Word Fight: Local Politics Finally Gets Interesting… Sort Of
Fri, Sep 12, 2008
Seems Black went on a radio show called “The Breakfast Show” on 1010AM WHIN the other day and had some political discussions. In the course of that interview, she said the following:
“If you haven’t voted in two of the past three presidential races, then I think we ought to say we’re taking your right away,”
Hawkins pounced on it like a kitten after a cricket, and issued a press release denouncing his opponent’s “extreme and insulting” suggestion.
Stirred up some hornets with that one.
But it turns out that a closer examination of the entire interview shows that the quote used by Hawkins is taken a bit out of context. It was a more lighthearted–almost joking–comment in the midst of a broader statement about how passionate she is about this country. She had also made strong statements during the show that every vote matters. Here are her full comments, in context:
“I’m a patriot,” Black said on WHIN. “I believe — having traveled in countries where (they) don’t have the kind of democracy and freedoms we do here — I am just appalled when someone tells me that they don’t vote and they don’t care about voting.
“I actually have teased before and said I think we ought to look at the population of the county and if you haven’t voted in two of the last three presidential races, I think we ought to say we’re taking your right away. Maybe that would encourage people to get out and vote.”
So maybe Hawkins wasn’t listening closely enough when he fired off his press release calling for Black to apologize. Either way, once he heard the entire quote, he realized how wrong he was… NOT! Actually, he released another press release that essentially said, “I was wrong… but I was still right.” Good saving face, man.
Anyway, then Senator Black was all, “Oh no you didn’t!”
And Hawkins was like, “Oh yes I did!”
And Senator Black was all, “You’re off my fave five!” And then she grew ten feet tall and turned into a mechanical dinosaur and started breathing fire.
And Hawkins started sobbing and ran away.
The end.
And that, my friends, is the most scandal and controversy we’ve seen in local politics in years. Man, I love a good politics fight. It’s right up there with church board fights, parent/teacher meeting fights, and little league fights.
It may not be much, but it’s about the zestiest local politics is going to get, so I’ll take it.
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Tags: Fights, State Senate, Sumner Politics
September 12th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Nice perspective here. If this is as interesting as it gets, it might be a pretty boring season! Actually, here’s hoping that we (the voters) look at the issues and not the personalities and petty political fights when we decide. Good politics need not be entertaining, unfortunately that is often what we look for and what the media hopes to provide. Good politics should be a reasoned approach to the issues and where candidates/parties disagree. These disagreements should be aired in public forums where the voters can ask questions and make up their own mind. Partisan bickering is not statesmanship. Here’s hoping for more statesmen and fewer politicians. Here’s hoping the voters get to meet and hear the real Jim Hawkins and Diane Black. I’m as partisan as they come, but I still have a little idealism left in me.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Man, even the smaller local elections can’t help but turn into catfights.
September 17th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Then why aren’t you at the Sumner County BOE meeting tonight. I was counting on ya. I just want to find out what’s going on from the comfort of my bed in Davidson County where I get a different public access channel. Is this too much to ask. Seriously, though, you really want political excitement, there is plenty and I can point you in the right direction. No drama follows Senator Black. Everyone likes her. She’s just so darn likeable, she can’t even help. I’d hate to see her Christmas card list.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
What makes you think I wasn’t there?
I mean… I wasn’t there. But I wonder what made you so sure I didn’t go?
Maybe it was that universal truth that school board meetings are boring. Or maybe I’ve run out of gas, and can’t find a service station that has any to sell me. Believe me, I’ve got excuses for days.
All sarcasm aside, I have a nice write-up of the meeting ready to go here in just a few minutes. Just because I couldn’t be there doesn’t mean I didn’t send spies.