Social media and the general public have knocked the absolute bejesus out of Tennessee Republicans after their stunt to expel 2 Black state congressmen went horribly wrong.
Politics :
Last week, Democratic Reps. Justin Jones (Nashville) and Justin Pearson (Memphis) were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives after participating in a demonstration against gun violence following the school shooting in Nashville that killed 6 people. Although Tennessee Republicans voted overwhelmingly to kick out the 2 Black congressmen, a 3rd protester — Rep. Gloria Johnson (who is White) — was allowed to remain.
Now, charges of racism have not only pissed off the Tennessee Republicans but have embarrassed the GOP on the state and national levels.
Late last week, the Tennessee Holler released leaked audio of an internal conversation among Tennessee Republicans confronting each other over the racist optics of their ill-conceived political stunt.
“I’m concerned I’m going to vote yes on a resolution that I know is wrong,” GOP Rep. Jody Barrett was overheard telling his colleagues on tape.
“You gotta do what’s right even if you think it might be wrong,” GOP Rep. Scott Cepicky replied to Barrett.
“I’ve been called a racist, a misogynist, a white supremacist more in the last two months than I have my entire life,” Cepicky said, audibly angry. “And by golly, I’m biting my tongue. And I’m telling you, all due respect, those days are wearing thin right now.”
He continued: “If we don’t stick together, if you don’t believe we’re at war for our republic, with all love and respect to you, you need a different job. The left wants Tennessee so bad…This is not a neighborhood social gathering. We are fighting for the republic of our country right now.”
Other Tennessee Republicans joined in the pity party.
“I listened for the last three days to Democrats trash us as racist. I’ve never had anybody call me a racist. And for the last three days, all I’ve heard from them is how this is the most racist place. One of them even [said] white supremacist,” GOP Rep. Jason Zachary cried to his colleagues.
“What they did today was equivalent, at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, to doing an insurrection in the State Capitol,” Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton said.
Democratic Reps. Jones and Pearson were eventually reinstated last week and allowed to return to their elected positions. However, the pathetic, penny-ante game of politics staged by the Tennessee Republicans has not only caused irreparable damage to the state party, but to the collective Republican Party, too.
OK WASSUP! discusses Politics :
Tennessee Republicans cry over racist optics.
That picture above of Southern, mostly older White men pretty much says it all.
Look at their faces. Scowling, fearful, angry that this ain’t “the good ole days” when a “nigger” knew his place or he’d get beat to death or lynched.
Yessiree, themz was the dayz!/sarc