The Continuing Controversy Over The TNGOP’s Closed Statesmen’s Dinner

By Kleinheider Posted on July 25, 2008 at 8:49 am

Several 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.

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Tags: Bill Hobbs, closed press, Karl Rove, Statesmen's dinner, TNGOP