National GOP leader vows to help boot Tennessee’s House speaker out of office

Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 5/26/9 | Richard Locker

[SmithL]

NASHVILLE — Over the weekend, Republican National Chairman Michael Steele ventured into Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams’ backyard in upper East Tennessee and pledged to oust Williams next year.

The Kingsport Times-News quoted Steele as saying: “I got a bull’s eye right on his back and we’re taking him out.”

Williams is the second-term legislator and Elizabethton restaurateur who stunned fellow Tennessee Republicans when he joined the House’s 49 Democrats in voting for himself for speaker Jan. 13 to defeat his own Republican Caucus’ nominee.

For that, the Tennessee Republican Party declared he was no longer a member of the GOP and could not appear as a Republican on next year’s ballot. Williams responded to the state party chairman by designating himself a “Carter County Republican.”

This afternoon, he responded to the national GOP chairman’s attack by saying that as House speaker for 4 months, he has upheld core GOP principles on small business, gun rights, anti-abortion issues and small government — while putting partisan rhetoric and distractions behind to focus on the priorities of Tennesseans.

“I have a 100% voting record with the National Federation of Independent Businesses... Under my tenure as speaker, I have guided to the House floor legislation which has allowed legally permitted handgun owners to carry their guns in additional areas for their self-protection. We have moved to the floor of the House and passed for the first time ever Senate Joint Resolution 127 allowing the people to vote on a pro-life amendment to our constitution.

“I do not want government involved in all aspects of our citizens’ lives. I am a proponent of a small, efficient government. I believe in balanced budgets, where we live within our means. I believe in working to improve our schools, bringing in and keeping good jobs and keeping the government off the backs of working families.”

Williams claimed that he’s found support from Tennesseans for his approach, despite “the politics of Washington telling them to think otherwise. This is a challenging time in our history. I will not let rhetoric and outside distractions keep me from the work we have at hand.”

Steele was the main speaker at the Sullivan County GOP’s annual Reagan Day dinner Saturday night in Kingsport. The Kingsport Times-News reported that his “sharp criticism of Williams drew approving applause in the crowd of about 600 Republicans. Steele said Williams had “betrayed every Republican in this state.”

[OrangeDaisy]

Tennessee Republicans got caught with their pants down. I was never so disgusted in my life. To hold the first majority in 130 years, and then let the dems install a RINO speaker. They were naive, and didn’t make sure they had the votes they needed to elect their Speaker of choice. Hopefully they learned their lesson, and they’ll never ever forget that Dems always play dirty!

[Red_Devil 232]

"... they’ll never ever forget that Dems always play dirty!"

Wanna bet?

[SuperLuminal]

"Williams is the second-term legislator and Elizabethton restaurateur who stunned fellow Tennessee Republicans when he joined the House’s 49 Democrats in voting for himself for speaker Jan. 13 to defeat his own Republican Caucus’ nominee. "

Sounds like he is a Colon (sp intentional) Powell admirer.

[fieldmarshaldj]

140 years. Williams is a termite. Boss Hogg Naifeh had his hand so far up Traitor Kent’s ass you could see his fingers coming out of his mouth.

[Impy]

That Steele, so erratic. Say something good, say something dumb.

[cva66snipe]

I don't mind getting rid of a turncoat. But on the other hand the RNC’s idea of the needed Republican may be one as liberal as Taxquist was. I don't trust Williams by any means but some good bills have gone through though to our advantage. The state GOP should do what needs doing if it needs done and the RNC especially in these times stay out of it as it is a state office.