Tennessee Executive Democrat Blames Fox News
Fred Hobbs, an executive committee member of the Tennessee Democratic Party, seems to have spoken out of turn on behalf of superdelegate Lincoln Davis (D-US House 4th District). Davis had not yet pledged his support for Obama.
When asked about the delay, Hobbs stated the following:
“I’m not sure we know enough about him. He’s got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be.”
He also stated:
“[Obama] has associates who are connected to terrorism. It does throw a red flag up for me ….I certainly don’t think he’s a terrorist. I’ve just heard he has associates who might have those ties.”
Wow. That’s pretty damning stuff if you have an executive of a state political party making wild accusations about the national party’s choice for President.
Davis, whom is rumored to be seeking the Governor’s seat in 2010 quickly ran interference.
Mr. Hobbs is neither a constituent, close friend nor political ally of mine,” Davis says. “His statements were wrong, outrageous and unacceptable.”
The Tennessee Democratic Party released a statement on Monday.
The Tennessee Democratic Party is united behind our party’s nominee, Senator Barack Obama. Mr. Hobbs is obviously misinformed, and his statement highlights the perpetual efforts of the Republican Party, especially here in Tennessee, to turn internet smears and highly offensive gossip into their party’s message against Senator Barack Obama as we head into the General Election. Instead of debating the issues, the Tennessee Republican Party continues to rely upon slanderous and salacious tall tales. They are borrowing from the playbook first written by Richard Nixon and employed in the race against Congressman Harold Ford Jr. Tennesseans of every political persuasion are tired of these tactics.
Hobbs then apologized on Tuesday.
I am writing to apologize for my recent remarks about Senator Barack Obama. My statements to various Nashville media were wrong and offensive. I apologize if my remarks in any way hurt any of our great Democratic candidates, including Senator Obama. Also, I apologize if my comments embarrassed our state or my friends at the Tennessee Democratic Party.
I was not as well prepared as I should have been when speaking with reporters, and I should have taken more time to research Senator Obama’s positions. My comments did reflect questions I had after what I had seen reported on Fox News, but I should have taken some time to check the accuracy of what I saw on television before speaking publicly. My statement that Senator Obama “may be terrorist-connected” was incorrect, and I apologize for making it.
As a lifelong Democrat, I believe in the values and ideals of the Democratic Party. I am honored to represent the 13th Senatorial District, and I look forward to working with Senator Obama, each of you, and every Democrat in the 13th District to elect Democrats this November.
Warmest Regards,
Fred Hobbs
As seen above, Hobbs told the Tennessean that his comment was derived based on coverage he had seen on Fox News.
Seriously? A supposed party executive that hasn’t done his homework on the nominee, blames Fox News for his ineptitude? I’m sure most liberal bloggers are asking why this guy was watching the “conservative news network” anyhow.
Also, way to deflect your leadership’s obvious lack of knowledge, tact, and interest in the current election by blaming this event on Nixon-era Republican tactics. Kudos also goes to the party for roping Harold Ford Jr. into the fray as well. I’m not exactly sure what the purpose was for that. Maybe they are going for a racial slant? I guess we’ll never know.
Furthermore, if the Tennessee Republican Party has supposedly peed in the proverbial pool so much that Democrat leaders can be swayed so easily, they may want to just retreat into bunkers underground until the election season is over.
Methinks Mr. Hobbs will be searching for a new job soon.
Furthermore, this incident calls to question; do we Tennesseans want a fence-sitter like Davis as a governor? Why hasn’t this guy made up his mind yet? No one is running against Obama now, so the choice is simple. You either pledge for Obama, or you don’t. The decision seems pretty simple to me.