Campfield Says Casada The Source Of Rumors That Led To Libel Suit Against Him
Posted on April 29, 2009 at 7:09 amHouse Republican Caucus Chair Glen Casada is again under a cloud of suspicion as this morning it has been revealed that Campfield believes that Casada is the one who told him that then Democratic state house candidate Roger Byrge had been arrested in connection with drugs.
Campfield subsequently shared the rumor on his blog. Byrge has never been arrested for drugs and is now suing Campfield.
Casada doesn’t confirm he is the source but will not deny it either:
Byrge’s lawsuit quoted Campfield as writing on his blog: “Word is a … mail piece has gone out exposing Byrge’s multiple separate drug arrests. Including arrests for possession and drug dealing. (I hear the mug shots are gold).”
Campfield’s initial legal response was to claim he held legislative immunity for comments he made on his personal blog. But his attorney last month abandoned that defense.
Casada said it was difficult to remember the details of every conversation surrounding last year’s tumultuous House elections.
“My thing is, we’re running 15, 18 races concurrently in October and November of 2008,” he said. “And there’s no telling.”
“I’m just trying to rack my brain, and don’t recall who would have told me or where I would have gotten that,” Casada said. “I don’t recall. But if Stacey says I did, then obviously I did. I’m confirming that if he says it, I must have.”
Speaker Williams Says He’s Still In The GOP Caucus, Challenges Mumpower To Poll Caucus
Posted on March 5, 2009 at 7:22 amDespite being barred from a caucus meeting yesterday and being thrown out of the Republican party last month, Speaker Kent Williams maintains he is still a member of the caucus and that the votes are not there to kick him out:
“I’m still in the caucus,” Speaker Williams said. “I’m still a Republican. I’m not voted out (of the caucus) yet, and I don’t think I will be.”
The speaker said Rep. Mumpower and other Republicans opposing him do not have a majority of the 49 GOP Caucus votes needed to oust him. He thinks there are maybe 12, 13 votes against him.
Last month, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith booted the speaker from the party.
Rep. Mumpower said dealing with Speaker Williams is an “issue we’re working on. If there (is) even one member (opposed), if it causes discontent within the caucus, it would be best if he did not attend. And there are more than a few members who are discontent with him, therefore I think it’s best that he doesn’t attend.”
He said “my mission is to have and to maintain a very united caucus, and that’s what we’re going to be about.” He said that will not be possible “if there are members who are discontent,” and he noted there “absolutely” are such members.
Caucus members will not get a vote on the matter, Rep. Mumpower said, noting it will be a leadership decision based on “what’s best for the caucus … my position is we should do whatever is necessary to maintain the utmost unity within the caucus.”
MORE: Jeff Woods
Speaker Kent Williams Barred From GOP Caucus Meeting
Posted on March 4, 2009 at 5:04 pmRobin Smith had no compunction about kicking the Speaker out of the party but before today the House GOP Caucus had balked at official action.
Now it would seem the House Republicans are on their way to kicking the Speaker of the House out of their caucus:
House Speaker Kent Williams was barred from a Republican Caucus meeting Wednesday and House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower said he should stay away permanently.
Williams said he believes a majority of Republican representatives would favor allowing him to caucus with them even though state Republican Chairman Robin Smith has declared he is no longer considered a Republican.
But Mumpower said he and House Republican Chairman Glen Casada could decide to ban Williams from the caucus without a vote.
Mumpower said that he believes that “if even one member” of the House Republican Caucus opposes Williams attendance, Williams should stay away.
“If it causes dissent within the caucus, then it’s best if he did not attend - and there are more than a few members who are discontent with him attending,” said Mumpower.
MORE:
Stacey Campfield
Andy Sher
PREVIOUSLY:
Republican caucus can’t repeat state party’s mistake on Williams
What’s Robin Got To Do With It?
To Be Determined
Posted on February 22, 2009 at 7:40 pmTom Humphrey discusses Speaker Kent Williams status as a state House Republican Caucus member:
Meanwhile, House Speaker Kent Williams last week went to a House Republican Caucus meeting even though he has been more or less officially banished from the GOP by state Republican Chairman Robin Smith.
“I haven’t been voted out of the caucus yet,” said Williams, adding that his presence was tolerated though some members seemed a bit disconcerted.
The House Republican Caucus chairman, Rep. Glen Casada, says it is “to be determined” whether Williams will be allowed to meet with Republicans in the future. You can figure that there will be some tension over the subject within Republican ranks.
So you’ll have some continuing Republican-versus-Republican tension. One faction wants to get along with Williams while another does not and still others are ambivalent.
SEE ALSO: David Oatney
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What’s Robin Got To Do With It?
Posted on February 9, 2009 at 1:43 amR. Neal mentioned over the weekend that Michael Silence had the scoop on the decision Robin Smith has made regarding whether or not to allow Speaker Kent Williams to remain in the Republican Party, a decision that will be announced not too many hours from now.
Of course, the tea leaves have been pretty easy to read on where Robin Smith’s head is at regarding Williams and no recent events or interventions have seemed to sway her mind much.
My question is: what does it matter? What does it really matter what Robin Smith does? Of course, it will matter in 2010 when Williams is unable to gain access to a Republican primary ballot but what about before that? The talk, the assumption, is that if Williams is kicked out of the Republican Party the Republicans lose their numerical majority in the state House.
Yes, I suppose after this morning’s announcement the house will be comprised of 49 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and Kent Williams. But what difference does that actually make?
It is, after all, the membership of the Republican caucus which makes “the party” the majority or the minority. A Republican caucus member, unless I am mistaken, could be from any party. Bernie Sanders, a U.S. Senator from Vermont, is an independent yet always caucuses with the Democratic Party.
So it would seem membership in the caucus, not membership in the party is what determines who holds the majority. Speaker Williams has not been to a Republican caucus meeting since his election as speaker, this is true. But, as far as Post Politics knows, Williams has neither renounced his membership in the Republican caucus nor has official action been taken by the caucus to expel him.
So if Kent Williams is expelled from the Republican Party this morning does this mean that the Leader of the Republican Caucus in the House is no longer the Majority Leader? Does the status quo in the legislature really change?
I don’t think that can be said until Williams either leaves the caucus or the caucus expels him.
Neither of which, have anything to do with Robin Smith.
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