TNGOP Is Just Ahead Of The Curve
Posted on June 11, 2008 at 10:11 amThe Los Angeles Times discusses the Tennessee Republican Party’s “Proud Video” as a harbinger of things to come as their spokesman needles the local press for not covering it:
In what could be seen as a test run for future attacks, the Tennessee Republican Party last month posted a Web video crosscutting her gaffe with declarations from average folks about how they’ve always been proud of their country.
Bill Hobbs, spokesman for the Tennessee GOP, said the party was stunned and delighted by the national publicity garnered by the cheaply made video, which coincided with a fundraising visit to the state by Michelle Obama.
“Our goal was to get the local media to play that clip of what she said back in February,” Hobbs said. “The amazing thing was this thing blew up nationally before any local media even covered it.”
SEE ALSO: John Rodgers
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TNGOP’s Controversial Obama Video Features Former Strip Club Owner Expressing His Pride In America
Posted on May 20, 2008 at 7:58 amAndy 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
Chairman Smith, Tear Down That YouTube: Corker Calls For The TNGOP To Swallow Their “Pride”
Posted on May 19, 2008 at 5:50 pmIn the last few minutes, I received a stronger version of a statement released by Senator Bob Corker’s office in reaction to the Tennessee Republican Party’s efforts in welcoming Michelle Obama to Nashville. In the updated version, Todd Womack conveys that a request has been made by Corker’s office to take down the YouTube:
“After the Republican National Committee damaged our campaign with their infamous ‘Call Me’ ad - which we immediately denounced - we have strongly encouraged the national party and state parties to absolutely refrain from getting involved in negative personal campaigning, and we have asked the state party to remove their You Tube ad from their Web site. Republicans will be in much better shape if we spend our time focused on issues like reducing federal spending, lowering the cost of health care and creating a coherent energy policy.”
Senator Lamar Alexander has also rebuked TNGOP for their guerrilla video tactics.
The YouTube video in question, entitled “Proud”, features snippets of former Republican legislative candidates, GOP General Assembly staffers and gun show proprietors talking about why they are proud of America interspersed with clips from a Michelle Obama speech in which she declared that “for the first time” she was proud of this country based on its embrace of her husband’s candidacy.
As of this posting, the video still appears on the TNGOP’s YouTube channel.
SEE ALSO: Bill Hobbs, communications director for the TNGOP, cites the liberal media to back his claim that candidate spouses are fair game.
Obama Calls Out The “Low-Class” Tennessee GOP On Good Morning America
Posted on at 8:04 am“Whoever is in charge of the Tennessee Republican Party needs to think long and hard about the campaign they want to run.”
~ Barack Obama on the TNGOP attack on Michelle Obama. (via Braisted)
Like What Ya Did There
Posted on May 16, 2008 at 12:05 pmThe Tennessee Democratic Part deftly melds Bob Corker’s admissions about his 2006 Senate campaign with the actions of the Tennessee Republican Party yesterday in a nifty little release:
Sen. Bob Corker today dubbed his own 2006 campaign advertisements against U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. “grotesque.” Now, do the junior and senior senators from Tennessee have the courage to halt the Tennessee Republican Party’s deplorable tactics asked Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser.
“TNGOP Chairwoman Robin Smith and company have tarnished the reputation of the entire state with their grotesque political attacks: they have perpetuated lies about a candidate’s religion, they have attacked a candidate’s wife, they have equated the war in Iraq to a religious crusade, and they have defied the request of Senator Lamar Alexander to remove at least one of those claims from their website,” Sasser continued.
“It’s high time for Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander to put a stop to the Tennessee Republican Party’s shameful tactics; they are beneath the dignity of voters- Republicans, Democrats, and Independents- in the state of Tennessee.”
Meeting Michelle
Posted on at 11:23 amNashvillest has an exclusive report from yesterday’s closed to media fundraiser featuring Michelle Obama:
Thursday, March 15th Mrs.Obama appeared at a fundraiser for her husband, Senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama right here in Nashville, TN. A small crowd of roughly 100 people, including 2 undecided superdelegates, arrived at a private West Nashville residence to greet Mrs. Obama in support of her husband’s campaign and to hear her remarks.
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You Know How We Do: The TNGOP Makes National News Again With Its Reverse Crush On Obama
Posted on May 15, 2008 at 7:40 pmIf the goal of a communications shop is to get publicity for its organization, then the TNGOP has no equal. They did it once. Now they’ve gone and done it again.
THE FRUITS OF THE LABOR:
Jonathan Martin
Political Ticker
CNN
Fox News
Comedy Central
Huffington Post
Mark Halperin
The Associated Press
PREVIOUSLY:
The TNGOP Welcomes Michelle Obama To Nashville
Blogger Gets The High Hat From Obama Folks
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