One of Jesus’ most famous sayings is from Matthew 12. He is accused of casting out a demon by the prince of demons and responds, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?”
Republicans in Tennessee are poised to ignore that wisdom and sacrifice one of their own. State Senator Kerry Roberts (TN-18) has been redistricted out of his seat by having his residence placed in Senate district TN-25 which already has a Senator, Jim Summerville. Roberts was elected to the Senate to replace Diane Black when she was elected to the US House.
I have very serious and very deep reservations about this decision.
There has been little publicity and practically no explanation given. Usually, given a hard or unpopular decision, leaders get out in front of an issue. They explain their actions, take questions and reassure the folks impacted by the matter. Senator Ron Ramsey’s office simply issued a brief press release last Wednesday and made no mention made of Senator Roberts. There is a separate fact sheet for the plan which does contain a brief reference to Senator Roberts near the end.
The plan is not final until voted on. But it is reported by some activists that the vote will be among the first the legislature takes; perhaps as early as today. After months of waiting and with all that is at stake, that would mean the plan would be released and approved in mere days. Even if the vote is delayed to this Friday, that leaves just over a week for public comment, input and discussion.
Nine months ago, the GOP pulled out all the stops for this seat. Bashed by Unions over Collective Bargaining and fearing the issue would energize the Democrat’s base and jeopardize GOP control of the seat, they called, emailed, talked and urged us to help hold this seat.
I remember being on the Capitol steps on March 5, in the rain, with thousands of fired up Union folks a block away. I was backing the GOP and their plans and working hard to get a Republican elected to this very Senate seat. That effort was successful. In last Wednesday’s presser, the Caucus announced they were giving it away.
This Fall the Caucus will no doubt be asking grassroots to work hard to elect new Republicans and help hold seats against Democrat challenges. I cannot be the only person seeing the irony in that. I cannot be the only person wondering why I should bother to help when my work might be discarded without rhyme or reason.
At the moment there are only questions without answers. I put some of them in writing to Lt Governor Ron Ramsey, Speaker of the Tennessee Senate and leader of Tennessee Senate Republicans. His office has not yet responded.
I asked things like: Were plans considered that did not entail sacrificing a Republican? If not, why not? If so, why did we not choose one of them? Is there any record of Democrats in Tennessee, even when they held similar majorities in the Legislature, drawing one of their own out of a seat? It has been suggested the decision was made due to threats of Democrat lawsuits. Could you explain why the decision was made to pick a fight with Republicans rather than Democrats or the Courts? Why choose political enemies over political allies? Why should Conservative grassroots respond positively to the inevitable requests for help in seating Republicans this Fall when GOP leadership doesn’t appear interested in keeping the Republicans it is given? With the decision announced, are there any plans to reconsider and choose a different course?
I don’t feel these are particularly nasty or “gotcha” questions. In fact, they seem quite reasonable to me. I hope answers are forthcoming and that they serve to calm the grassroots. While I wait to see what the Caucus chooses to do, I’ll ask them to reconsider throwing one of their own under the bus.
The wisdom of men, for as long as there have been men, has tried to dodge the “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand” bullet. Wisdom Himself said that isn’t possible. In the end, I guess it all comes down to who you choose to side with …
UPDATE: Sign the Petition asking the TN GOP Caucus to back away from this action!
SEE ALSO:
Is the Sacrifice of Kerry Roberts a Sign of Bigger Problems? by Rob Huddleston @ VOLuntarily Conservative;
Political Payback is Alive and Well by Mike Towle @ The Tennessean;
What sickens me, and we have remained entirely quiet on this over the past several months, several have been told that there are some who resent anyone from Robertson Co representing Sumner Co; that they will work hard to, one way or another, get Roberts elected out of that seat; that he has not 'done his time' and does not deserve that seat; that the voters/electorate do not understand what they do/did and this was a wrong-headed decision; that the majority caucus has to maintain their seat of power and a nobody can just come in there. I just can't sit here quiet with these obscene comments bouncing around and not say anything anymore.There is a whole lot to this issue up here and it's been going on ever since he was elected (by a whopping majority in Robertson). The election of Kerry Roberts by THE PEOPLE was/is a mandate….against politics as usual by the power-mongering, elitists who will attempt to hold their power at all costs….regardless of what the people want. ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SOME IN OUR LEGISLATURE OVER THE PAST YEAR, 'YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS DOWN HERE, AND YOU NEED TO LET US TAKE CARE OF THINGS.' We are in trouble, folks, if this behavior is allowed to remain AMONG OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. The whole thing has been under cover of darkness with no input from certain representatives (who never saw the plans) and the people, who while they give their input, are completely ignored!
Just a comment to note that it is not only Kerry Roberts that has been affected. Take a look at what they have done to House District 39, David Alexander, Winchester. He is newly elected who we helped win over a 20 year Dem. incumbant. They drew him out of part of his own home county. Computer generated population data is the reason they give! Yeah, right!
I TOTALLY agree with the perspective of this article, plus Tami's comments. It boggles the mind that the GOP would "eliminate" a Senator who WON with 67% of the vote in favor of someone who "won" with 51%, plus who in their right mind thinks a person can represent SIX Counties fairly and equitably. The Tea Party has worked for the last two years to get rid of "politics as usual" – we have supported strong conservatives like Senator Roberts and they "negate" our vote with a stroke of the pen. They negotiate behind closed doors, have NO public discussion forums, rush to get it pushed thru for a vote, all the while telling us to go away "this is the way that it has to be." They just make their elite decision and expect the "little" people" to "move along – nothing to see here." This is the type of behavior that we've seen from BHO, Pelosi and Reid and am disgusted to see it exhibited by Representatives in TN, ESPECIALLY THE GOP who I had hoped were above this. And the logic that three of the four people affected by this were Republicans so "see we're being fair" is BS – the One Democrat is in Leadership and the "losing" Republican didn't fit their agenda! Or, we HAD to do this to avoid splitting a County and generating a lawsuit – yet splitting Counties has been done in the past with no lawsuits brought by the Republicans – Just too convenient for me to believe…SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on all of them!!!!!! Just a bunch of pansies!!
There is a fight brewing here that we Tea Party types need to take heed of and learn how to fight. Notice that no one asked us our opinion of the changes. I don't remember anyone reaching out to the 912 Project and asking our opinion of the district changes. We weren't considered "stakeholders" in this decision. Why not? I guarantee that if the establishment were afraid of our wrath, then they would have bent over backwards to get our input. It may be presumptuous of me to believe that the establishment should consider our opinion of the matter, but I don't care. The establishment has NO RESPECT for the Tea Party. What brings respect? The simple answer is fear. We have not proven that we are respectable. The establishment does not fear us.
Niccolo Machiavelli, in his most excellent book The Prince says, "one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting. For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain ; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children, as I have before said, when the necessity is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt. And the prince who has relied solely on their words, without making other preparations, is ruined, for the friendship which is gained by purchase and not through grandeur and nobility of spirit is merited but is not secured, and at times is not to be had. And men have less scruple in offending one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared; for love is held by a chain of obligation which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purpose; but fear is maintained by a dread of punishment which never fails."
I know of a lot of Tea Party folks who are nervous about bringing money into the fight for our liberty. There are some who believe that holding a sign and shouting will accomplish their aims. That is a naive view at best. One nice lady that I recently talked to, had left the 912 Project Tennessee because we decided to develop the infrastructure that it takes to raise the funding to fight these types of fights. However, in order to be respected by our legislators, we are going to have to stand up our own candidates and put some of the establishment Republicans out of office in favor of our own. That takes money to fund these guys. Imagine the message that we could send if we were to run our own candidates as primary challenges and win.
Ken wrote another great post about the several states having to stand up against the federal government. We already have REPUBLICANS who are jumping trough hoops stating that we have to work to have Obamacare insurance exchanges installed in Tennessee.
In 1830, Andrew Jackson in response to a court ruling pronounced by Justice John Marshall (against indian removal) famously stated, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!" Lately it seems that President Obama has taken the same stance with recess appointments. I would like to see the State of Tennessee (and several others) make the same stand against the federal government. Simply say "NO" and mean it. Force the federal government to come here and enforce its will in regard to unconstitutional decisions. Stop taking federal money and stand against the federal government's abuse of the citizenry. However, until we as citizens can garner that kind of respect from our state government, we have little chance of the State taking that kind of stand on our behalf.
A couple observations: 1) The Tea Party is finding out what us gun owners' rights types have been seeing; we elect them then they ignore our interests. 2) Isn't the same thing happening to US Rep Scott DeJarlais (TN04)?
This is NOT RIGHT at all. Kerry Roberts has done an excellent job and is one of the best, most honest, reputable representative that we have in Tennessee. This is absurd, unconscionable. We send RINO's like Black to DC, yet boot an actual conservative that puts his constituents and state's best interest first, OUT OF OFFICE. This is wrong. Whoever made this decision needs to rethink it.
The Republican Elites have been scamming us just as much as the dem. I guess the federal level isn't the only place we need term limits. I really wonder how we can get any headway when too many people STILL let the media and attack ads make their decisions for them. Kerry was set up. These lines came from DC, with help from cronies in the TN Legislature who fear that their gravy train might be derailed if honest people come to serve. If our representatives in DC were truly the conservatives they claimed to be to get us to vote for them, they would be going after Obama with everything they have. Instead, they continue to grab their ankles while he violates our constitution on a daily basis. The only way to fix this is to vote ALL incumbents out. If they've been in more than two terms, they are beholden to too many special interests and other politicians. But still, for the next 10 YEARS, Robertson county will have no voice in the state senate. I also heard that U.S. Congressional districts were redrawn so that Lou Ann Zelenick could not run against Diane Black. This was cronyism with a HUGE dose of peronsal spite thrown in.
Of all the fine Republicans to do this to, Kerry is among the finest and it is tragic. The Democrats will stop at nothing and it makes my heart heavy for my friend. We will fight until the end, though.
I agree with all the comments and can't add much other than express my disappointment at this back room, shabby politics. Yes, shades of Obama, Pelosi and "Dusty", someone must be taking lessons in the local political hierarchy. All I can say, is that I'm targeting the defeat of several people and my time and money will go to others even if they aren't Republicans! We desperately need TERM LIMITS, but the local state people won't even discuss it, just "spin" it. It's a sad day when a public servant as devoted as Kerry Roberts has been has the door shut in his face without ANY legitimate reason other than their petty jealously.
This would not have happend if DIANE BLACK was in that seat !Iam done with BOTH parties
Oh my goodness. I've been a little out of touch, has Nashville's talk radio not exposed this? This will be the beginning of the end of the Republican majority if it is truely as dirty as it looks.
My deepest condolences to Senator Kerry and his family.
This is why we place our faith in God not man.
Garrett -
The story was broken publicly here at BCM as far as I can tell. The talk radio folks are aware of it and are deciding how best to report on it.
But I first heard about it on Friday evening from other Grassroots activists.
The one sure thing is that there was no straightforward announcement, reporting or promotion of the idea from the Legislature, Party or Caucus.
This story's been bouncing around Twitter since January 4, when TNTicket and I tweeted about it. Then Wes said something about it the same day.
And there you have the truth! Matt and TNTicket broke the story on Twitter on the day the presser was released.
Thanks for the heads up, Matt.
If the GOP Elite in Nashville redistrict the people's candidate, Kerry Roberts, out of office, perhaps it is time for the people to use Kerry Roberts to primary the RINO, Diane Black, out of office in Washington.
Kurt, you are right on target. tea party voters won't get the respect of the politicians without some level of fear which comes in the form of pain in the money jar or in the ballot box. That's all they know is pleasure or pain, and it hinges on them being re-elected. No way that pain-factor will happen with tea party folks making the politicians into their best friends rather than their representatives.
what i really want to know is WHO WILL PRIMARY DEBRA MAGGART next time she's running. She's gotten too darn comfortable and getting nothing but kudos from her adoring tea party fans.
I believe what Mike Towle said in his Tennessean article:
"At Roberts’ March 8 Election Night victory party, one influential Sumner County Republican told others in attendance that Roberts had better enjoy it while it lasted, hinting Roberts would no longer have a General Assembly seat once his term was completed.
That was either an uncanny prediction or a declaration of backdoor political payback already in the works."
Here's the link to that article – http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120110/GALLAT...
part of me wants to believe that our representatives are just that stupid to re-draw these districts this way. But in my heart i know they are just that devious and out-right cocky about it.
Perhaps the GOP has decided to cut this one loose because Kerry Roberts was seen reading a Ron Paul book and some of those Ron Paul supporters "who behave badly" campaigned for this man.
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=4...
Or maybe not, because Kerry Robert's voting record is indistinguishable from the rest of the GOP Senators.
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