Login | Create New Account | Facebook | Twitter
Homes | Jobs | Wheels | Worship | IShopTheTri | Move To Kingsport | Kingsport Chamber of Commerce
Print
Tennessee Republicans at odds over Right to Life endorsement
NASHVILLE — Republican legislators are at odds over whether to criticize the state’s largest anti-abortion organization for supporting a Democrat.
House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower drafted a letter to Tennessee Right to Life President Brian Harris saying the endorsement of Democrats would harm prospects for anti-abortion legislation.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Monday that he e-mailed the letter last week to House Republicans, inviting them to add their names to the letter. But several have objected, including House Speaker Kent Williams and Knoxville Reps. Bill Dunn and Stacey Campfield.
Mumpower cites the group’s endorsement of Democrat Ty Cobb in a special election last month that was won by Republican Rep. Pat Marsh of Shelbyville.
Mumpower’s letter says the anti-abortion organization doesn’t consider that the fate of legislation often depends on “behind the scenes” activity.
“These behind the scenes actions are either being ignored or maybe simply are not understood by Tennessee Right to Life,” the letter says. “By your own actions of supporting Democrat candidates you are saying you hope Democrat leaders once again are in the position of power and by your own actions you will help history repeat itself and you will help insure pro-life legislation is defeated.”
But other Republicans say the group is dedicated to the passage of anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution and is trying to gain more Democratic support. Republicans hold 51 seats in the 99-member House, but an amendment would require 66 votes.
Williams e-mailed a response on Friday supporting Right to Life as an “honest, straightforward, nonpolitical and non-hypocritical” group.
“While it may be politically expedient to condemn and denounce the Tennessee Right to Life organization, it is not fair, it is not right and it will not go toward achieving our mutual goal of having the 66 votes required,” Williams wrote.
Dunn said the letter was “trashing the group that only endorsed Republicans” in 2008.
“I decline your offer to attack an organization that weighed the facts and made a principled decision,” said Dunn in one of several e-mails on the subject obtained by the newspaper.
Mumpower said he planned to mail the letter Wednesday. He told the newspaper the letter was drafted as the request of “many of our caucus members who feel Tennessee Right to Life takes for granted the support received from (Republicans) and that they are tone deaf politically.”
Harris said he has not yet received a letter from Mumpower, but said several legislators called to offer their support.
“The Tennessee Right to Life was founded on a nonpartisan commitment to supporting the election of both pro-life Republicans and pro-life Democrats and that will continue to be the position of the organization,” he said Monday.
To comment, you must register.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the registered user participating in online discussions. You agree not to post comments off topic, abusive, obscene, defamatory, vulgar, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned.
Most Popular News
Today | Week | Month | Year
- Oprah says prayer, thought influenced decision to end TV show
- Gang killed people for their fat; it's worth $60,000 a gallon on black market
- Black Friday 'doorbusters' dirty little secrets - what bargain-hungry consumers need to know
- Machete bandit robs same Kingsport Sunoco station for second time
- Man accused of stealing large amount of metals from Bristol business
- Proposed Aug. 2 start of Kingsport schools might move Fun Fest events
- Movie Review: Apocalyptic ‘2012’ sacrifices story for special effects
- Gallup says Obama's daily approval rating drips below 50% for first time
- Kingsport police going paperless with PDAs
- Tennessee colleges gird for cuts, tuition hike
Most Popular News
Today | Week | Month | Year
Featured Blogger
Murdoch faces off with Google in Free vs Paid
By David Cate - 11-10-2009
The media landscape was reeling yesterday as Rupert Murdock, the world's most powerful media owner, suggested he may block Google's search e...
Most Discussed
Today | Week | Month | Year
- America is heading down the road to socialism
- With Mom's OK, officer uses Taser to subdue 10-year-old girl who didn't want to go to bed
- Photo of Obama not saluting at ceremony is not what outrage e-mails claim
- Judge strikes down Tennessee guns-in-bars law
- Blountville man charged with rape of a child
- Black Friday 'doorbusters' dirty little secrets - what bargain-hungry consumers need to know
- Oprah says prayer, thought influenced decision to end TV show
- Two arrested in Kingsport prostitution sting
- Proposed Aug. 2 start of Kingsport schools might move Fun Fest events
- Kingsport nurse accused of stealing credit cards from elderly patient's daughter
Most Discussed
Today | Week | Month | Year
topjobs
Browse Premiere Local Businesses
Home | Login | Local News | Obits | Sports | Business | Opinions | Blogs | Classifieds| Business Profiles
Web Feeds/RSS | Contact Us | Customer Service | Privacy Statement | Common Questions | E-Edition | Subscriptions | Site Map
© 2009 Kingsport Publishing Corporation - Innovation by Times Digital Group
Abortion Laws do not apply to all women just the poor.
The wealthy or those with access to wealth hop a plabe of go to Private Hospitals and get what ever medical care they want.
Unless laws are applied equally then they are UnConstitutional .
Where is the Right to Life demanding Urine testing for all women leaving the State or the Country to make sure the laws of the land are applied equally ????
Not surprised that the Republicans are holding children's lives hostage for votes. TRtL has figured out that the Republican party is not really pro-life.
So, Mumpower must think that we all have short memories and that we've forgotten about his debacle last year...all the money he spent for a photographer to follow him around for his 'moment'...all the flags he bought for intentions to have someone raise/lower them all day for mementos of 'his' day.
No...we've not forgotten...Democrats & Republicans alike. Just add this to the list...
This spineless shell of a man will not see another term...the voters will make sure of that.
Maybe he gathers all of his knowledge from his collection of 17,000+ comic books cataloged and organized within his private collection gathered over 23 years.....in which he "reads a comic book each night before going to bed"
So what's new? republicans can't agree on anything if one is for it the other one is not and so on it goes and i'm not a democrat either but they do a lot better than republicans and allways have...