TNGOP’s Controversial Obama Video Features Former Strip Club Owner Expressing His Pride In America

By Kleinheider Posted on May 20, 2008 at 7:58 am

Andy Sher, at the end of an obligatory article on the controversy and Senatorial rebukes set off by the Tennessee Republican Party’s YouTube missive welcoming Michelle Obama to Nashville, reveals some surprising information regarding one of the “regular Americans” discussing the reasons for their pride in America in the now infamous video.

Along with other common folk, such as former state house candidate Juan Borges and a legislative staffer of state Senator Mae Beavers, one of the Americans featured in the video is a Mr. Bob Pope. Mostly known for being the namesake of many Nashville gun shows, Pope, in the early to mid 90s had a financial interest in yet another controversial business taking advantage of the constitutional liberties America provides:

One person featured in the video is Bob Pope, a Nashville-area businessman. Mr. Hobbs described Mr. Pope as a “big Second Amendment guy, runs a big gun show.”

On the GOP video, Mr. Pope, who runs Bob Pope’s Gun Shows, says, “I’m Bob Pope, and I’m proud to be an American, because mainly of the First Amendment, the right to worship God anywhere I choose to, and the Second Amendment, I get the right to keep and bear arms.”

In 1994, Mr. Pope came under criticism from state Democrats after running a full-page Nashville newspaper ad attacking statewide Democratic candidates’ stances on gun rights.

Democrats at the time contended that Mr. Pope had an ownership interest in a Nashville topless dance bar, Bob’s Gold Club. In an October 1994 interview with the then-Chattanooga Times, Mr. Pope acknowledged having a financial interest in the club.

“I am not in the direct management of it,” Mr. Pope said at the time, noting he put up money for the club four years previously as an investor.

Efforts to reach Mr. Pope on Monday through a cell phone listed on his gun show Web site were unsuccessful. Bob’s Gold Club, meanwhile, is no longer listed in telephone directories.

Asked if he had known of Mr. Pope’s 1990s’ ties to a nude dance bar, Mr. Hobbs said no.

“I’d have to know more details about the story,” Mr. Hobbs said of whether he would have used Mr. Pope in the video had he known of the connection.

While the “leave me alone” coalition has a strong history inside the Republican Party, the TNGOP has not really been known for its laissez faire attitude on moral issues.

Moderate Senators Corker and Alexander have already rebuked the state party for this video. Will this new revelation about Bob Pope lead those on the theocratic right to express their misgivings as well?

SEE ALSO:
Munday’s Mouth
Enclave

permalink | 12 Comments

Tags: , Andy Sher, Barack Obama, Bill Hobbs, Bob Corker, Bob Pope, Juan Borges, Lamar Alexander, Michelle Obama, Pride, Proud, TNGOP  

Post Politics: 4 April 2008

By Kleinheider Posted on April 8, 2008 at 9:49 am

Blogger Mick Wright decides to take the plunge and files a petition to oppose his Republican state Representative Curry Todd in the Republican primary.

On the anniversary of his death, many bloggers embed the YouTube of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s final speech.

Harold Ford, Jr. suggests there is “evidence” Republicans will use to show Barack Obama lacks sufficient patriotism.

Shelby County has already more than double the number of handgun permit holders compared to the rest of Tennessee’s counties.

Frank Cagle explains that “the idea that a private communication between a constituent and a public official should be a public record is media run amok.”

One of the first Governors in the nation to endorse Hillary Clinton for President says that the superdelegates should not vote to overturn the popular vote in the Democratic primary.

Radio talker and NashvillePost.com internet strategist Freddie O’Connell shares thoughts on his former campaign manager’s race for school board and the entry of former Councilman John Summers into the race and discusses whether winning the seat is Summers’ only motive for getting in the game.

A bill enabling a special committee studying the administration of the state’s death penalty to continue its work until October 1, 2009 passed a House subcommittee recently to the joy of one blogger.

Former Howard Gentry for Mayor communications man, Evans Donnell, celebrates the entry of Gentry’s wife into a race for school board.

A conservative blogger doesn’t seem broken up that state Senator Jamie Woodson has drawn opposition this year.

A former East Tennessee Congressman gets his name on a medical building.

A bill seeking the limitation of frivolous medical malpractice lawsuit passed the state house yesterday.

At a conference devoted to wireless technology, former Presidential candidates and Senators Fred Thompson and John Edwards talk about anything but the stated topic.

Blogger Angelia cannot seem to find video on the legislative website of the now infamous recall of the bill which would have closed gun permit records to the general public.

Tennessee Republican Party Communications Director Bill Hobbs has made a public records request for the database on the state’s handgun carry permit holders, information that the TNGOP does not believe should be public. The sponsor of that bill which sparked so much controversy is optimistic for the future of the initiative.

Blogger David Oatney discusses the possibility of a 269-269 electoral vote tie in the upcoming Presidential election.

A tax reform group that has in the past favored a state income tax wants to cut the sales tax on food and close a loophole that allows companies operating in Tennessee to shuffle money around between subsidiaries to avoid high tax bills.

Bellevue native and Cornell student Ilissa Gold notes the last gasps of the Ron Paul campaign on her Ivy League campus.

Katie Allison Granju notes that members of Congress have as much as $196 million collectively invested in companies doing business with the Defense Department.

Metro cop Juan “El Protector” Borges will once again challenge Nashville political scion Ben West, Jr. and intends to make West’s controversial comments on Hispanics last year an issue in the race.

Betty Bean profiles the iconoclastic retiring State Rep. Frank Buck in a piece in MetroPulse.

Despite recent election results showing Democratic strength in the district, a prominent political name decides against taking on former TNGOP chair and State Representative Beth Harwell.

Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announces on his political action committee’s blog that he is “devoting significant energy” to achieving a Republican majority in the state legislature. Frist is rumored to be exploring a 2010 run for Governor of Tennessee.

Finally, if you are not a general peruser of the front page of NashvillePost.com you may have missed ace political reporter Ken Whitehouse churning out as much copy from his office down at the Plaza yesterday as many a fully-staffed newsroom. Click here and scroll for the impressive display.

Can’t see the full stories? That means you are not a subscriber. You can remedy that here.

permalink | Comment on this post

Tags: Beth Harwell, Bill Frist, Fred Thompson, Harold Ford, Jr., Juan Borges