 2009 at 3:35 pmI mean, don’t get it twisted I do some dirt, too, but I ain’t never put my gun on nobody who wasn’t in the game.
~ Omar Devon Little
I’ve been getting many inquiries and much static, from just about all quarters, for my handling of the Sherri Goforth story. I’ve gotten emails. I’ve gotten phone calls. And, clearly, more than a few blog comments asking me just why exactly “The Story” didn’t show up on Post Politics until after business hours yesterday when it had been the buzz of the blogosphere for hours and hours.
Was it because I was in the pocket of the Republicans? Was because I was covering for a “fellow racist”? Was I jealous because the Scene got to it before me? Was the rumor true that I had the email weeks ago and failed to post on it?
First of all, I don’t make a lot of distinction personally between “new” and “old” media, professional and amateur journalism in this area. I try to be very conscientious about noting where I come across the links, news and commentary posted here and I don’t much care who the source is. If it is a blogger, I link. If it is the Tennessean, I link.
This story was broken by Trace Sharp where I saw the story early in the morning. The distinction belongs to her and her alone.
If I were to be “jealous” of anyone it would be her because she was first. She is a serious blogger and a journalist. The Scene or any subsequent outlet who picked up on it would not affect my “editorial” judgment, as it were.
It’s actually a silly accusation because while you will find original journalism on this blog most of what I do here is aggregation. I post stories from the Scene, the Tennessean, just about everywhere. This wasn’t about the source or the competition, this was about the content. It was about the story itself.
I didn’t believe it was one.
I still don’t.
Post Politics received the email in question on June 1, 2009. It was forwarded to me just, as I imagine, it was to Trace Sharp. I made some inquiries into the matter. I ultimately decided not to run with it.
Why? It’s quite simple really. Sherri Goforth is a civilian.
She is not a blogger. She is not a politician. She is not an operative. She is, essentially, a secretary. A secretary in the legislature for 20 years.
Now the email she sent was indefensible. I don’t defend it. I will not defend it. It is authentically racist — and I’m not even one who likes to throw that word around.
In my inquiries I found that Goforth had forwarded an email which was immediately recalled and deleted. Goforth was reprimanded and a letter was placed in her file. The email was, and I did look into this as well, the only email of this nature that Goforth had sent that anyone, my original source as well as others, could produce. There was no pattern of racist behavior in the workplace I could find and sanctions had already been taken against her.
Now, I’m not unfamiliar with how these things work. Had I gone with the story, what has now happened, would have happened. A career state employee would have her name on CNN and the AP wire. Calls for her termination would commence from people with an ax to grind and a political agenda to advance. She would in all likelihood be fired or asked to resign, if not immediately then after session was over.
Now, I have put people’s mess in the street before — Republicans and Democrats. But as far as I can remember, it has always been politicians, operatives and bloggers that I have pulled the trigger on. Have I linked to media reports which mentioned regular citizens by name before? Probably.
But, frankly, after making inquiries and coming to the conclusion that I did, I just didn’t feel like piling on yesterday. Was that a mistake? According to many of you who value this website, it was. I understand that.
This blog, after all, is an amalgamation of the news, chatter and commentary going on in Tennessee politics. Yesterday, today and likely for the rest of this week, Sherri Goforth is “The Big Thing.”
Everyone was and will be talking about it. Regardless of my personal feelings about pulling the trigger initially, was it my job to ride to the sound of guns once the game was on?
I don’t know. If it was, it was a part of my job that I didn’t like, and like many employees I elected to put it off until it could no longer be put off. As Trace Sharpe herself likes to say, I’ll own that.
Now anyone who knows me knows that pageviews are more dear to me than anything. I have little love for either ideologies or political parties. But if I did, those loves would never trump that which I have for web traffic. It’s what has kept me employed for as long as I have doing something I truly love.
I would never, not for one second, sacrifice pageviews to defend a political party. I sacrificed them because I didn’t believe the story was news.
I sacrificed them because Sherri Goforth is a working woman. She has not put herself up for office, she is not crafting messages or legislation. She is not a political operator.
If some of the folks who received the email had sent it rather than received it, it would have been different. But that wasn’t the case.
The legislature is not Congress. Not everyone who works there is working on bills, legislation and other “Real Important Business.” Some folks who work there are just glorified secretaries. That is what Sherri Goforth is, no offense intended. All this hullabaloo, in the final analysis, is over a secretary who forwarded an email from one of her white trash friends. That’s what this is. That’s all this is.
Yes, her email does fit superficially into an ongoing narrative of the TNGOP as an organization right around the edge (which side of the line is a matter of opinion) of the line of racial propriety. As such, I see how it could be interpreted as news. But that’s not the reality.
Sherri Goforth is not Chip Saltsman. She is not Bill Hobbs. She is not Robin Smith. She ain’t even Scott Gilmer. She’s not a player in game. In my mind, it would be akin to an infantryman shooting a enemy army cook in the back of the head.
I had the ammo, I took aim, but I viewed my potential victim as a civilian and I held my fire. That’s what happened.
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.”
Devaney Wins: The Official TNGOP Press Release
Posted on May 30, 2009 at 3:31 pmFrom the desk of TNGOP Communications Director Bill Hobbs:
NASHVILLE, TN - The State Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party elected a new party chairman Saturday, selecting Chris Devaney, U.S. Sen. Bob Corkers state director and a former executive director for the Tennessee Republican Party.
Devaney becomes chairman immediately, replacing outgoing Chairman Robin Smith, who served as the party chairman for 22 months and led the party to a historic victory in the November 2008 elections.
The election of 2010 is the most important for our state in generations, Devaney said, and we will be focused on building our majority in the General Assembly and electing a Republican governor.
In the worst political climate for Republicans in decades - in a year that would see Republicans lose the White House, lose both houses of Congress, lose 100 state legislative seats across the country, and lose the majority in three state legislatures to the Democrats - Chairman Smith lead the Tennessee Republican Party to winning a majority in both houses of the state legislature for the first time since the elections of 1868.
In remarks to the committee before the vote, Smith stressed that there is work left to be done keeping the Republican majority in the legislature, and electing a Republican governor in 2010 - and that the party must never stray from its principles.
“I love working with the grass roots,” said Smith, pledging to remain a Republican activist even after she leaves the chairmanship.
The Republican victories of 2008 ushered in a new era in Tennessee governance. Not only do Republicans have a majority in the state House and state Senate, for the first time the party also holds the state’s three constitutional officer seats and have a majority on all 95 county election commissions and the State Election Commission.
SEE ALSO: Devaney is the new TNGOP chairman.
Hobbs Looking To Stay Put At TNGOP
Posted on May 17, 2009 at 1:52 pmIn case you were pondering, TNGOP Communication Director Bill Hobbs has no plans to follow his boss, TNGOP chair Robin Smith, out the door and work on her all but announced run for Congress — at least not initially:
“I have been blessed to work for the most successful chairman in the history of the Tennessee Republican Party and I look forward to working for the next chairman to help build on the party’s successes.”
Okay, That’s Random
Posted on April 26, 2009 at 5:34 pmFrom the Tennessee Democratic Party’s Twitter feed:
Say what you’d like about Al Gore. But Bill Hobbs will not EVER win a Nobel Peace Prize, esp. not for his cartoons.
Is The TNDP Managing Their Public Relations Properly?
Posted on April 24, 2009 at 8:43 amThe view from a blogger and newspaperwoman:
The TNDP is not controlling their story. They just aren’t and that is why that Bill Hobbs and Co. are winning in this state in a time of technology and instant communication. Something happens, they have a statement out.
They are in front of the story.
When yesterday’s story broke regarding the reorganization of the TNDP, there should have been a press release immediately. Chip Forrester doesn’t have a Bill Hobbs, and he spoke via conference call roughly five hours after the rumors hit Post Politics. Several bloggers and a few journalists where on that conference call from what I was told by one who participated.By then, it was too late for some folks who wanted immediate answers.
Shock And Appall
Posted on February 18, 2009 at 8:56 pmTNGOP spokesman Bill Hobbs on the news that Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh will have the benefit of two assistants:
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Republican Party is appalled to learn from news reports that former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh has been assigned two assistants at a time when the state is facing huge deficits and many lawmakers are having to share a single secretary.
“Jimmy Naifeh is no longer the speaker and there is no reason he should have two secretaries and assistants at a time many lawmakers are having to share just one assistant, and the state is facing a severe budget crunch,” said Bill Hobbs, communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party.
Why Kick Him Out?
Posted on January 26, 2009 at 11:25 pmWhile the Tennessee Republican Party has not yet taken the action against Speaker Kent Williams many expect them to, Rep. Stacey Campfield and others are patiently waiting for the inevitable. They wait for the day that the state party takes away Kent Williams’ ability to appear as a Republican on a Tennessee ballot.
My question is why? Why would a Republican who wants desperately to witness the end of Williams’ political career want the TNGOP to throw him out? Williams may be just a sophomore representative but one needs to be careful when describing him as a political lightweight.
In 2006, Kent Williams unseated an incumbent legislator, Jerome Cochran, to gain his seat in the legislature. Two years later, the same man challenged him again with support from members of the house caucus and again he emerged victorious. And say what you want about how he got there, the man is Speaker of the House. It is a powerful position and one that will allow him, tight budget times or not, to help the people of his district.
Speaking of his district, Carter County is not exactly a haven for liberalism. You don’t run as a Democrat in Carter County. Not if you expect to win anyway. East Tennessee is Republican country, hill country. If the Republicans throw him out, Williams will be able to play the martyr. He will be able to say that he didn’t leave the party but that the party left him.
East Tennesseans are Republicans but they are also independent minded. If the party shuns him he can fashion a narrative as the independent Republican that got thrown out by an overzealous, hyper-ideological party.
If they leave him as a party member, however, that’s when things truly get tricky politically for Kent Williams.
You see, while it may offend the sensibilities of party members, the best way to get rid of Williams is to leave him be. Williams can’t win a Republican primary. He has to run as an Independent. He doesn’t have a choice. He’s not trying to go out like Kurita. So in two years, in 2010, Kent Williams will file for reelection as an independent. He will no longer be a Republican.
So why make it easy for him? Why not force him to leave? Then, not only is he the rogue legislator who colluded with Democrats to make himself speaker, he is the ungrateful Judas, a man who refused the outstretched hand of a forgiving party.
It’s a no brainer. It may be hard. It may be distasteful. But if Republicans really want to hurt Kent Williams politically, they should leave him as one of them.
SEE ALSO: Brainstem
Might Wanna Go Ahead And Take That Household Off Your List
Posted on January 19, 2009 at 8:12 amVia the Kingsport Times:
Williams confirmed an e-mail, circulated by his daughter-in-law, describes a phone call to his elderly parents’ home. The caller was identified as a representative of the state Republican party and told Williams’ parents that “they were raising money to boot Kent out in 2010.”
“My mother is almost 80 years old and not healthy at all. … Her response was ‘I don’t think I’ll be sending you any money,’” Williams said of the phone call. “To me it looks like an opportunity to take advantage of a situation because a lot of Republicans are mad. When you’re mad, (you’ll say) yeah, here’s you a hundred bucks to get that guy out of there.”
TRP Communications Director Bill Hobbs said in an e-mail that no one from the party has called to “harass” Williams’ parents.
(TFJ: R. Neal)
permalink | Comment on this post
There Are Two “I”s In Kent Williams But No “R”s
Posted on January 13, 2009 at 7:49 pmAnd the TNGOP will be making sure there are none after the name either:
State Rep. Kent Williams’ tenure as a self-proclaimed Republican Speaker is likely to be very short-lived, as a challenge to his status as a bona fide Republican is already moving forward at a fast pace.
Eighteen members of the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee have signed a written document, presented tonight to Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith, challenging the “bona fide” status of Rep. Kent Williams as a Republican.
The action, which triggers a review under Party bylaws, comes after Williams broke his signed oath (and multiple verbal promises reported in various media and made to various Republican lawmakers and party officials even as recently as Tuesday morning) to vote for the House Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker, Rep. Jason Mumpower.
“Williams put personal ambition ahead of honor and lied his way into the Speaker’s chair,” said Bill Hobbs, Communications Director for the Tennessee Republican Party. “Elected by Republican voters in the historic 2008 elections that saw Republicans win a majority of House seats for the first time since 1868, Rep. Williams chose to betray his party and his constituents. Party bylaws – which Williams was aware of - provide a clear and straightforward process for the challenge to Williams’ status as a bona fide Republican as a result of his actions today. We expect the process will move quickly.”
If Williams is stripped of his status as a member of the Republican Party, he will not be permitted to run on the Republican ballot in 2010.
Upon entering a reception these evening, committee members presented their challenges pursuant to the Tennessee Republican Party Bylaws. “Action will begin immediately to address the actions of Rep. Kent Williams,” responded Robin Smith, TN Republican Party Chairman. “His commitment today was not to Republican Principles, but to the blind and shameless pursuit of personal power. He cast his vote for a Pro-Tax, Pro-Gay, Pro-Abortion, Anti-Gun Liberal Democrat to preside in leadership against all 49 of his Republican colleagues.”
“This challenge will move swiftly to honor the character and integrity of the 49 members of the Republican House Caucus who stand committed to the Republican principles and the voters who support them. Acting like Ronald Reagan in Carter County but Jimmy Carter in the Capitol has resulted in an official challenge of Mr. Williams’s status as a Party member,” Smith said. “I look forward to the work ahead with our state leadership to strengthen our party, grow our party and honor the wishes of Tennesseans by electing a true Republican as Speaker of the Tennessee House.”
“If Rep. Williams is stripped of his membership in the Republican Party in a process in accordance with the bylaws of the Tennessee Republican Party, the Party will insist that Speaker Williams no longer be referred to in media accounts or state government websites as a Republican,” Hobbs said.
SEE ALSO:
Chris Sanders
The Drew Johnson Amendment
Posted on December 17, 2008 at 2:10 pmThe Office of Open Records Counsel met today with its advisory committee to help shape policy to deal with folks who make frequent and multiple requests for public records:
Under the policy, records custodians may assess a fee for any labor reasonably necessary to produce the request after one hour. Requests for items that are routinely released and readily accessible, such as agendas or minutes, are exempt from the policy.
permalink | Comment on this post
Just Another Victim
Posted on October 28, 2008 at 11:20 amSteve Benan on the Tennessee Republican Party’s press release of yesterday that put a thwarted attempt to kill black Americans and assassinate a presidential candidate beside an overenthusiastic Democrat hanging Sarah Palin in effigy.
There’s an odd tendency in some far-right circles for conservatives to feel like they’re victims of some kind of persecution. The problem with this bizarre complex, though, is that a) it’s absurd; and b) it leads to ridiculous comparisons like this one from the Tennessee Republican Party. The statement seems to argue, “Sure, white supremacists planned a killing spree, but everyone should feel sorry for us because we’ve been targeted, too.”
The Tennessee GOP really sees a parallel between a crude piece of art, random vandalism, and a plot to kill more than a hundred children and a presidential candidate. In Robin Smith’s eyes, there’s some kind of equivalency between the three. This is pure madness.
This is, of course, the same Tennessee Republican Party that’s been so extreme in its vile attacks against Obama that McCain and GOP lawmakers felt the need to condemn them.
We’ll see if there’s any pushback against Robin Smith’s breathtaking press release.
(TFJ: Joe Powell)
Skinheads, Sarah Palin and Bill Hobbs
Posted on October 27, 2008 at 5:38 pmFrom the Tennessee Republican Party:
The Tennessee Republican Party expresses its shock and outrage today at the alleged plot by two neo-Nazi skinheads in Tennessee to go on a shooting spree targeting African-American high school students before attempting to kill presidential candidate Barack Obama.
“Hate is not a political party, policy statement, agenda or ideology - it is a pure evil that no place in civil society,” said Robin Smith, Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. “Whether it is neo-Nazi skinheads plotting a racist shooting spree targeting Sen. Obama, or West Hollywood liberals hanging Gov. Sarah Palin in effigy and calling it ‘art,’ or unknown anarchists tossing bricks through the windows of a county Republican headquarters in Murfreesboro, Americans of all political views should be outraged.
“The American system provides for Americans to express their political passions on the campaign trail and at the ballot box, Violence, intimidation and threats poison the political process.”
UPDATE: Ben Smith thinks the TNGOP is stretching.
SEE ALSO:
Sean Braisted
Enclave
Newscoma
Dork Nation
Naming Names: TNGOP and Democratic Leader Want To Know Whose Info Was Accessed By Politically Connected Trooper
Posted on August 17, 2008 at 4:49 pmThe Tennessee Republican Party joins Democratic state House Majority Leader Gary Odom in requesting an investigation into the developing scandal surrounding unauthorized background checks made by a state trooper with a political history. The Party believes that records may have been accessed for political purposes:
It seems there is was not a coincidence that the information about Oak Hill City Manager, Dr. William Kraus, was released publicly about his background immediately after the citizens of Oak Hill challenged Governor Phil Bredesen on the waste of taxpayer money to build an underground entertainment facility at the Executive Residence.
Back To The Old School: The TNGOP Raises The Specter Of A New Cold War
Posted on August 14, 2008 at 11:24 amThe communications shop at the Tennessee Republican Party, most famous for its inflammatory attacks on Barack Obama, comes to the table today with a new variation on an old school GOP theme.
In its second new nationally-focused video in as many days, the Tennessee GOP preys on fears regarding the recent unpleasantness in the former Soviet Union and raises the specter of a new Cold War by splicing together the famous “Bear ad” from the 1984 Ronald Reagan with current footage from the Republic of Georgia and oh-so-subtly suggests the candidate best qualified to lead us through this new conflict.
‘Dependent Dirty Dozens
Posted on July 31, 2008 at 12:59 pmAngelia is more than ready to trade “your momma” snaps with anti-semitic pastor George Brooks, Bill Hobbs, or just about anyone:
BUT here’s the problem: Brooks indicated this was a white v. black thing, and I don’t fit either one of those categories. So… how about I start the “Other” team and trash talk both sides.
You know like: “Barack Obama is so skinny, he makes his Senate record look like a copy of War and Peace. John McCain is so old, there’s a picture of Jesus in his high school yearbook. Barack Obama is so slippery, duct tape won’t stick. And: the TN GOP is so dirty, they were once banned from the sewage plant for fear they’d contaminate the place.
Hey, will I be getting a trophy for this?
MORE SNAPS: Sadcox
permalink | Comment on this post
The Continuing Controversy Over The TNGOP’s Closed Statesmen’s Dinner
Posted on July 25, 2008 at 8:49 amSeveral prominent Republicans criticise the decision that may very well have been Karl Rove’s:
Sen. Alexander spokesman Lee Pitts said the senator will be unable to attend the dinner Saturday because he will be managing a Senate debate on energy.
“If it was his decision, the event would not be closed, but it’s not his decision,” Mr. Pitts said in an e-mail.
State Rep. Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, who served as state GOP chairwoman from 2004 to 2007, said that “it’s every chairman’s prerogative whether they want to have an open event or closed event. I chose to have our’s open.”
“Actually, we encouraged it (reporters’ coverage) because we wanted to get our message out,” Rep. Harwell said.
While Rep. Harwell said she would prefer this year’s “be opened to the press,” she emphasized she didn’t know the reasoning behind Mrs. Smith’s decision.
Former GOP Chairmen John “Chip” Saltsman and Bob Davis recalled having their Statesmen events opened, but they emphasized the decision is up to the chairman.
In her e-mail statement, Mrs. Smith said that Mr. Hobbs “was acting on information he had been given in making the statement that ‘traditionally’ the dinner had been closed. It was said that ‘traditionally fundraisers are closed.’ The Statesmen’s Dinner is a fundraiser.
“Bill remains correct on the information that he was given that ‘traditionally fundraisers are closed,’” Mrs. Smith continued.
Rep. Harwell, Mr. Saltsman and Mr. Davis all noted that events for large donors, which take place before the dinner, often have been closed.
Recent Comments
P.S. then again, she may have decided her...
I think it is a moment of great integrity for...
Spaz.. Palin will be Potus...
Louie Acctually I think that palin’s goal was not to do what...
I have surfed dozens of the national websites since Palin resigned, but...
Her poll numbers have continually dropped from 86% to 54%. The Senate-House...
Just to clarify a few points. I am a wholehearted and hopeful supporter of Obama....
Atlanta to Nashville. Just to speed up the inevitable.
Why do people who throw the term Neo-Marxist around—have absolutely no idea...
+10 Donna.