Forrester Rebukes Tennessee Democratic Grasstops

By Kleinheider Posted on December 27, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Former Treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party and a candidate for chairman of the organization has fired back a response to a letter signed by many of Tennessee’s top Democratic officeholders in support of his opponent Charles Robert Bone:

Our state Party was led this year by the very people who have now signed the endorsement letter for Charles Robert Bone. They set the strategy for this year’s campaign in Tennessee.

Our state Party did not suffer from a lack of funding, I know because as Treasurer I signed the checks. What our Party suffered from this year was a lack of a grassroots organization that involved everyone that believes in and supports the values of the Democratic Party.

You cannot build a viable political party from the top down, no more than you can improve the economic well being of our country with “trickle down” economics as failed Republican administration policies, tragically for our country’s working men and women, have so vividly shown us these past 8 years.

And while I respect everyone who signed the endorsement letter, if these elections have taught us anything, they should have shown us that the “top down” approach does not work any longer in Tennessee.

Read the full letter.

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Andy Sher
Ben Vos

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Tags: Charles Robert Bone, Chip Forrester, grassroots, grasstops, Gray Sasser, Phil Bredesen, state executive committee, Tennessee Democratic Party, TNDP, TNDP Party Chair  

Leatherwood Reacts To Frist’s Blackburn Endorsement

By Kleinheider Posted on May 28, 2008 at 10:43 am

Congressman Marsha Blackburn’s insurgent challenger, Tom Leatherwood, has reacted to yesterday’s endorsement of Blackburn by former Senator Bill Frist:

I’m disappointed that Bill Frist would endorse the unethical behavior and ineffectiveness of my opponent by getting involved in this Republican primary, however it is his choice. I’ve always known that my victory would depend on whether or not rank and file Republican primary voters believe issues of integrity and effectiveness are important.

While many families are struggling to pay for gas and groceries, incumbent Blackburn has funneled over $300,000 from campaign and PAC accounts to her daughter and son-in-law. They received $46,935 for “campaign work” leading up to Blackburn’s 2004 victory, in which she didn’t have an opponent in the primary or general elections.

While many Tennesseans are unable to afford vacations this summer, she has allowed special interests to “privately finance” over $100,000 of travel during her tenure, to places such as Fort Walton Beach, Aspen, Las Vegas, Chicago, California, and more. This is one of the ways that special interest groups gain influence in Washington.

The price of gas, groceries and vacations do not greatly affect incumbent Blackburn or others who are a part of the money and power culture of Washington D. C. However, they are very important to me and most other Tennesseans.

It is ludicrous for anyone to say she has been effective on the major issues facing our nation. Can anyone seriously look at the problems in our country today and say any of the incumbents in D. C. have “effectively” addressed them?

Since I entered this race, I’ve always known that my victory depends on rank and file Republican voters who feel disenchanted with the ineffectiveness and lack of integrity in our party’s leadership.

This is the same party that once held a majority in both houses of Congress, and recently lost all three of the special elections held for House seats. I believe Republican primary voters know we need effective conservative leaders in the Republican Party– those who will lead with integrity and the drive to accomplish objectives, rather than just talking about them.

Interestingly, Lamar Alexander’s campaign folks relay to Post Politics that Tennessee’s senior Senator told Congressman Blackburn months ago that he would support her re-election and has contributed to her campaign.

I don’t remember seeing a presser touting that endorsement. Is Bill Frist’s endorsement more valuable in a GOP primary than Lamar’s or did the press release just get past me?

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Tags: Baker boys, Bill Frist, establishment, grassroots, Lamar Alexander, Marsha Blackburn, Tom Leatherwood