HODGE-PODGE: the decline of the great state of Tennessee to ‘backwater’ status by T. Robert Hill, MCDP

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary says that a ‘hodge-podge’ is a ‘mixture’ or ‘jumble.’ As I sat at my computer starting to write the July column, my mind was a hodge-podge of emotions, including anger and sadness, all related to decline of the great state of Tennessee to ‘backwater’ status on the national level, the result of the divisive, racially polarizing plan by the Tennessee GOP.

Has Tennessee, the great Volunteer state, replaced Mississippi as the most insensitive, racially divided state in the Union? Can the Republican leadership in Tennessee not grasp the enormous damage that they have done to our State’s national reputation? Can we ever expect another national or international industrial prospect to consider seriously Tennessee as a site for a major expansion? Is it too late to salvage our lost honor and respect? These are all questions people were asking after the last election. It now appears that the answer to all of these questions is a frightening “no” because, Tennessee has again become the butt of late night talk show jokes and biting newspaper and magazine editorials condemning the racist attitudes of the current Tennessee Republican leadership.

Senator Diane Black, Senate Republican Caucus Chairperson, is the latest Republican official to accept passively racist behavior in Tennessee politics. Senator Black’s aide, Sherry Goforth, sent an egregious racist group photograph of the 44 Presidents of the United States. Forty-three official Presidential photographs were used for President Washington through President Bush. President Obama (#44) was depicted as two large, wide eyes on a solid background. “Spook” was the most common description used in some of the editorials and news reports condemning the insensitive promotion of racism by a Tennessee state employee.

The only explanation offered by Senator Black’s (R-Gallatin) aide is ‘I’m sorry; I sent it (the photograph) to the “wrong” list.” Senator Black reprimanded the aide for using a state computer to send the insulting and degrading photograph but did not terminate her. Even after an explosion of protests from citizens and a multitude of elected officials, urging the Senator to terminate Ms. Goforth because of the repugnant nature of the email. Senator Black continued to defend the light punishment meted out to her aide as “following protocol.”

I have read about the ‘Southern Strategy’ executed perfectly by the Republicans following the passage of the Voting Rights Act in the early 60s. They proudly used racism to split the South and to draw into their political web white southern Democrats. This strategy has allowed them to enjoy a solid Republican South for over three decades. Apparently, the Republican Party of Tennessee learned its only two plays from the same Southern playbook: division and racism. It is time for Tennessee Democrats to show Republicans that we are a better state than that. The Democratic Party in Tennessee must stand up for what is right. The Republican Party has claimed that the “G” in GOP stood for God for far too long. Perhaps the Tennessee GOP should ask: What would Jesus do? Jesus certainly would not condone racism and neither do the Democrats of Tennessee and Madison County.

Ask yourself another simple question: If Ms. Goforth sent the email to the ‘wrong’ list, whose names and electronic addresses are on the ‘right’ one. I suggest the “right” list is the Republican “right -wing.” Obviously, Ms. Goforth felt that the people on the “right” list would find her email amusing, not offensive as the persons on the “wrong” list did. Just how many Republican Senators and Representatives are on the “right’ list? Is Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (Senate Speaker) on the ‘right’ list? Are the recently elected State Comptroller (a Republican) and Secretary of State (a Republican) on the ‘right’ list? Senator Black should produce the ‘right’ list for public scrutiny. Tennesseans need to know who on the ‘right’ list is being paid by the citizens of this State.

Now one might be tempted to pass off the most recent racial incident as just an unfortunate mistake. However, before you do, you should remember that this is not the first time racism has been closely linked to the Tennessee GOP. In the most recent election (November 2008) in Upper East Tennessee, the Tennessee Republican Party sent out an infamous direct mail piece called “Birds of a Feather” that featured a flock of crows with the heads of now President Barack Obama and now Representative Nathan Vaughn (an African-American). Same GOP playbook. Same GOP plays. Division? Yes. Racist? Yes. Obama lost Tennessee but at what cost?

Well, you might say, twice is not too bad. But wait there was another”joke” that fell into the “wrong” hands. It was earlier this year that former Tennessee GOP (Republican) Party Chairman, Chip Saltsman, sent a CD to the entire Republican National Committee with the song ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ set to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon. Mr. Saltsman was one of the favorites for election as Chairman of the National Republican Party (Republican National Committee). His favored status was based primarily on his success in keeping Tennessee “red”. Apparently, the GOP’s ‘two play’ system is still alive and well in Tennessee.

The real question is ‘What are we going to do about it?’ How deep into political oblivion must we fall before we wake up? There is hope! The Democrats of Madison County are energized and already working to save our state from further decline. If you believe in our Constitution, in the equality of every man and woman, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then join the Tennessee Democratic Party at www.tndp.org . If you would like to be part of Tennessee’s future, one devoid of division over ’wedge’ issues, come join the Madison County Democratic Party. Come grow with us. Stand up for what is right in America. Check out the ‘new’ Madison County Democratic Party at www.democratsofmadisoncounty.org . We welcome anyone who believes in equality for all people, healthcare for every citizen, a quality education, a living wage for every worker and an end to the Iraq War. We are proud to be the Democrats of Madison County.