Update: Due to ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions in Nashville/Davidson County, the location for the Conservative Caucus on July 11 has been changed to the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro, 1200 Convention Center Boulevard, Murfreesboro. For more information and to register for the free event, go to the website here. A lunch will be available for $10 cash on the day of the event.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) and Representative Bruce Griffey, the organizers of the Conservative Caucus, sat down in the senator’s office at the Cordell Hull Building this week for an exclusive interview with The Tennessee Star to talk about the event scheduled for July 11.
The Conservative Caucus event, which recognizes that the United States is one nation under God – not government – will provide a unique opportunity for hundreds of Tennesseans to gather and honor their constitutional rights.
Pody credited Griffey with the “brainchild” of getting Conservatives across the state together to hear what’s on their hearts and minds
Early voting, Pody reminded, starts the week following the event.
As such, Griffey has arranged for a session with top candidates for the U.S. Senate. Candidates committed to attending the event, Griffey told The Star are Dr. Manny Sethi, Dr. George Flinn and Dr. Byron Bush. The candidates will speak to the attendees and participate in a Q&A session.
Other candidates for U.S. Senate were invited to attend but as Griffey explained Bill Hagerty had a scheduling conflict. Griffey expressed hope that the situation might change.
“It would be great to have all four of them there,” said Griffey about the top four candidates of the 15 who qualified for the Republican Party primary for U.S. Senate.
Griffey said, in addition to conservatives coming together about issues, “Let’s solidify our support behind a candidate so that we can pick the best Senate candidate for Tennessee.”
Early voting begins less than a week later on Friday, July 17 and runs through Saturday, August 1. Election day is August 6 with candidates for the state and federal primary as well as those for county general elections on the ballot.
Following the session with the U.S. Senate candidates, six speakers who are subject-matter experts, are scheduled.
John Harris, an attorney practicing in Nashville, has a broad practice base but is uniquely qualified to handle cases relative to the Second Amendment. Harris may be best known for his decades-long service and advocacy as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association.
Speaking on COVID-19 and Censorship will be Dr. Damon Petty. Dr. Petty is very accomplished in the area of orthopedic and sports medicine, and currently serves as the head physician for a variety of local sports teams.
Attorney Jeff Cobble is a frequent speaker, lecturer and teacher, including a course “The Institute on the Constitution,” and will be addressing the topic of Government Overreach.
Pro-life physician Dr. Brent Boles will be speaking on the issue. Dr. Boles is a practicing OBGYN for two decades, has written a book “Supremely Wrong, The Injustice of Abortion,” and has testified before state legislators on the topic including the State Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in April 2019, when the Heartbeat Bill was sent to summer study.
Don Barnett, fellow with the Center for Immigration Studies and published in National Review, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Times among others, is also the vice-chair of the Williamson County Republican Party and will be speaking on Immigration.
State Representative for the 40th House District, Terri Lynn Weaver, championed a 2017 resolution in the House that lead to a lawsuit against the federal government relative to the Tenth Amendment when it comes to paying for the Federal Refugee Resettlement Program and will be addressing the topic.
Dr. Ming Wang, in addition to his well-known work as an eye-surgeon, is also a co-founder of The Common Ground Network, which has a mission of helping people find common ground and solutions in their lives so they can be more successful. Dr. Wang will speak on the network during lunch.
The Conservative Caucus will be held at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel on Rosa Parks Boulevard in Nashville. The event is free, thanks to generous sponsors including a supporter of numerous conservative causes and local car dealer, Lee Beaman and Dr. Wang.
Senators Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) and Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) as well as Representatives Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski) and Griffey are also supporting the event.
Though the event is free, those planning to attend must get an Eventbrite ticket by going to conservativescaucus.com.
A cash lunch will be available to attendees at a cost of $10, payable at the event. Registering for a free event ticket will also serve to provide a count for lunch.
As the interview concluded, Pody expressed his appreciation for The Star, particularly for digging into the facts and unbiased reporting on what is happening in the State of Tennessee and across the country.
“It is one place that is not influenced by big media,” Pody went on to say.
The Star interview with Pody and Griffey can be watched here.
To obtain additional information and tickets for the Conservative Caucus on Saturday, July 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Millennium Maxwell House, go to ConservativesCaucus.com.
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Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star.
Photo “Mark Pody” by Mark Pody.
