Don’t Call Her ED: Jennifer Buck Wallace New TNDP Ops Director
Posted on May 6, 2009 at 5:57 pmFrom the release:
“It is my pleasure to announce that Jennifer Wallace is joining the staff of the Tennessee Democratic Party full-time as our Director of Operations,” TNDP Chair Chip Forrester said in a letter the TNDP Executive Committee and county Democratic Party chairs.
The Director of Operations is a new position, created to meet the changing needs of the TNDP. The Director of Operations will be responsible for implementing and managing organizational change and for overseeing day-to-day development of a comprehensive new media program, building a vibrant 95 county party infrastructure, developing an active grassroots wing of the TNDP, coordinating special events, and developing relationships with elected officials, their staff, and issue-based advocacy groups.
A native of East Tennessee, Wallace graduated from Maryville College, where she majored in Political Science with a double minor in History and Business. She earned a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee’s College of Law.
As the Tennessee Field Director for Obama for America, Wallace organized thousands of volunteers across the state. In the last week of the 2008 campaign, she coordinated more than a dozen volunteer phonebanks which made over 120,000 calls. Before joining the Obama campaign, Jennifer worked as a writer and producer for Country Music Television.
“Jennifer brings production and new media knowledge, strong management and organizational skills, and grassroots organization experience to the Party - all invaluable assets as we continue to build our grassroots and 95-county Democratic Party base for the 2010 election cycle and beyond,” Forrester said.
Chip Forrester’s Crew Will Light Your Soul On Fire
Posted on May 4, 2009 at 11:14 pmA favorable review of the TNDP Summit in Monteagle:
I have attended many political events in my life, but I have never attended an event to where my soul was on fire. This happened to me when I attended the TNDP 2009 Summit at Monteagle, TN. For me, this was a revival of faith, hope, motivation and a call to action to fight and win. I met many interesting and diverse people and was in liberal heaven sharing conversation with democrats and fellow liberals in the moutains of Tennessee. I even gained a new respect for those with more conservative viewpoints.
This event was a divine intervention for a call to action in what is probably one of the most important elections in Tennessee political history. The Summit was exactly what Tennessee Democrats needed. It was a perfect blend of fellowship, diverse viewpoints, speakers, motivation, celebration, training, and education for a political event.
Rep. Lincoln Davis Lays Hands On Chip Forrester
Posted on at 7:42 pmThe highlight of the TNDP Summit in Monteagle: Rep. Lincoln Davis puts his arm around the chairman of his party and says the following.
“I’m not completely through yet set back down. Also about a year and three or four months ago, many of us thought Hillary Clinton was gonna be the nominee — and she would have been a good one.
But there was this young fella, who knew how to organize at the grassroots level. We’ve got a chairman who understands that, too. And those of you in this room understand that. It is the grassroots organization that will win back the majority in Tennessee. Chip, thank you.”
Forces allied with Davis have long been suspected (along with those of the governor) of being the instigators behind the recent discord within the party.
See the exact moment at this link.
Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey
Posted on April 28, 2009 at 11:29 amJackson Baker says that the understanding come to by both sides of the Democratic Party last week was no truce and point the finger at the operative who sculpted the landscape that resulted in Chip Forrester accepting an offer he couldn’t refuse:
Almost everybody considers the “truce” to be a surrender imposed on Forrester by that establishment, which, in theory, consists of Bredesen plus four of the five Democratic congressmen from Tennessee (everybody but Memphis’ Steve Cohen, who has been studiously neutral during the last three moths of intra-party strife). In reality, it comes down to 4th District congressman Lincoln Davis, and, in particular, his administrative aide Beecher Frasier.
Yes, the same Beecher Frasier who opined during last year’s presidential campaign that he couldn’t be sure that then candidate Barack Obama didn’t have terrorist ties. The same Beecher Frazier who has spearheaded the battle against Forrester almost from the moment the Chipper announced his candidacy for the party chairmanship last November. That was in the wake of the electoral debacle last November in which the Democrats managed to lose both houses of the Tennessee legislature.
Can The TNDP Truce Work?
Posted on April 27, 2009 at 8:09 amMy take on the new bifurcated Tennessee Democratic Party has evolved a bit.
Tennessee Democrats Are Not Baby-Killing, Gun-Stealing Tree Huggers
Posted on at 7:49 amOn political matters, [Rep. John] Litz agreed with Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester’s anticipated role in doing more grass-roots organizing, while other Democrats take on fund raising and candidate recruitment.
“I think we’ve allowed the Republican Party to tell people what we are … (and) it’s not a true picture,” Litz claimed. “The Democratic Party I believe in is a big tent. We have some people who are far, far to the left, but we have some people who are very conservative. I would consider myself a moderate conservative. … I don’t think the Tennessee Democratic Party that I’m a part of is like a California Democrat. We’re not baby-killing, gun-stealing tree huggers.”
Is The TNDP Managing Their Public Relations Properly?
Posted on April 24, 2009 at 8:43 amThe view from a blogger and newspaperwoman:
The TNDP is not controlling their story. They just aren’t and that is why that Bill Hobbs and Co. are winning in this state in a time of technology and instant communication. Something happens, they have a statement out.
They are in front of the story.
When yesterday’s story broke regarding the reorganization of the TNDP, there should have been a press release immediately. Chip Forrester doesn’t have a Bill Hobbs, and he spoke via conference call roughly five hours after the rumors hit Post Politics. Several bloggers and a few journalists where on that conference call from what I was told by one who participated.By then, it was too late for some folks who wanted immediate answers.
This Wouldn’t Have To Be A Joke
Posted on April 1, 2009 at 12:58 pmSean Braisted with a report from an alternate universe.
Governor Concedes He Wasn’t Likely To Help TNDP While Freeman Was Treasurer
Posted on March 30, 2009 at 7:27 amThe Governor expresses his distaste for former Democratic Party Treasurer Bill Freeman:
Gov. Bredesen acknowledged that inclined him not to help the party with fundraising.
“The person they chose to be the treasurer worked very hard against me,” Gov. Bredesen said. “So he’s not somebody that immediately when he calls up and says, ‘I now want your help raising money,’ that you say, ‘Oh, OK.’”Gov. Bredesen’s comments to the Times Free Press were made Thursday and have not been previously published.
By Friday afternoon, with news out that state Democratic fundraising took a tumble in February, Mr. Freeman called it quits and acknowledged in a news release that his resignation stemmed in part from “opposition” to his appointment by “some of the Democratic establishment.”
“As I’ve made fundraising calls in the last month, several longtime donors have expressed their concern to me that Governor Bredesen was not as supportive of me as I had hoped,” Mr. Freeman said in a statement.
Freeman Out As TNDP Treasurer
Posted on March 27, 2009 at 3:52 pmFrom a presser:
NASHVILLE, March 27 -Tennessee Democratic Party Treasurer William H. “Bill” Freeman is stepping down effective immediately, Freeman and Chairman Chip Forrester announced today.
The decision comes as a result of several factors, Freeman said, including opposition to his appointment from some of the Democratic establishment.
“As I’ve made fund-raising calls in the last month, several long-time donors have expressed their concern to me that Governor Bredesen was not as supportive of me as I had hoped,” Freeman said. “By resigning now, I hope I can take away some of the criticism the Party has faced recently and give Chip Forrester a better shot at rebuilding a relationship with the Governor and taking the Party in the direction that it needs to go.”
Since his February 19th appointment, Freeman has been criticized for his past contributions to a few Republican candidates. Other commentators and Democratic activists have cited Freeman’s support of FONCE (Family Owned Non-Commercial Entity) as a source of contention with the Governor, who is pushing legislation to close a tax loophole benefiting FONCEs.
Forrester, while reluctantly accepting his resignation, said he respected Freeman’s decision.
“I think this has been a tough environment for Bill and a tough decision for him to make,” said Forrester. “I appreciate him thinking about what is best for the Tennessee Democratic Party, and I sincerely hope to build a productive relationship with Governor Bredesen going forward.”
Freeman is chairman of Freeman Webb, Inc., a real estate investment management and brokerage firm he founded with James A. Webb, III in 1979.
“Bill has done an outstanding job during his tenure with us,” said Forrester. “Serving as a treasurer and raising money is a demanding role at any time, much less during a recession. Regardless, Bill proved himself to be a successful fundraiser. With his help, the TNDP has raised over $60,000 in March alone.”
“My goal here at the TNDP remains the same: to build a strong organization that can help Democrats compete and win in 2010,” Forrester continued. “The problems facing Tennessee are too great for me to lose focus that goal.”
A replacement for Freeman has not yet been named. Forrester said he is beginning the search for a new treasurer immediately.
SEE ALSO:
Sledge
Humphrey
Sean Braisted
Enclave
OpenPen
Ilissa Gold
Nashville Scene
Southern Beale
Stacey Campfield
Southern Liberal
Money Men Did In Fact Flee From Forrester
Posted on March 20, 2009 at 4:41 pmThe AP’s got the indisputable evidence:
Federal election disclosures show the Tennessee Democratic Party is struggling to raise money in the aftermath of a leadership struggle.
The Federal Election Commission report filed on Friday shows the party under new Chairman Chip Forrester only managed to raise about $31,000 in February. That compares with about $211,000 raised in the same month of his predecessor Gray Sasser’s stint in charge of the party.
UPDATE:
Braisted says it’s time to step it up.
Knoxrebel weighs in.
It’s Not The Decision Which Was So Much In Question As The Timing Of The Announcement
Posted on March 8, 2009 at 5:58 pmRep. Lincoln Davis tells Herman Wang that his eschewing a race for governor had nothing to do with who the chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party was and everything to do with which committees he sits on in Congress:
“If I had stayed on Financial Services or Agriculture,” Rep. Davis said, referring to his previous committee assignments, “you would not have had an announcement that I am not running. You probably would have heard from me on March 31 that I am running for governor.”
Rep. Davis, who would have been the presumptive Democratic frontrunner in the 2010 gubernatorial race, said his decision not to run had nothing to do with his opposition to the election of Chip Forrester as Tennessee Democratic Party chairman, as some political observers have speculated.
Rep. Davis was among several prominent Tennessee Democrats, including Gov. Phil Bredesen, who declined to support Mr. Forrester’s bid to head the state party, preferring Charles Robert Bone, whom backers said had a stronger fundraising background.
Rep. Davis made his announcement that he would not be running for governor just days after Mr. Forrester’s selection in January.
But in an interview with the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Rep. Davis said the opportunity to serve on one of the most prominent congressional committees was too good to pass up.
PREVIOUSLY: The Chip Factor
Will Bill Freeman Get Ousted As TNDP Treasuer For His GOP Donations?
Posted on March 3, 2009 at 8:01 amNot bloody likely reports Jeff Woods:
Asked last night what will come of the hubbub over Freeman’s contributions, Mullins told Pith, “Probably nothing. You don’t want me to [deceive] you, do you?”
No one asked for Freeman’s resignation during an executive committee conference call at the height of the controversy. “When it came time to actually ask in that conference call, nobody asked him to step down,” says Mullins, a Morristown farmer and businessman. “If the majority says this is acceptable, I guess I have to go along.”
Not Trusting Freeman On The Button
Posted on March 1, 2009 at 7:04 pmRyan Kristopher explains why he cannot support a man who has given money to Republicans as TNDP treasurer:
Taking all of the money he has donated to the Republican cause out of the equation for argument sake, Mr. Freeman freely admits, or at least his voting record admits, to voting for Van Hilleary and Jim Bryson. This fact alone should disqualify him from ever holding a position in the TDP. Mr. Freeman made a conscious decision in the last two gubernatorial elections to vote for candidates that are 180 degrees opposite to everything for which the TDP stands. This has nothing to do with him not liking Governor Bredesen. Hell, I think Mary Pruitt is one of the worst legislators at the Plaza, but I would never think of voting for a right wing conservative Republican rather than her. Why? Because I know when she sits in a subcommittee or on the floor for a vote and an issue comes up that defines what a Democrat is (healthcare, quality public education, women’s reproductive rights), she is at least smart enough to push the button with the other Democrats. In a nutshell, Mr. Freeman can’t be trusted to push the button with the other Democrats.
The Press Release That Writes Itself
Posted on February 27, 2009 at 4:35 pmThe TNGOP responds to efforts to revive talk of a state income tax:
“It is unthinkable that Democrats in DC and Nashville want to raise taxes during a recession, and all the more unthinkable that Tennessee Democrats are proposing to create a new and unconstitutional state income tax at a time when thousands of Tennesseans are losing their jobs,” said Robin Smith, Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.
“The Tennessee Democrat Party must feel emboldened to follow their leaders in Washington D.C. who are pushing for huge tax increases and mammoth increases in government spending and the national debt,” Smith said.
“Not satisfied with a pork-laden ‘emergency’ bill that will add more than $1 trillion to the national debt, President Barack Obama is now proposing $1 trillion in new taxes and $1.75 trillion in deficit spending that will have to be repaid with higher taxes in the future. And Democrats in Congress – including Tennessee’s John Tanner, Bart Gordon, Jim Cooper, Steve Cohen and Lincoln Davis – are all going along for the ride.”
TNDP Chairman Chip Forrester has a few words on the issue as well:
The Tennessee Dem. Party had no knowledge of any income tax bill being proposed. We would certainly not advocate anything of the sort. The comments by the Tennessee GOP are just another way to muddy the waters over the terrible economic crisis facing working men and women in an attempt to rally Republicans to oppose the president’s plan. It shows a willingness to throw working men and women under the bus when the stimulus package will provide jobs, allow people to save their homes, and allow small businesses to keep their doors open.
Playing Kick The Can — With Matches And Gasoline
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 7:15 amDemocratic insiders blame blogs for the controversy over TNDP Treasurer Bill Freeman’s past donations to the TNDP:
Blogs are fueling the controversy and making matters much worse for Freeman. Actually, you could say blogs and their commenters have created Freeman’s troubles. “In a normal world without the Internet, I wouldn’t know any of this was even happening,” one insider says. “There might have been some muttering or something. But damn, now I’m getting emails from somebody in Knoxville who’s gotten an email from somebody in Memphis who’s been reading it on the Scene’s website, and all of a sudden there’s all this trash out there. There’s just reams of. I don’t think Freeman or Forrester ever expected that this would blow up.”
Indicting Bill Freeman
Posted on at 7:05 amA commenter follows the money of the new TNDP treasurer:
In 2006, Bill Freeman gave the Republican National Committee $10,000. In 2006, the Republican National Committee produced a certain television spot it ran against Harold Ford, Jr. That spot became known as the “Call Me” ad. I know you remember that one, don’t you, LWC?
If you ask me, Bill Freeman helped fund the “Call Me” ad - probably the most heinous piece of race baiting in modern Tennessee political history.
Remember that ad, LWC? The good-looking, bare-shouldered blonde whispering into the camera, “Harold, call me.” What was the message there, LWC? “Hey, you can’t vote for a black man. Black men are just out to get white women.”
That’s what Freeman’s money went to fund, and it infuriates me that Chip Forrester defends it. Chip Forrester said he would fight Republican racism whenever he saw it. I guess he meant he would fight it unless it was funded by his treasurer.
SEE ALSO: Braisted urges trolls to come correct.
More Explanations Of GOP Donations From New TNDP Treasurer
Posted on February 23, 2009 at 4:04 pmFrom a press release:
“In 2004, my neighbor hosted a fundraiser for President Bush,” Freeman says. “My son wanted to meet the President, so I gave $10,000 for two tickets. My motivation was not to help the GOP, it was to give my son the opportunity to meet the President of the United States. But, looking at the mess the Bush Administration has created in our country and around the world - this is not a decision I would repeat if I had to do over again.”
PREVIOUSLY:
TNDP’s New Treasurer Gave To GOP And Pinkston Spanks Chip
Is Chip Forrester A Tool Of Gary Odom?
TNDP Treasurer On His Republican Donations
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