Category Archives: Republican Party

More TN partisan sniping over misbehavior

The Tennessee Republican Party has cited the theft charges filed against Hamblen County’s Democratic Party chairman in a news release that declares “misbehavior by Democratic officials has become a theme in 2016.”

The Tennessee Democratic Party has cited domestic violence charges filed against Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold, already facing trial on federal corruption charges, as an another example that “Tennessee Republican corruption goes all the way to the core.”

The Morristown Citizen-Tribune reported last week that Timothy Wayne Woodard of Talbott, Hamblen County Democratic chairman and a member of the county election commission, has been indicted by a grand jury on nine misdemeanor counts of theft and illegal removal of documents from the Circuit Court office where he once worked.

The newspaper quoted an investigator as saying there were actually 57 files missing from the court office and all were recovered — 55 from the lawyer’s office where Woodard now works and two from his brief cases. Continue reading →

TNGOP chooses slate of 11 presidential electors

The Tennessee Republican Party’s State Executive Committee has chosen a slate of 11 members of the national Electoral College for the formal process of choosing the nation’s next president following the November election. The Republican slate will cast the Tennessee ballots if Donald Trump carries Tennessee, as generally anticipated.

Two of the Republican electors, Joey Jacobs of Brentwood and Beth Scott Clayton Amos of Nashville, fill the slots designated for the state’s two U.S. Senate seats. The others each represent one for each the state’s nine congressional districts.

Here’s the list of electors by congressional district, as provided by TNGOP.

Congressional District 1: Jason Mumpower of Bristol.
Congressional District 2: Susan Mills of Maryville.
Congressional District 3: Liz Holiway of Harriman.
Congressional District 4: Lynne Davis of Lascassas.
Congressional District 5: Tom Lawless of Nashville.
Congressional District 6: Mike Callahan of Monterey
Congressional District 7: Pat Allen of Clarksville.
Congressional District 8: Shannon Haynes of Alamo.
Congressional District 9: Drew Daniel of Memphis.
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From a TNGOP press release:

TNGOP Chairman Ryan Haynes remarked, “These people have been instrumental in the success of the Republican Party and we are proud to name them as electors to represent our state.”

These electors were officially submitted to the Tennessee Secretary of State earlier today. The meeting of the presidential electors will take place on December 19, 2016 in the House Chamber of the Tennessee Capitol.

Matheny speech on TNGOP ‘crisis’ spurned

The Tennessee Republican Party Executive Committee took a vote Saturday on whether to let state Rep. Judd Matheny address the body on his belief the party faces a “crisis,” in part over leadership ties to a consulting firm that helped challengers attack him and other incumbents in this year’s primary elections.

The result, according to The Tennessean: 24 voted to let Matheny talk; 35 voted no.

In recent months, Matheny has taken issue with the fact that Southland Advantage – a company founded by Taylor Ferrell, who is the wife of the party’s political director, Walker Ferrell – was once hired by candidates running against Matheny, Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, and U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais.

All three lawmakers beat their challengers in the state’s Aug. 4 primary election.

Several party members, including Wilson County Republicans, have called for the firing of Walker Ferrell, as well as party chairman Ryan Haynes and Brent Leatherwood, the state party’s executive director, arguing that they have condoned activity that undermines the work of incumbent Republicans.

…Matheny later told The Tennessean that he hoped to provide SEC members with a packet of information that included a two-page speech, his April letter and other notes about Southland Advantage’s involvement in primary election races.

…“We are here today because we know and the public knows that our party is in crisis,” Matheny wrote in his prepared remarks. “We are at a point where we have to make a choice. We either work to restore our party to one that conducts its business with integrity and based on principles, or we stand by and watch it decline into Obama-like lawlessness.”

… Matheny said the party cannot continue to “buddy up with people of questionable ethical behavior who for their own personal benefit and ambition are willing to lie, cheat and bend the rules until they become unrecognizable.”

Haynes has previously said that no party staff members have been involved in any Republican primaries. In an email sent to SEC members in May, Haynes said the party has a long-standing policy of staying out of primary elections but the bylaws do not prevent “vendors or spouses of staffers from engaging in primaries.”

…Matheny also said Haynes originally told him he could address the SEC but was removed from the agenda during a last minute administrative meeting held Friday night.

Haynes confirmed that the party’s administrative committee voted against Matheny speaking but added that he supported the lawmaker.

“I think it would’ve been in the best interest of the party to allow him to have an opportunity to speak,” he said, adding that he and Matheny disagree on the facts.

Matheny said Haynes has been “very disingenuous” with him, adding that the chairman told him Saturday morning that he would “lobby” for the lawmaker to address the audience. Matheny also said he would only talk to Haynes via email or in public because “I can’t trust him.”

Haynes said he was sorry Matheny felt that way about him and that he believes the lawmaker is “an outstanding conservative legislator.”

Windup TN notes on GOP national convention

Press release from TNGOP
CLEVELAND, Ohio-July 21, 2016–The Tennessee Republican Party released the following statement from Chairman Ryan Haynes regarding the conclusion of the 2016 Republican National Convention:

“While 2016 has showcased the passions within our Party, it only serves as evidence of how ready we are to get to work. Congressman Marsha Blackburn clearly and concisely laid out what’s at stake. With delegates voting to name Donald Trump and Mike Pence the Republican nominees for President and Vice President, all of us are ready to get to work and do everything possible to defeat Hillary Clinton and the Democrats in November.”

“This has been an incredibly successful week for the Republican Party. For Tennessee, our delegation came together with the objective of uniting—and we did. One thing that struck me is how all of us want to believe this nation can continue its exceptional run of the last 240 years as a beacon of opportunity, hope, and stability in an uncertain world. We’re the Party that can turn that belief into a reality. That’s the message the Tennessee Republican Party will be engaging voters with this fall.”
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TN talk on Trump and NATO
By the Associated Press
Tennessee Republican National Convention delegate Victor Ashe, a former ambassador to Poland, says he hopes Donald Trump clarifies a suggestion that the U.S. might abandon its NATO military commitments if he were elected president.

Trump told The New York Times that he would review allies’ financial contributions before acting under NATO’s mutual defense clause, if any of the countries were attacked by Russia.

Ashe says he hopes Trump will reiterate strong support for the nation’s NATO treaty obligations. He says they are “an important component of our European alliance” and as binding on a president as a law.

Sen. Bob Corker, a Trump supporter and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, says Trump was only expressing exasperation that the U.S. plays an outsized role in the protection of NATO allies. Continue reading →

TN Republicans on Cruz non-endorsement (‘excellent’ to ‘unfortunate’)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee delegates to the Republican National Convention have mixed reactions to a Wednesday speech by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in which he stopped short of endorsing Donald Trump.

Delegation Chairwoman state Sen. Mae Beavers says she thinks Cruz broke a promise to support the party’s nominee. But she says it “says a lot” for the Trump campaign that they let Cruz speak anyway.

But delegate Victor Ashe, a former ambassador to Poland, says he was “very surprised” the Trump campaign did not make an endorsement of the nominee a condition of allowing Cruz to speak.

Meanwhile, delegate Charlie Cato, a Nashville attorney and Cruz supporter, says Cruz’s speech was excellent, and he approves of Cruz’s call to delegates to vote their conscience in November.
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Excerpt from Victor Ashe’s “Delegate Diary” on the same subject:

The Atlantic magazine has been sponsoring breakfasts and some lunches during convention week at the Blue Pointe Grill in Cleveland, with in-depth analysis of various topics.

On Thursday morning the conversation generally ranged from a tough and uphill climb for Trump to reach the White House to the future of the GOP. Most felt U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who came up short in his nomination run, used his time Wednesday night not endorsing trump “for his benefit.”

Some felt if Trump wins without him, Cruz will be finished in politics, while others felt if Trump fails in November then Cruz has positioned himself well for 2020.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has of this writing not endorsed Trump either. He urged Trump to give a positive speech Thursday night but never stated if Trump meets the threshold for support. Trump delegates at the convention are very disappointed with Haslam.

Susan Richardson Williams, longtime GOP activist and close friend of Haslam, keeps saying the (g)overnor will back Trump yet.

Other comments on the panel:
Continue reading →

Day 3 notes on TN delegates at GOP convention

Excerpts from today’s edition of former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe’s “Delegate Diary” at the Republican National Convention:

(Donald) Trump Jr.’s appearance and presentation is very different from his father as was demonstrated in his speech Tuesday night to the convention. In fact, if he were the candidate I suspect 65 percent of the misgivings and doubts many have about his father would vanish. He is that good.

The father of five and articulate, Trump Jr. talked about ‘streamlining the system and getting rid of the hangers-on and nonsense.” He said his father is “the most famous man in the world who so few know.”

… Knoxvillians Jimmy and Dee Haslam hosted a luncheon Wednesday for the nation’s Republican governors and large donors to the Republican Governors Association at their large home on Lake Erie east of Cleveland. Twenty governors attended, including Gov. Haslam and Pence, who pledged that “federalism” would be a hallmark of a Trump administration, according to sources.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich was not present, although Jimmy Haslam had been a donor to his presidential campaign.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd of Knoxville, who is being mentioned as a possible 2018 candidate for governor, attended the luncheon as well as a delegation breakfast at the Radission. Boyd, who is sponsoring a luncheon for the delegates on Thursday, said he backs Trump for president.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee delegation and alternates attended a luncheon at Cleveland’s Museum of Contemporary Art, which featured speeches by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and four members of the state’s congressional members — Phil Roe, Marsha Blackburn, Chuck Fleishmann and Scott DesJarlais. Continue reading →

An ‘oops’ and other TN doings at GOP convention

A transcript of state Sen. Mae Beavers, chair of Tennessee’s delegation to the Republican National Convention, in casting the state’s presidential delegate votes on Tuesday, as reported by The Tennessean.

“Madame secretary, the Volunteer state, the state with no income tax, a budget surplus, and a balanced budget. A state that is in the top five for jobs growth, number one in auto-manufacturing, with a Republican Governor, Two Republican US Senators, seven Republican congressmen, and a two-thirds majority in the state house and state senate.

“Our pro-life state, proudly casts our votes: 16 votes for Senator Ted Cruz, 19 votes for Senator Marco Rubio, and 33 votes to ‘Make America Great Again’ with Donald J Trump.”

Actually, the Rubio total was wrong. He had nine Tennessee delegates; not 19. … The leaders of the convention’s roll call process asked the Tennessee delegation to repeat their votes and Beavers read the correct totals the second time around.
— Continue reading →

Delegate Victor Ashe: Party platform puts GOP ‘squarely on the right’

Note: Victor Ashe, former Knoxville mayor and U.S. ambassador to Poland, will be writing a “Delegate Diary” for the News Sentinel from the 2016 Republican National Convention. The following is an excerpt from his report on a meeting of the Platform Committee, of which he is a member:

The committee-approved platform “certainly marks the party as the most conservative.

Whether social issues or national defense or economic issues, the party is squarely on the right. To the credit of the 112 delegates, there was extensive debate and almost exhaustive consideration given.

The section on foreign policy was titled a “Dangerous World,” and contains the view of how the world looks today. Given the tragic set of attacks across the world, the title is an accurate summary of the situation all of us face.

As an observer, the shortcomings were lack of substantive research on some amendments as there was on occasion an absence of resources to verify or nullify assertions. That is why the committee focused on national security and relationships with foreign allies in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. The United Kingdom was recognized as our top ally — whether the U.K. is in the European Union or not.

A quick glance at the composition of the Platform Committee shows a membership overwhelmingly white, with only one African-American woman and one openly gay woman. At some point, the Republican Party must include more nonwhites if there is a serious intent to win future national elections. The makeup of the committees is governed by each state delegation, which chooses one man and one woman on each standing committee.

…An innovative development among committee members was continued discussion on changing to a short, direct statement of principles not to exceed 1,200 words. Such a platform would be much more readable and understandable than the current 33,000-word document.

Led by Boyd Matheson of Utah, the effort to shrink built support as the arcane debate on numerous amendments left delegates wondering how much the American public would ever understand or know about the decisions made in Cleveland. They are right on target: only policy wonks and some media people will ever read such long reports.

Shorter statements of principle for both political parties would enable more voters to be better informed on both parties’ platform. Perhaps it would increase voter turnout. Such a move could not take place until the 2020 presidential election.

Sunday column: On TN bipartisan party dysfunction

When Tennessee Democratic Chair Mary Mancini recently ordered the settlement of a Shelby County Democratic Party squabble over financial mismanagement, her Republican counterpart, Ryan Haynes, promptly issued a press release denouncing “Democrat dysfunction.”

“Instead of taking responsibility and cleaning up the mess, the TNDP wants to ignore the problem in the hope that it goes away. It’s part of a disturbing pattern for them: Democrat public officials do something wrong and their Party pretends nothing ever happened. It’s right out of the Hillary Clinton playbook and it spells disaster for them this fall in Tennessee.”

That followed, by a couple of weeks, a TNGOP news release — with the headline “Tennessee Democrats: Corrupt to the Core” — that recited a list of Democratic officeholders who have run afoul of the law, starting with former Gov. Ray Blanton in the 1970s and continuing to Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, who is facing trial on federal tax evasion charges. Continue reading →

Winslow quits TNGOP: ‘Our soul rotted away some time ago’

Mark Winslow, former chief of staff for the Tennessee Republican Party, resigned Thursday as a member of the state GOP Executive Committee in a letter posted on Twitter, reports Nashville Post Politics.

“As it’s currently constituted, TNGOP is really nothing more than a small corrupt core group who view our party as their private club and personal piggy bank,” wrote Winslow. “Our soul rotted away some time ago.”

Winslow confirmed that his timing was no coincidence: After losing his job and suing the party and surviving several attempts to kick him off the SEC, he wanted declare his independence in concordance with the national holiday.

“I’ve actually wanted to quit for three years,” Winslow says. “It’s a relief. It’s time for someone else to step in.”

Winslow said his resignation had nothing to do with the battle over delegates for presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, nor over a bylaw likely to come before the SEC at its next meeting in August that would automatically remove SEC members from the committee if they have ever worked for a Democrat running for office, which Winslow did.

“They’ve tried to change the bylaws a few times regarding me, and it’s never worked,” Winslow said. “It wouldn’t have worked this time, either.”

But other SEC members — all of whom were surprised by the sudden resignation, though most declined to comment on record — said Winslow would not have kept his position past August, nor were they upset to see him go.

“Good riddance to bad rubbish!” SEC secretary Christi Cross said. “My hope is that a bona fide Republican, with a commitment to the party and its platform, will be appointed to fill his term.”

The state GOP office declined comment, saying they still hadn’t officially received notice of Winslow’s resignation. Winslow said this was intentional on his part, because the party “stopped communicating” with him “long ago.”

“Really, this is a very happy time for me,” Winslow said. “It was the right time for me to do something other than dealing with the bickering of the state executive committee.”

With or without Winslow, the “bickering” on the SEC seems likely to continue throughout the primary and at least until the August board meeting.
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Note: TNGOP Chairman Ryan Haynes notified SEC members that he had accept the resignation, but had no comments on Winslow’s remarks. Says Haynes letter to the committee:

As many of you are aware, Mark Winslow has publicly communicated his resignation from the State Executive Committee. I am accepting that resignation effective immediately. We wish him well with his important work with veterans for Judge Blackburn.

Per the Bylaws of the Tennessee Republican Party, I will appoint a special subcommittee to make a recommendation to the full SEC for a new male representative of the 19th District.

I hope each of you has a happy and safe Independence Day.
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Text of Winslow’s resignation letter is below. Continue reading →