Speaker Williams Responds To RNC Chairman
Posted on May 26, 2009 at 2:52 pmOver the weekend, Michael Steele attacked Speaker Kent Williams. Now Kent Williams strikes back:
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has publicly stated that he is going to take me out. He came in from Washington to speak in Kingsport, Tennessee. I believe it was his first trip here ever. I was not present when he made his remarks and he has had no contact with me. I have never met the gentleman. Still, I have been asked by the press for comments on his remarks.
Based on a Kingsport Times-News online poll it does not appear that his remarks resonate with the people here in Tennessee, or at least in the area where he made his remarks. The poll showed that 72% of the people disagreed with Mr. Steele’s remarks about me. Perhaps this is because of my actual performance on the job.
I have made it my goal to move past all the rhetoric and distractions and focus on issues that are important to the people of Tennessee. I have remained true to the core principles of the Republican Party.
I own a small business and as reported in the Tennessean earlier this year I have a 100% voting record with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. I am a supporter of Second Amendment Rights to bear arms. Under my tenure as Speaker, I have guided to the House floor legislation which has allowed legally permitted handgun owners to carry their guns in additional areas for their self-protection.
I am a supporter of SJR 127, the pro-life constitutional amendment. We have moved to the floor of the House and passed for the first time ever Senate Joint Resolution 127 allowing the people to vote on a pro-life amendment to our constitution. Under our constitution it takes a second vote by another General Assembly to actually put the proposed amendment on the ballot for a vote by the people. I hope to be here in the next General Assembly to cast another vote for this resolution.
I do not want government involved in all aspects of our citizens’ lives. I am a proponent of a small, efficient government. I believe in balanced budgets, where we live within our means. I believe in working to improve our schools, bringing in and keeping good jobs and keeping the government off the backs of working families.
Perhaps, it is because of my record, my holding to these core principles that keep the people here in Tennessee supportive of me and not the politics of Washington telling them to think otherwise.
This is a challenging time in our history. I will not let rhetoric and outside distractions keep me from the work we have at hand. The people of Tennessee expect and deserve our very best as we move our state forward.
Let’s all work together to address the challenges before us.
A Tennessean In Charge Of National GOP Redistricting
Posted on May 17, 2009 at 10:49 amExecutive committeeman John Ryder’s work will likely affect who represents you more than any campaign can:
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Friday named Tennessee National Committeeman John Ryder, of Memphis, as chairman of the party’s redistricting committee.
“John has been a tireless advocate of Republican principles both in the state of Tennessee and across the country, and I look forward to working with him to prepare state parties for redistricting efforts following the 2010 national census,” Mr. Steele said in a statement.
Mr. Ryder has been representing the GOP in redistricting cases since 1976, according to a news release.
SEE ALSO: The presser
RNC Chairman Coming To Tennessee
Posted on May 16, 2009 at 7:18 pmHank Hayes reports:
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele — the man responsible for bringing Republicans back to national prominence after a tough election cycle last year — will deliver the keynote address at the Sullivan County GOP Reagan Day Dinner.
The event will be held Saturday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the MeadowView Marriott. Limited tickets are available for $50 apiece.
The Silver Lining Of Michael Steele
Posted on March 10, 2009 at 11:28 amCaleb Hannan points it out:
On the bright side, at least Steele proved that being out of touch isn’t strictly the domain of old white dudes. Behold, Obama’s post-race utopia is upon us!
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Limbaugh Implies RNC Chair Shares Some Sort Of Solidarity With The President
Posted on March 2, 2009 at 5:23 pmAnybody know what Rush might be getting at here:
“Why are you running the Republican Party?” Limbaugh openly asked Steele. “Why do you claim you lead the Republican Party, when you seem obsessed with seeing to it that President Obama succeeds? I, frankly, am stunned that the chairman of the Republican National Committee endorses such an agenda. I have to assume that he does because he attacks me for wanting it to fail.”
RELATED: Why Rush is on the attack.
UPDATE: Rush completes the punking by getting an apology from Steele.
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Who’s The Man?
Posted on at 1:37 pmNot wanting to let Michelle Bachmann down, RNC chair Michael Steele lets Rush Limbaugh know who the man is.
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RNC Chairman Candidate Gets Involved In The Kent Williams Situation
Posted on January 16, 2009 at 11:07 amA political action committee led by former Maryland Lt. Governor and RNC chairman candidate Michael Steele wants Speaker Kent Williams proverbial head on a plate for accepting the Democratic nomination for Tennessee house speaker — and the committee is putting its money where its mouth is. A press release from the TNGOP:
The installation by Democrats of Kent Williams as Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives this week despite losing the majority in the 2008 elections has galvanized Republicans not only across Tennessee but also across the country into action.
Today, GOPAC, the national Republican organization dedicated exclusively to electing Republicans to state and local offices, presented a financial contribution to the Tennessee Republican Party as a down payment on the effort to replace Mr. Williams with a representative who represents the people of Carter County honestly and who will not use deception and lies in order to advance his own personal political ambitions.
“GOPAC was honored to assist with the election of a Republican majority in the Tennessee House of Representative and looked forward to working with the Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker of the House,” said GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele. “The actions of Mr.. Williams in conspiring with Democrats to make him the Speaker and to elect a Democrat as Speaker Pro Tempore means our work continues for a governing Republican majority in the Tennessee House.
“To kick-off this effort, GOPAC is pleased to be the first contributor to the Tennessee Republican Party’s new project to elect a larger Republican majority and, in turn, the Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker of the House,” Steele said. “We urge citizens across the Volunteer State who want a conservative, common sense majority governing the State House to join us in contributing to the Tennessee Republican Party’s new project.”
“Kent Williams’ betrayal of his party through massive deception and conspiring with the leaders of the opposition, Jimmy Naifeh and Gary Odom, has energized and galvanized countless Tennesseans and Republicans across the nation who have pledged their commitment to electing a principled Republican to the Speaker’s post,” said Bill Hobbs, Communications Director for the Tennessee Republican Party. “The Tennessee Republican Party expresses its appreciation to GOPAC today for the first contribution from a national organization to that effort.
“GOPAC knows the way to defeat the corrupt politics that the Williams-Naifeh-Odom club epitomizes in Tennessee is to defeat Democrats who made this secret deal with Williams, and replace them with Republicans who deal honestly with each other and with the people of our great state,” Hobbs said.
In 2008, thanks to the support of the countless Tennesseans, Republicans won 14 non-incumbent legislative races en route to winning the first Republican majority in the legislature for the first time since the Civil War.
Rather than honor the will of the people in their historic decision to elect him and 49 other Republican candidates to the majority, Williams allowed himself to be installed by Democrats as Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives – despite making numerous promises and public statements of his intention to vote for the Republican Caucus nominee.
Tennesseans have been vocal and active in demonstrating their overwhelming disgust with Rep. Williams’ betrayal.
“It is an honor to stand with great folks and organizations committed to more than political position and power,” commented Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith. “We have already begun to recruit and support candidates committed first to principles that serve this great state. We express sincerest thanks to GOPAC and others who are investing in our efforts.”
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