Tennessee Democrats' double standard
Terry Frank rightly pointed out the reality yesterday that the Tennessee Democratic Party has a major double standard when it comes to people who cross the floor. About former State Senator Don McLeary, a longtime Democrat who crossed the floor and joined the Republicans last year, Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke had this to say, declaring that McLeary should return all monies that Democrats contributed to him:“Those were dollars contributed by good Democrats in good faith,” Tuke said. “By accepting our support and then switching parties before his term expired, Don McLeary acted in bad faith. At this point, the only honorable thing to do is to return those funds. If Don McLeary doesn’t return that money, then he’s not an honorable man.”
Wow...not an honorable man-those are strong words indeed. Since I am a person who believes that people ought to do their best to deal squarely with one another, I might believe that Tuke had a bit of a case in asking the converted Republican McLeary to return some of that cash. Tuke took it a step further by essentially saying that Senator McLeary was morally bankrupt:
“Clearly, Democrats made a bad investment in a candidate who turned out to be bankrupt of character,” Tuke said. “Like any creditor dealing with a bankruptcy, we’re going to seek to recoup our investment.”
There is one hitch-what the same Tennessee Democrats (remember, this has been the Party of power in Tennessee since Reconstruction) are eagerly awaiting my turncoat State Senator Mike Williams' vote for Senate Speaker and Lt. Governor, which they hope will again go to Democrat John Wilder-a vote that effectively thwarts the ability of the GOP majority in the Senate to control the floor. Now rumors abound that Williams is considering a run for Lincoln Davis' Congressional seat-as a Democrat. If that happens, I somehow do not expect the Democrats to cry over Williams' supposed hypocrisy.Labels: Tennessee politics
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 7:53 AM
3 Comments:
So Williams would presumably NOT run for re-election to his State Senate seat in 2008 and wait 2 years for Davis to vacate it and run for Governor?
Certainly if williams votes for Wilder, he would be primaried if he tried to run for re-election.
The Blue Dogs' star is on the rise in Congress. Lincoln Davis is now in a position of great influence. I wouldn't bank on his deserting that and running for governor.
Cracker;
I don't know if you follow East Tennessee politics all that much, but a Primary between Williams and Church Hill attorney Mike Faulk, who I hope will not mind if I call him a friend, is inevitable-all it will take to happen is for Faulk to agree to run. I believe Mike Faulk would beat Williams in a Primary.
Donna;
I would. Rumor has it (from people in the know) that his whole reason for Chairing Ford's campaign is to scope out a possible 2010 run for Governor.
He may not do it in the end, but it is on Lincoln Davis' radar screen, no doubt about it.
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