Tag: Phil Bredesen

Blackburn, Bredesen Trade Barbs in Senate Debate

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen, Marsha Blackburn

U.S. Senate candidates Rep. Marsha Blackburn and former Governor Phil Bredesen traded barbs in a debate at Cumberland University Tuesday. U.S. Representative Blackburn (R-TN-07) called Bredesen out on a number of issues at the debate at the university in Lebanon, from allegedly covering up sexual harassment in the state’s executive office to being financially dependent on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The video archive is available here:   The debate was sponsored by NewsChannel 5, The Tennessean, Nashville Public Television, the League of Women Voters and Cumberland University.  NewsChannel 5 anchor Rhori Johnston and David Plazas, opinion engagement editor at The Tennessean, were co-moderators. Blackburn reminded viewers that Bredesen is “bought and paid for” by Schumer, who recruited the former governor to run for the Senate and has financed his campaign. Schumer’s PAC donated $10,000 to Bredesen’s campaign earlier this year, and the Schumer aligned Senate Majority PAC has already booked more than $2 million in ads in Tennessee, The Tennessee Star previously reported. The candidates were asked if they would vote for Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. Bredesen said what both parties are doing “disgusts me” and repeated previous claims the nomination is a circus. He said he wanted…

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Phil Bredesen’s Connections to Hillary Clinton Go Back Decades to Their Work Together for Liberal Democrat Presidential Candidate Eugene McCarthy in 1968

Steve Gill
Phil Bredesen and Hillary Clinton

These days former Tennessee Governor and Democratic Party nominee Phil Bredesen is working overtime to distance himself from his huge donations to liberal Democratic political candidates, including over $44,000 to help elect Hillary Clinton.  A Tennessee SuperPAC is working to remind voters about that. Bredesen recognizes that his partisan political past doesn’t really fit his rebranding as a “non-partisan” who is “willing to work with President Trump.” The fact that Tom Steyer, the liberal Democrat billionaire from California who is spending $100 MILLION to impeach Trump, has made financial contributions to the Bredesen campaign also tends to undercut his “media makeover.” But Bredesen’s close connections to Hillary Clinton predate his financial support for her failed Presidential run in 2016. While the media hasn’t paid much attention to the fact, the truth is that Hillary and Bredesen worked together in New Hampshire in 1968 for liberal Democratic Presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy. Bredesen worked as a volunteer for McCarthy that year.  He wasn’t alone, as the New York Times says Hillary “found her voice” in the tumultuous political arena of 1968 when she ALSO worked for McCarthy in New Hampshire. Liberal birds of a feather flocked together in 1968. They still do. Another…

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Bredesen’s History With Refugee Resettlement in Tennessee Consistent With Democrats in Congress Who Want Big Numbers Resettled in FY 2019

Chris Alto

Right after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the FY2019 ceiling for refugee admissions would be no more than 30,000, Democrats in Congress flew into action and federal refugee resettlement contractors began objecting. On Thursday, 51 U.S. House Democrats, including Tennessee’s Steve Cohen, co-sponsored House Resolution 1073 calling for no fewer than 110,000 refugee admissions for fiscal year 2019 which begins on October 1st. This was the last refugee admission ceiling proposed by Obama before leaving office. The resolution also takes a swipe at President Trump’s integrity on the refugee issue by stating that Trump “and his administration must operate the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in good faith.” Democrat Senate candidate Phil Bredesen’s history of welcoming thousands of refugees to Tennessee during his two terms as governor, is strong evidence that he agrees there should be a higher number of refugees brought to the U.S. in the coming year. Between 2003 and 2011, Bredesen’s last year as governor, over 9,000 refugees of multiple ethnicities were brought to Tennessee by federal contractors. The numbers do not, however, account for secondary migrants who are first resettled in other states or other parts of Tennessee but then relocate to follow friends,…

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Phil Bredesen Donated Nearly Half a Million Dollars to Left-Wing Democrats

Chris Butler

U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen of Tennessee gives vast sums of his wealth to the most left-wing Democrats in America, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Steve Cohen. This, according to a super PAC called the ‘Committee to Defend the President.’ According to the PAC’s research, Bredesen donated exactly $460,691.11 to Democratic Party interests from 1987 through 2014. Chairman Ted Harvey asks the following question: “How can a loyal Clinton and Obama donor be trusted to work with President Trump?” In an emailed statement, PAC Committee spokeswoman Amanda Head continued with that theme. “The Committee to Defend the President remains committed to exposing Phil Bredesen for the left-wing Democrat he’s always been,” Head said. “Bredesen may claim to be a ‘moderate,’ but his liberal policy positions and long history of donations to far-left Democrats tell the true story. Tennessee needs a pro-Trump conservative like Marsha Blackburn, not an anti-Trump liberal like Bredesen.” Bredesen donated extensively to Bill Clinton and Al Gore and other Democratic Party interests in Virginia, Florida Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and Ohio, records show. Bredesen also donated $63,700 to the Democratic National Committee, according to the Committee to Defend the President. He also made the…

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Democrats Phil Bredesen and Karl ‘Marx’ Dean Have Close Ties to Soros-Funded Group Whose Leadership Is Working to Block Kavanaugh Confirmation

Chris Alto
Phil Bredesen, Karl Dean

Audio captured from a July conference call shows the Soros-funded American Constitution Society for Law & Policy (ACS) Board member Ricki Seidman telling Democrat leaders in reference to Judge Brett Kavanaugh, that a “strategy that will emerge and I think it’s possible that that strategy might ultimately defeat the nominee.”     The ACS, which receives millions in direct funding from the George Soros Open Societies Foundation (more than $2 million in 2016 alone), is active in Nashville, Knoxville and at law schools in the state. The Nashville chapter of  the ACS , which Seidman helps lead at the national level, is loaded with members, including its leadership, who hold close ties to Democrats U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean. For example, Dean’s wife, Anne Davis sits on the Nashville chapter’s advisory board having just left her position as the managing attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. Anne Passino, her comrade in arms at the Law Center, serves as the ACS Event co-chair. Shanna Singh Hughey, a Board member of the Nashville ACS chapter served as a senior advisor to Karl Dean when he was mayor of Nashville and also served as the director of Dean’s…

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Republicans Tell Bredesen Get Off the Fence on Kavanaugh Nomination

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen

President Donald Trump won the election in 2016 due in part to his promise to put mainstream conservative judges on the federal bench. Trump also won Tennessee by more than 26 points. It’s fairly obvious that Tennesseans want the President’s nominees to be confirmed, Garren Shipley, Republican National Committee spokesman, said in a statement Friday. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen has said he is “embarrassed” by Democrats’ treatment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh in his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the Tennessee Star reported last week. He has also been dragging his feet for more than two months in saying whether he would support Kavanaugh. Shipley accused Bredesen of hedging his bets, hoping he can avoid having to take a stand on Kavanaugh’s nomination — following Democrat Senate leader Chuck Schumer’s advice of staying neutral for as long as possible. Shipley pointed to a story by The Star showing Schumer’s Senate Majority PAC has booked more than $2 million in ads in Tennessee, perhaps giving Bredesen a reason to stay quiet. Schumer’s PAC donated $10,000 to Bredesen’s campaign earlier this year. As next week’s vote approaches, that time has run out, Shipley said. “Phil Bredesen has had more than enough time to consider Judge Kavanaugh. He needs to tell Tennesseans…

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NRA Tells Bredesen to Take His ‘Misleading’ Gun Rights Ad Off the Air

Jason M. Reynolds

The National Rifle Association is demanding Phil Bredesen retract a misleading ad from his U.S. Senate campaign in which he uses an old rating to make it appear the organization supports him. The Washington Free Beacon on Friday reported on the gun rights organization’s demand. Watch Bredesen’s ad: The Democratic former governor of Tennessee had received an “A” rating from the NRA – in 2002. His current grade is far different. “Phil Bredesen is a ‘D’ rated candidate, and he will not protect our constitutional rights in Washington, D.C.,” Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA’s Political Victory Fund, said in a statement. “Tennesseans should not be fooled by his false and misleading campaign ads.” “It’s not 2002, you’re not governor and you’re not A-rated by the NRA,” Cox tweeted at Bredesen in response to the ad. “It’s 2018, you have earned a D rating for turning your back on self-defense and supporting the Hillary/Schumer/Bloomberg gun control agenda. @VoteMarsha is a 2A champion. You’re not.” @PhilBredesen It’s not 2002, you’re not governor and you’re not A-rated by the NRA. Its 2018, you have earned a D rating for turning your back on self-defense and supporting the Hillary/Schumer/Bloomberg gun control agenda. @VoteMarsha…

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Trump’s Tax Cuts Were ‘Oversold,’ Says Bredesen, Who Raised Taxes and Fees by Nearly $1 Billion as Governor

Jason M. Reynolds

Former Governor Phil Bredesen said Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s tax cuts were “oversold” and have had little impact on falling unemployment rates. Bredesen’s comments appeared in a story in The Tennessean based on an interview with the newspaper’s editorial board. Bredesen is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Bob Corker (R-TN). His opponent is U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07). Bredesen said the tax cut is a “perfect example of what’s wrong in Washington,” arguing it missed an opportunity to overhaul the tax code, which he said is full of loopholes. The former governor said much of the tax cut funds have gone into stock buybacks. Bredesen said he was “100 percent for tax reform.” While the debate began as reform, Congress last December failed. “Instead it was, well, let’s just do the tax cut because that’s easy and everybody’s happy.” The Tennessee Republican Party has called out Bredesen for what it says are “phony” claims to have balanced the state budget when he served as governor 2003-2011, as the Tennessee Star reported this week. The state constitution requires the budget to be balanced, they said. The GOP pointed out how Bredesen fails to say that…

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Bredesen ‘Bought and Paid for by Chuck Schumer’ by Failing to Support Kavanaugh, Blackburn Says

Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) released a statement on Phil Bredesen’s refusal to take a stance on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, saying he is following the Democratic Party’s playbook. “Campaigns are opportunities for candidates to show voters how they will serve them if elected. I have been clear and honest with Tennesseans: I will vote to confirm constitutional judges and justices, who uphold the rule of law every time. “My opponent is showing Tennesseans he will get it wrong every time. His campaign is bought and paid for by Chuck Schumer, and he is already following the lead of Democrat Party bosses who have orchestrated this eleventh hour smear and look for every opportunity to block the President’s agenda. Phil Bredesen says he’s applying for the job, but he’s leaving questions on the application blank.” Blackburn and Bredesen, a Democratic former governor of Tennessee, are running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). Late Wednesday, Bredesen told the Associated Press that Professor Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Kavanaugh of attempting to sexually assault her more than 35 years ago but has provided no corroborating evidence or witnesses, “has a very credible story,” The Tennessee Star reported.…

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Bredesen Supports Socialized Healthcare, Ad Says

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen

The Senate Leadership Fund has targeted Phil Bredesen’s support of socialized healthcare. The organization launched a new advertising campaign Tuesday criticizing Bredesen for his support of single payer health care. The $1.2 million ad buy will run statewide on a combination of broadcast and cable television, radio and digital. The video is available to watch here. Bredesen is a former Democratic governor of Tennessee. He is running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), who is retiring. His opponent is U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07). The Senate Leadership Fund ad targets a 2011 book, “Fresh Medicine,” Bredesen wrote advocating for an insurance system similar to Social Security. A Los Angeles Times book review by David Lazarus says the former governor wants a 20 percent payroll tax for every worker to create a trust fund. “If the trust fund starts running dry, of course, a bigger bite out of people’s paychecks would be required. Or smaller vouchers. Either way, you would be looking at a benefit cut,” Lazarus writes. “Another potential problem: Bredesen’s vouchers would be adjusted to accommodate different health circumstances. Someone with diabetes, say, would receive a larger voucher than someone without any illness. An older…

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Bredsen Still Equivocating on How He Would Vote on Kavanaugh SCOTUS Nomination, Says Accuser ‘Has a Very Credible Story’ Despite Lack of Corroboration

Tennessee Star Staff

Phil Bredesen, the Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Tennessee being vacated by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), is still equivocating on how he would vote if he were in the U.S. Senate now and required to vote on the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, nominated by President Trump to serve on the Supreme Court. In contrast to Bredesen, his Republican opponent, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) remains fully in support of confirming Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Late Wednesday, Bredesen told the Associated Press that Professor Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Kavanaugh of attempting to sexually assault her more than 35 years ago but has provided no corroborating evidence or witnesses, “has a very credible story .” “But he said the Judiciary Committee should consider proceeding with a vote if she does not testify under oath,” the Associated Press reported, adding: “She has put herself out there,” Bredesen said of Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of assaulting her while they were both in high school. “If she decided at this point to not do something, I guess the committee has to go ahead and say, ‘Well, we were willing to listen, but if she’s not…

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Bredesen Says on Video He is ‘Fine’ With Planned Parenthood Receiving Federal Funds, Has ‘No Problem’ With Abortions

Jason M. Reynolds

Phil Bredesen said he had no interest in halting federal funds for Planned Parenthood in a video captured by the Tennessee Republican Party, Politico says. The publication says the topic could become a campaign factor. Watch the video: The Democratic former governor, who is running for the U.S. Senate, told a GOP tracker that he’s “fine” with federal funds going to Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services. A tracker works for a party or other entity to capture candidates’ gaffes on video. About abortion services, Bredesen said: “I don’t have a problem with them doing it.” He called himself “‘pro-choice,’ but emphasized again that federal funds aren’t used for that purpose. “I’m not the least bit interested in defunding Planned Parenthood,” Bredesen said. When Bredesen was governor, Planned Parenthood received state funds that were prohibited from being used for abortion services, Politico said. In a press release, the Tennessee Republican Party pointed out a majority of Tennesseans hold pro-life views. The Daily Caller has called out Bredesen’s waffling on abortion, saying he has “some skeletons in his closet concerning ties to Planned Parenthood and advocating for the public to fund Down syndrome abortions.” The Daily Caller quotes Bredesen as telling The…

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Former Tennessee Governor Dunn Endorses Blackburn for the U.S. Senate over Former Governor Bredesen

Jason M. Reynolds
Winfield Dunn

Former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn, a Republican,  endorsed U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) for the U.S. Senate on Friday last week. Dunn picked Blackburn over one of his successors, former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, who is running against Blackburn. Blackburn and Bredesen are running for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN). Speaking about his endorsement, Dunn said, “November’s election is not about the past; it is about the future of the state and the country. Marsha Blackburn is the only candidate who will vote to protect Tennessee values. She has dedicated her life to making things better for her fellow Tennesseans, and she will represent us faithfully in the United States Senate.” A video of Dunn’s endorsement is available to watch here. In the video, Dunn said, “I strongly urge your support and your vote for Senator Blackburn.” Responding to the endorsement, Blackburn said, “Governor Dunn made history as the first Republican governor in 50 years, but he is most well-known for his gracious spirit and love of public service. He and Betty serve as role models for each of us who seeks to serve. I am so humbled to have his endorsement.…

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Fact Checking Shows Bredesen Raised Taxes, Fees By Nearly $1 Billion as Governor

Jason M. Reynolds

Republicans are checking the facts about Phil Bredesen’s “phony” claims to have balanced the state budget when he was governor, pointing out Tennessee’s constitution requires a balanced budget. “Phil Bredesen is touting his budgetary accomplishments in a recent ad, but he’s not giving Tennesseans the full story,” the Tennessee Republican Party said in a statement. Bredesen, a former Democratic governor, is running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), who is retiring. His opponent is U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07). The Tennessee Republican Party says their latest video shows “Bredesen doesn’t have a leg to stand on.” The video is available to watch here. Tennessee has balanced its budget every year since voters approved a balanced budget amendment to the state Constitution in 1978. The GOP points out how Bredesen fails to say that as governor he raised taxes and fees by nearly $1 billion, citing a 2010 story by the Times Free Press, and “raided hundreds of millions of dollars from the state’s highway fund so that he could pay for his own budgetary priorities.” “Our state constitution has strictly prohibited anything other than a balanced budget since 1978, so it’s pretty rich for Phil…

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Phil Bredesen Picked Winners and Losers on Taxpayer-Funded Electric Cars

Chris Butler
Phil Bredesen

Eight years ago, then-Tennessee Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen said that during the coming decade we’d see a surge of electric vehicles on the state’s roads and highways. So certain of it, he handed out $2.5 million in government money to encourage people to buy EVs. But we’re not talking about all EVs. Nope, we’re only talking about the Nissan Leaf, manufactured in Smyrna. People who bought the Chevy Volt or any other brand of EV did not qualify. At the time, a Franklin-based businessman who sold electric cars complained he got shortchanged as well. That businessman, Josh Womack, said Bredesen, in this instance, picked winners and losers. Now that the decade is nearly out, evidence indicates Bredesen, now the state’s U.S. Senate Democratic candidate, was no visionary. In 2018 the Daily Caller reported EVs aren’t popular and only people with six-figure incomes generally have them. No one at Bredesen’s campaign returned The Tennessee Star’s request for comment Monday. As the Tennessee Watchdog reported in the fall of 2010, just as he was leaving the governor’s office, Bredesen announced a rebate to the first 1,000 Tennessee residents who bought the Leaf. Specifically, that was a $2,500 rebate to the first 1,000…

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Elections Matter: Democrats Conjure Up Thirty Year Old Anonymous Sexual Misconduct Letter to Smear Kavanaugh

Julie Carr

On Friday’s Gill Report – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 1510 WLAC weekdays at 7:30 am – Star News Digital Media National Political Editor Steve Gill was perplexed by the Democrats’ recent attempts to smear Brett Kavanaugh with an anonymous thirty year old allegation on the eve of his confirmation.  Gill was dumbfounded by the desperation in the Democratic party and stressed how important elections are to the judicial process. “Elections matter,” Gill conceded. He continued: The desperation of the Democrats to stop Brett Kavanaugh from getting confirmed as a justice to the US Supreme Court has reached a pitiful new loan. Now keep in the mind the Democrats have covered up for the worst kinds of predators and sexual offenders from Hollywood, from within their own ranks, in the White House with President Bill Clinton and others. They have gone to extremes to cover up the the misdeeds and conduct in a current era of their own colleagues, advocates and allies. But they’ll go back into the deep dark ages and any rumor, any smear to attack a Republican is fair game. Well now they’ve reached a new low with an attempt to knock Brett Kavanaugh out of his…

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Bredesen ‘Running From a Tough Decision’ on Kavanaugh Nomination, Republicans Say

Jason M. Reynolds

As of Friday, it had been 56 days since Judge Brett Kavanaugh was nominated to the Supreme Court, and Phil Bredesen says he still needs more time to consider whether he supports President Donald Trump’s selection. Bredesen says he is “embarrassed” by Democrats’ treatment of Kavanaugh in the confirmation hearings, the Tennessee Star reported earlier this week, citing a story in The Tennessean. Four Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee donated money to Bredesen’s campaign. The senators are: Cory Booker (D-NJ), $5,000; Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), $10,000; Kamala Harris (D-CA), $10,000; and Dick Durbin (D-IL), $5,000. The GOP cited this campaign finance report in a press release. The Democratic candidate, who is pro-abortion, said Kavanaugh’s pro-life stance would not matter to him if he could vote. He told reporters that Kavanaugh’s position on abortion is “certainly not as important to me as it is for some Democrats.” In July Bredesen said he would have to wait for the hearings to make a decision. But after multiple days of hearings, he said he didn’t watch them because he was busy traveling, the Tennessee Republican Party said in a press release. Politico reported on July 30 that Schumer has been…

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Blackburn Campaign Releases New Ad Highlighting How Tennesseans Really Feel About Bredesen

Jason M. Reynolds

Marsha Blackburn’s U.S. Senate campaign on Wednesday launched its fifth television ad telling how Tennesseans feel about Phil Bredesen. The responses are not favorable for the Democratic candidate. The ad, Non-Starter, is available to watch here. One voter says he voted for Bredesen as governor but “I can’t support Bredesen for Senate.” Another voter says, “Bredesen opposes building the wall,” while one says, “And now Washington Democrats are behind him.” Another comment was, “Bredesen opposed Trump’s tax cuts.” Speaking about the ad, Blackburn campaign manager Kevin Golden said, “These Tennessee voters come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in common: they liked Phil Bredesen as governor but cannot vote for him for Senate. Like Tennesseans across the state, they know Phil Bredesen supported Hillary Clinton for president and he will be a reliable vote for Chuck Schumer and national Democrats. They recognize that in 2018, the stakes are high, and Marsha Blackburn is the only person they can count on to represent their Tennessee values in the United States Senate.” U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) recently announced her renewed support for President Donald Trump after U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called for his impeachment. In an off-the-cuff moment caught…

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Bredesen ‘Dodging Making a Commitment’ on Kavanaugh SCOTUS Confirmation, Following Schumer’s Instructions

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen

U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) on Wednesday released a statement on Phil Bredesen’s recent comments about Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bredesen still isn’t ready to say whether he supports the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, The Tennessean reported. “Judge Brett Kavanaugh is eminently qualified and there is no question he will uphold the rule of law,” Blackburn, a Republican candidate for the Senate, said. “His extensive record speaks for itself. There is nothing left to be determined – the facts are on the table. “It appears that Phil Bredesen is dodging making a commitment because of what we already know – Schumer has told Democrats to stay neutral as long as they can, and Phil Bredesen is already following orders. I will always vote to confirm judges that abide by the rule of law and the Constitution. Obviously, Phil Bredesen will not make that commitment to Tennesseans because he’ll only vote when and how Chuck Schumer tells him. That’s not what Tennesseans want or expect from their next senator.” Bredesen, a former Tennessee governor, said he needs more time to watch confirmation hearings and study the pick. He is pro-abortion but says Kavanaugh’s pro-life stance will not affect his…

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Bredesen May Compare Senate Democrats to ‘Circus’ for Kavanaugh Hearings, But They Donated $30,000 to Campaign

Jason M. Reynolds

Democrats have turned Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination into a circus, U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen said, and the Tennessee Republican Party has released a new ad to point out his ties to those Democrats. The ad is available to watch here. Four Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have donated money to Bredesen’s campaign. The senators are: Cory Booker (D-NJ), $5,000; Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), $10,000; Kamala Harris (D-CA), $10,000; and Dick Durbin (D-IL), $5,000. The GOP cited this campaign finance report in a press release. “Phil Bredesen says he’s ’embarrassed’ by his fellow Democrats’ antics, but it’s hard to take his complaints seriously when he’s received tens of thousands of dollars in donations from those very same people,” Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden said in the press release. “The makeup of the Supreme Court is a priority for Tennesseans. Phil should quit waffling and tell them where he stands.” Former Tennessee Governor Bredesen said he cannot make a decision until he has more time to watch the confirmation hearings and study the selection, according to a story in The Tennessean. The Democratic candidate, who is pro-abortion, said Kavanaugh’s pro-life stance would not matter to…

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Judd Matheny Commentary: Phil Bredesen Put Partisan Politics over People in the Fight Against Meth

Tennessee Star Staff

by State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma)   As Phil Bredesen runs for Senate this year, he’s asking you to look back on his time as governor. He is highlighting what he did but he is misleading voters about what that record actually is. He regularly claimed that he “cut meth production in half” while Governor of Tennessee until the Washington Post fact-checked the ad and gave it “Three Pinocchio’s” for being untrue. While that’s bad enough, the real story is much worse. I was elected to the legislature in 2002 and wanted to use my experience to solve problems. Having spent most of my adult life in law enforcement, I saw how the scourge of meth and meth labs were impacting rural communities: overdoses and death, children removed from their homes and toxic meth lab cleanup sites. The problem was huge and required a non-partisan approach.  Throughout 2003 and 2004 I worked with both Democrats and Republicans to create the Tennessee Comprehensive Methamphetamine Prevention, Treatment and Control Act of 2004.  But when it came time to seek Governor Bredesen’s help to pass the bill into law, I was shocked at his response. Ushered into a meeting with Bredesen’s Deputy Governor…

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Tennessee Star Poll: Blackburn Leads Bredesen by 3, Lee Beating Dean by 16

Tennessee Star Staff

A new Tennessee Star Poll of likely voters in Tennessee provides further evidence that the race for the U.S. Senate is very tight, while the Governor’s race is firmly in the control of Bill Lee. The survey indicates that Republican Marsha Blackburn leads Democrat Phil Bredesen by a 48.3 percent to 45 percent, with 6.7 percent undecided. That three point margin for Blackburn is consistent with a Fox News Poll released earlier this week., which also showed Blackburn leading by three points. Like the Fox News Poll, the Tennessee Star Poll has the two candidates within the margin of error. The Tennessee Star Poll was conducted by Triton Polling and Research from September 10-12, 2018 and surveyed 1038 likely voters. The poll has a three percent margin of error. The Governor’s race is not close at this stage of the campaign. Republican nominee Bill Lee is well ahead of Democrat Karl Dean, 53.7 percent to 37.3 percent with 10 percent undecided, a 16 point lead for the Williamson County businessman. Again, those numbers are consistent with the Fox News poll that had Lee leading by 20 points. Other polls have indicated that Bredesen’s personal approval rating is enabling him to pull…

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Illegal Immigration in TN Increased During Karl Dean and Phil Bredesen Administrations

Chris Alto

Estimates from both ends of the political spectrum on the issue of illegal immigration show steady and dramatic increases in the number of illegal aliens in Tennessee during the Nashville mayoral terms of Phil Bredesen and Karl Dean and during Bredesen’s two terms as the state’s governor. Bredesen served as Nashville’s mayor from 1991 – 1999 and Tennessee governor from 2003 until the middle of January, 2011. Dean served as Nashville’s mayor from 2007 – 2015. According to the Soros-funded leftist Migration Policy Institute (MPI), between 1990 and 2000, the increase in foreign-born arrivals to Tennessee more than doubled from 59,114 to 159,004. By the year 2000, almost 40% of foreign-born arrivals to the state, 63,484 were listed as “[b]orn in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean).” Within this same ten-year span, the number of “non-citizens” as reported by MPI rose from 32,523 to 105,819 representing 66.6% of arrivals. For purposes of its reporting MPI’s definition of “U.S. born” excludes illegal aliens as does its definition of “foreign-born” which: refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens,…

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Bredesen Budgets Like Bernie Sanders Does, New Ad Says

Jason M. Reynolds
political ad

Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen had a “rare rendezvous with the truth” in Chattanooga Tuesday, according to the Tennessee Republican Party, saying about the federal deficit, “Democrats — my own party — have never been great on the subject.” To mark the occasion, the GOP released a new ad showing how Democrats budget — just like U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) does. The ad is available to watch here.   The ad mentions how Democrats’ plans to provide Medicare to everyone would cost $32.6 trillion over 10 years, citing a study by the Mercatus Center of George Mason University and reported on Fox News. “If Phil Bredesen is elected and Senate Democrats regain control, they would choose current ranking member and socialist Bernie Sanders to lead the Budget Committee,” said Gillum Ferguson, the Tennessee Republican Party press secretary. The ad will run digitally statewide. “Bredesen’s claims to care about the federal debt are downright laughable since he would vote to put socialist Bernie Sanders — whose healthcare proposal would cost $32 trillion — as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee,” said Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden. “As governor, Bredesen irresponsibly raided hundreds of millions of dollars from the state highway fund and rainy…

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Fox News Poll: Blackburn Leads Bredesen by Three in Tennessee Senate Race, 47 to 44

Tennessee Star Staff

A new Fox News poll of likely Tennessee voters indicates that Republican Marsha Blackburn is leading Democrat Phil Bredesen in the race for the open U.S. Senate seat by a three point margin, 47-44, with eight percent remaining undecided. The Blackburn lead is within the poll’s margin of error. In the Governor’s race, Republican Bill Lee enjoys a significant twenty point lead, 55-35%, over Democrat Karl Dean. Ten percent remain undecided. Backburn’s television ads in the campaign have relied heavily on tying her to President Donald Trump. With the Fox News poll revealing that the President has a 58-38% approval/disapproval rating among Tennessee likely voters her strategy seems to be on track. Blackburn and Bredesen enjoy similar approval/disapproval numbers, which may indicate that the Trump factor is the difference in the race at this point. Blackburn has a 51-39 approval/disapproval gap while Bredesen’s is slightly better at 54-36. Tennessee Star Political Editor Steve Gill cautions that the Fox News poll seems a bit more heavily weighted to the Republicans than Democrats so the results should be viewed with that in mind. “The poll construction has 35% Democrats and 53% Republicans with 12% described as Independent,” Gill notes. “I think the…

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Pence to Headline Knoxville Fundraiser for Blackburn

Jason M. Reynolds

Vice President Mike Pence will headline a fundraiser in Knoxville for Republican U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) in her Senate bid. An event invitation says the fundraiser will be Sept. 21, WATE reports, citing the Associated Press. The cost will be $1,000 per person; $5,400 per couple, with a photo; or $25,000 per couple, including a photo and round-table with Pence. Contributions will benefit Blackburn’s joint fundraising committee. President Donald Trump appeared at a Blackburn fundraiser and rally in May. Pence attended a Chattanooga fundraiser and related event in Cleveland in July. At the Cleveland event, held at Lee University, Pence praised Blackburn and Representative Diane Black (R-TN-06), The Tennessee Star reported. Black eventually lost in the Republican gubernatorial primary to Bill Lee. “The former Indiana governor called the 2017 tax cuts the biggest in a generation and a generator of American jobs in front of a raucous crowd,” the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported: “His wide-ranging 33-minute speech at Lee University addressed immigration, tax cuts, Supreme Court nominations, environmental rollbacks and chastised the ‘liberal left’ before narrowing his message to tax cuts.” Blackburn’s opponent is Democratic ex-Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen in the November general election. Blackburn last week received…

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New Ad Touts ‘Out of Touch’ Bredesen’s History of Supporting Tax Increases

Jason M. Reynolds

Senate Leadership Fund on Tuesday launched a new advertising blitz targeting Phil Bredesen’s fixation with raising taxes on Tennessee families. The $1.1 million buy will run statewide on a combination of broadcast and cable television, radio and digital. The ad is available to watch here. Bredesen, a former Democratic governor, is running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), who is retiring. His opponent is U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07). The ad, titled “Out of Touch,” highlights Bredesen’s 30-year record of supporting higher taxes and fees, and his opposition to the recently passed tax reform legislation. “Phil Bredesen is an out-of-touch multimillionaire who raised taxes and fees on Tennessee taxpayers by over $1 billion,” said Senate Leadership Fund Spokesman Chris Pack. “Bredesen never saw a tax hike that he didn’t like, which explains why he was so resolutely opposed to the Trump tax cuts that are helping Tennessee’s families and jobs.” Senate Leadership Fund’s website says this about the organization: “As an independent Super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund has one goal: to protect and expand the Republican Senate Majority when Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer, together with their army of left-wing activists, try to take it back in 2018.” The $1…

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Website Helps You Track Phil Bredesen’s Level of ‘Sophistication’

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen

“Welcome to SophisticatedPhil.com, where you’ll see exactly what Phil thinks of himself!” proclaims a new website launched by the Tennessee Republican Party. “Phil Bredesen has been desperately trying to convince Tennesseans that he’s one of them, but he keeps getting in his own way,” the organization’s press secretary, Gillum Ferguson, said in a press release. Bredesen, a former Democratic governor, is running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), who is retiring. The website mentions his statements like being more “sophisticated” than rural voters. He made the remarks in an interview with the Times Free Press. Around the same time, Bredesen also released a campaign ad that was filmed outside his grandmother’s American flag-clad house touting his humble roots growing up among “secretaries, nurses, factory workers, and small business owners,” The Tennessee Star reported. Bredesen has reported assets between $88.9 million and $358 million, The Washington Free Beacon said. Bredesen would also become one of the richest members of Congress, The Star said. Public records show he is the owner of five homes—two homes in Nashville, two lakefront properties in upstate New York, and a five-bedroom home in Jackson, Wyoming. And, he is one of the…

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Expert: Phil Bredesen Won’t Comment on Brett Kavanaugh Until It’s Safe

Chris Butler
John Ryder

U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, if he so chose, could stop all the guessing and announce any time whether he supports U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. But he likely won’t comment until and if he thinks it safe. After all, he can’t displease his liberal base, said John Ryder, a Memphis attorney who also chairs the Republican National Lawyers Association. Republican President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh. “I think he (Bredesen) will wait until it’s safe to say he is for Kavanaugh because he has to get a significant number of Republican votes to have any chance of winning this election,” Ryder told The Tennessee Star. “Saying he would vote for Kavanaugh is one way to do that, but if he says that too early then he risks alienating his liberal activist base. Bredesen will wait until some other sitting Democratic senator announces for Kavanaugh. That makes it safe for Bredesen to do that without totally offending his base, and it enables him to look moderate to the Republicans he needs to convince.” Thus far, Bredesen and his campaign staff have yet to return The Star’s repeated requests for comment. Ryder said if Bredesen was in the…

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A Vote For Bredesen is a Vote for Obstructionists Like Schumer, TN GOP Says

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen, Chuck Schumer

The Tennessee Republican Party has released a new ad, highlighting Phil Bredesen’s support for the most ardent Democratic obstructionists in the Senate. The ad will run on digital platforms statewide and is available here. “While Phil Bredesen claims he wants to end ‘partisan squabbling’ in Washington, the fact is that the worst offenders are in his own party,”  said Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden. “President Trump is fulfilling his promise to the American people to nominate constitutionalist judges and justices, but Senate Democrats are throwing up partisan roadblocks at every turn. A vote for Phil Bredesen is a direct vote for these obstructionists.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is leading the charge, telling CBS This Morning he’d oppose the President with “everything I’ve got.” His interview is available to watch here. In an off-the-cuff moment caught on video during a Labor Day parade in Brooklyn, Senate Minority Leader Schumer told a bystander who asked when President Trump would be impeached, “The sooner the better,” The Tennessee Star reported, citing Fox News. In an exclusive interview with Tennessee Star Political Editor Steve Gill, U.S. Senate hopeful Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) called Bredesen out over one of his greatest vulnerabilities.…

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Conservative Group Says Give Money to Blackburn, Other Proven Senate Candidates in Battleground States

Jason M. Reynolds
Marsha Blackburn

The Senate is broken and both parties are to blame, the Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) says in a new fundraiser that touts support for battleground state candidates that includes U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07). “Despite controlling the Senate, the House and the White House, Senate Republicans have failed to keep their biggest promises,” SCF President Ken Cuccinelli II says. Blackburn is running for the Senate against Democratic challenger former Gov. Phil Bredesen. SCF is a national grassroots organization trying to “bring bold conservative leadAll Postsership to Washington by supporting candidates who will fight for the timeless conservative principles of limited government, strong national defense, and traditional family values,” its website says. Rolling off a list of grievances against Senate Republicans, the organization says: They failed to repeal Obamacare. They failed to build the border wall. They failed to stop sanctuary cities. They failed to defund Planned Parenthood. “It’s time to fix the Senate by electing battle-tested, Trump-approved conservatives in battleground races,” Cuccinelli says. Their fundraising page is available here. Cuccinelli says SCF will pay all processing fees and transfer your contributions directly to the candidates’ campaigns. President Trump has personally endorsed each of these candidates and urged all Americans to support…

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First You Will See Him, Then You Will Not, as Democratic Senator Cory Booker Abruptly Cancels Memphis Rally

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen, Cory Booker

Hours after the Tennessee Republican Party called attention to the planned appearance of #Resistance leader Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) at an election rally for Tennessee Democrats in Memphis, he abruptly decided to pull out of the event. You can view the Facebook page for the now defunct Shelby County Democratic Party Blue Wave Rally here. The Commercial Appeal said, “According to the event invitation page, the possible 2020 presidential candidate aimed to generate buzz in the Memphis area for the upcoming Nov. 6 election.” Shelby County Democratic Party (SCDP) chairman Corey Strong said that Booker is unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict. “We are disappointed that we are forced to cancel the event, but a suitable replacement lineup could not be found in time,” said Bryan McBride, communications co-chairman for the SCDP. McBride said the rally was called off due to Booker’s cancellation. Booker was one of three senators called out for being the most disruptive of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court hearings. U.S. Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) were among the most disruptive as well. They and other Democrats tried their best to shut the hearing down. Things got so bad U.S. Senator John Cornyn…

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Phil Bredesen Benefitted from Program That Forced Others to Pay Higher Taxes

Chris Butler
Phil Bredesen

Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Bredesen spent years taking advantage of a state program that’s trimmed his property taxes by hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Tennessean reported the story this week. Bredesen got $520,600 in tax breaks on four of his Nashville-based properties since 2011, the paper reported. Bredesen’s spokeswoman Alyssa Hansen told the paper her boss has nothing to apologize for. Regardless, Bredesen has previously criticized this tax break program, commonly known as Greenbelt. Also, regardless, Bredesen reportedly tried to withdraw from Greenbelt once he learned the paper was about to publish a story about his enrollment in it. No one at Bredesen’s campaign returned The Tennessee Star’s repeated requests for comment Thursday. State officials created Greenbelt tax breaks in the 1970s to slow the spread of urban sprawl in Tennessee. Taxes are based on the property’s use value rather than its fair market value. Aimed at helping Tennesseans hold on to their farms, the Greenbelt tax breakkicks in for property owners who maintain at least 15 acres of farmland, forests or open spaces. In an emailed statement, Tennessee Republican Party Chair Scott Golden said one of Bredesen’s supposed farms for bailing hay is, in fact, a mansion —…

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All Talk and No Action: Democrats Dream of Statewide Seats with Nothing to Show For It

Julie Carr
Phil Bredesen, Karl Dean

On Thursday’s Gill Report – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 1510 WLAC weekdays at 7:30 am – Tennessee Star Political Editor Steve Gill talked about Florida’s governor’s race and the trending phenomenon of Democrat leaders and the denial of their failing cities.  He was curious as to why voters would think to elect such officials again into a state-wide office when they were unsuccessful leaders in their own cities. “Hopefully folks will look at the records of these individuals rather than the rhetoric as we head closer to November and casting votes,” Gill quipped; adding: In Florida you’ve got the Tallahassee Mayor, mayor Gilliam running for governor in Florida the Democrat nominee.  He’s a guy that is facing federal investigation for potential corruption charges.  He’s a guy who’s been playing the race card against Ron DeSantis the Republican congressman for using the same wording that Democrats have used with reckless abandon about ‘we shouldn’t monkey with the economy’.  They tried to turn that into a racial issue while again people from Barak Obama and whole host of other Democrats have used the exact terminology but of course (sarcastic tone) ‘it’s racist’ if a Republican says it (sarcastic tone) ‘it’s ok’…

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New NBC/Marist Poll of Likely Tennessee Voters Shows Bredesen and Blackburn Neck-and-Neck While Lee Leads Dean by Double-Digits

Admin
Bredesen, Blackburn, Lee, Dean

A new survey of Tennessee voters indicates that the race for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) is essentially a dead heat between Democrat Phil Bredesen and Republican Marsha Blackburn, with Bredesen ahead among likely voters by a 48-46% margin with 5% undecided. Republican Bill Lee has a large lead over Democrat Karl Dean in the race for Governor, 53-40%, with 7% undecided. The NBC/Marist poll of Tennessee was conducted August 25-28 of 940 adults (which has a margin of error of plus-minus 4.0 percentage points), 730 registered voters (plus-minus 4.5 percentage points) and 538 likely voters (plus-minus 5.1 percentage points). Respondents were contacted both by landline and cell phone. While the poll data indicates that the respondents were sampled across regions in Tennessee based on population, there is no indication of the percentages of Republicans, Democrats and Independents who were surveyed. Among likely voters, Bredesen leads among Democrats (97 percent to 0 percent), African Americans (86 percent to 8 percent), women (55 percent to 40 percent) and independents (49 percent to 45 per-cent), while Blackburn leads among Republicans (86 percent to 9 percent), men (54 percent to 40 percent) and whites (53 percent to 42…

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Does Phil Bredesen Endorse Senate Democrats’ Shameless Antics?

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen

Democrat Phil Bredesen, who is running for the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), claims he wants to end hyper-partisanship in Washington. The Tennessee Republican Party said in a press release it is clear, however, that the worst partisans are members of Bredesen’s party. “Senate Democrats engaged in a shameful display yesterday, rudely interrupting Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing a 76 times,” the Tennessee Republican Party said. “The Democrats further admitted their behavior was pre-planned and had nothing to do with any substantive opposition to Judge Kavanaugh.” Bredesen says he isn’t afraid to call out members of his own party when they take a wrong turn. But Bredesen and members of his campaign refused to comment on the antics members of his own party unleashed at Tuesday’s U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh in the Judiciary Committee. No one in the Bredesen campaign returned The Tennessee Star’s repeated requests for comment Tuesday. Bredesen has remained noticeably silent on the episode, perhaps because he’s accepted tens of thousands of dollars from Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee. “Confirming judicial nominees is one of the most important duties of a United States Senator, yet Phil Bredesen refuses to…

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Marsha Blackburn Backs SCOTUS Nominee Brett Kavanaugh on First Day of Confirmation Hearings As Phil Bredesen Hides

Tennessee Star Staff

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07), the Republican nominee in this November’s U.S. Senate race, released a strong statement of support for President Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, on Tuesday, the day the Senate Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on the decision to confirm him. “Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a strong constitutionalist with a proven track record of upholding the rule of law,” Blackburn said in the statement. “I am certain we will see his respect for the rule of law displayed throughout his confirmation hearings. Judge Kavanaugh will serve honorably as a Supreme Court Justice. Though Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats will do everything they can to stall Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation, I urge the Senate to consider his nomination expeditiously. I also urge the Senate to continue to confirm judges to the federal court,”  Blackburn added. The Democrat members of the Judiciary Committee hearing turned the proceedings into a chaotic circus within minutes of the 9:30 am opening bell. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) immediately demanded the hearings being adjourned, but was ruled out of order by Committee Chairman Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA). Democrats interrupted the proceedings with similar obstructionist objections 62 times during the first 60…

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Phil Bredesen Silent on Democrats Throwing Tantrums at Brett Kavanaugh SCOTUS Confirmation Hearing

Chris Butler
Phil Bredesen

Tennessee Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen makes out he’s an elder statesman. Bredesen boasts he can rise above partisan squabbles. He says he isn’t afraid to call out members of his own party when they take a wrong turn. But Bredesen and members of his campaign refused to comment on the childish antics members of his own party unleashed at Tuesday’s U.S. Senate confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh in the Judiciary Committee. No one in the Bredesen campaign returned The Tennessee Star’s repeated requests for comment Tuesday. If elected to the U.S. Senate, Bredesen will vote whether to confirm any nominated U.S. Supreme Court nominees. Democratic Party protestors repeatedly interrupted Tuesday’s proceedings. They heckled. They shrieked. They acted belligerent. One protestor was reported to have yelled “This is a travesty of justice.” Security officers had to remove that person, and many others, from the room. Democrat U.S. senators on the Judiciary Committee, meanwhile, grumbled and carped they didn’t have enough documents on Kavanaugh to go forward with Tuesday’s hearing — even though Republicans said they provided them with plenty. U.S. senators Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) were among the most petulant. They and other…

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President Trump in Blackburn Ad: Schumer Recruited Bredesen

Jason M. Reynolds
Donald Trump, Marsha Blackburn

The Senate campaign for U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) launched its fourth television ad Friday, featuring President Donald Trump’s support. The ad will air in media markets across the state and on digital platforms statewide. Blackburn is running against Democratic former Governor Phil Bredesen for the seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker. In the ad, the president says, “Phil Bredesen was recruited by Schumer to run for the Senate. Bredesen donated a lot of money to Hillary Clinton. Crooked Hillary. Phil Bredesen supported her, and he supported her ideas. Phil, whatever the h—- his name is, this guy will 100 percent vote against us every single time.” Speaking about the ad, campaign Chairman Kevin Golden said, “President Trump knows Tennesseans need a senator who will represent them first. Phil Bredesen is Chuck Schumer’s number one recruit and donated over $33,400 to Hillary Clinton’s campaign. What we hear from Tennesseans is they fear Phil Bredesen will not represent their values in Washington.” Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden said in a statement that the president’s remarks show that Bredesen is the wrong choice to represent Tennesseans. “Donald Trump won Tennessee with over 60 percent of the vote and the…

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Koch Network Launches Massive Ad Campaign to Bring Down Dem Senate Candidates in Key States, Including Tennessee

Anthony Gockowski
Phil Bredesen

The Koch Network is preparing to launch a multi-million dollar ad campaign across three swing-states in the hopes of bringing down key Democrats in the midterm elections. Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a Koch-backed group, announced Wednesday that it would spend $820,000 in Wisconsin, $2.1 million in Missouri, and another $2 million in Tennessee, according to CNBC. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who has already faced $5 million in attack ads thus far, is outed for opposing the GOP tax bill and backing a $1.3 trillion spending bill in AFP’s latest ad. “For Tammy Baldwin, it’s higher taxes and more spending. Higher sales taxes, higher income taxes, higher energy taxes, voting for $1.3 trillion in spending. We can’t afford Tammy Baldwin,” the ad states, praising Baldwin’s Republican opponent Leah Vukmir. In Tennessee, the Koch network is going after former governor Phil Bredesen, who is now seeking a Senate seat, for spending $9 million on remodeling the governor’s mansion at the expense of taxpayers. “While we struggled through a recession, Bredesen wasted 9 million taxpayer dollars upgrading his governor’s mansion, $4 million on a party cave, gilded bathrooms, and a kitchen worth two Tennessee homes,” the ad states. “Phil Bredesen lived the…

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Bredesen Lived the Life, Tennesseans Paid the Bill, Ad Says

Jason M. Reynolds
Phil Bredesen

Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee (AFP-TN) on Wednesday announced a new seven-figure investment in television and digital advertisements highlighting Phil Bredesen’s record as a big spender and supporter of higher taxes. Americans for Prosperity is spending $2 million on the new ad that is hitting the airwaves statewide today. The ad is available to view here. The ad exposes the Democrat’s support of higher taxes and out-of-control spending while governor. Bredesen is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Bob Corker, who is retiring. AFP-TN announced it has mobilized its activists and launched grassroots activities in support of U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for the Senate seat on the Republican ticket. AFP-Tennessee State Director Tori Venable said, “Phil Bredesen’s rhetoric of fiscal responsibility won’t fool Tennesseans; his record speaks for itself. During his time in office, Bredesen supported tax and fee increases that hurt Tennesseans while times were tough and our economy was in a tailspin. And despite Bredesen’s claims to be fiscally responsible, there’s nothing responsible about lavishing nearly $9 million taxpayer dollars on a renovation to the governor’s mansion. Tennesseans don’t want a senator who says one thing and then does another, but that is what they’ll get…

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Phil Bredesen Solar Company Might Not Survive in Pure Free Market

Chris Butler
Phil Bredesen

Solar power companies, including Phil Bredesen’s Silicon Ranch, wouldn’t make much of a mark without do-gooder government officials giving them taxpayer money, government incentives, and other generous benefits, an expert said. That’s because less than 2 percent of America’s electricity comes from solar power, said Nick Loris of the Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “Without these government benefits, you would see a lot less because anytime you subsidize something you’re going to get more of it,” Loris told The Tennessee Star. “If you got rid of all energy subsidies, not just the ones for solar, but all the ones for fossil fuels, for wind, for nuclear, then I think, in a true free market, solar’s role in the electricity generation portfolio would be pretty minimal.” But, Loris went on to say, if market forces dictate that solar power is cost competitive and if people are willing to pay more for it, then they ought to have that right. “Those decisions are from an investment perspective and by a consumer choice perspective,” Loris said. “They shouldn’t be driven by the federal government and gambling with other people’s money.” But if those subsidies and other benefits for solar power are…

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Marsha Blackburn: “I Will Always Support Policies That Keep Americans Safe”

Jason M. Reynolds
Marsha Blackburn

Congress should build President Donald Trump’s wall on the Mexican border and punish officials who create sanctuary cities, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn said. Blackburn (R-TN-07) made her case on immigration in an editorial Monday in The Hill. She is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Bob Corker, who is retiring. Her Democratic opponent is former Gov. Phil Bredesen. Here is an excerpt of her editorial: “Every state is a border state and every town is a border town. That is what many believe to be happening due to the illegal entry taking place on our nation’s southern border. What we as Tennesseans have watched happen over the past decade is a problem that has spiraled out of control for local law enforcement and elected officials. It is due to the federal government not doing its job to enforce existing federal immigration law. The Obama administration pushed open-border policies, backed away from securing the border and pushed sanctuary city policies that have made us less safe. … “Tennesseans ask me every day what we should do to get the issues that come from illegal immigration into our country under control. The first steps we should take are to…

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Blackburn to Debate Bredesen Sept. 25 at Cumberland University

Jason M. Reynolds
Marsha Blackburn, Phil Bredesen

Marsha Blackburn announced she will participate in the Sept. 25 debate in Lebanon for the U.S. Senate race. The 7 p.m. CT debate will be held at Cumberland University. Hosts are The Tennessean, the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, News Channel 5 (WTVF), Nashville Public Television and Cumberland University. The debate will air on NewsChannel 5 and NPT in Nashville and will be carried statewide on public television, and will stream online on the hosts’ sites. Blackburn and Bredesen are vying for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Corker. “There are significant differences between how Phil Bredesen and I will serve Tennesseans in the Senate, and this debate will highlight that contrast,” said Rep. Blackburn (R-TN-07) in a press release. “I appreciate the hard work of the event’s organizers and volunteers. I look forward to a substantive discussion about the future of our state and our country as part of our general election debates.” NewsChannel 5 said anchor Rhori Johnston and David Plazas, the opinion engagement editor at The Tennessean, will co-moderate the debate. Blackburn is a better choice for Tennessee than Democratic former Gov. Bredesen, A recent poll by Gravis Marketing shows Blackburn leads Bredesen…

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Holt: Bredesen Wrong For Tennessee as Senator, Would Not Stand Up to Democrats

Jason M. Reynolds
Marsha Blackburn, Andy Holt, Phil Bredesen

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) is a better choice for the U.S. Senate than Democratic former Gov. Bredesen, one state representative said. Blackburn and Bredesen are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Bob Corker. State Rep. Andy Holt (R-76) wrote the comments about Bredesen and Blackburn in an op-ed in the Jackson Sun. “Just look at his (Bredesen’s) failure to denounce Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen (District 9), who said he wished Marsha Blackburn would jump off a bridge, or Mark Brown, the spokesman for the Tennessee Democratic Party who called President Trump a “moron” and his supporters ‘idiots.’ I guess I am one of those idiots. If he won’t stand up to his Democrats buddies in Tennessee for using the violent and partisan language that he claims to despise, because it plagues our country, who’s to say he’ll be able to do it in Washington? “Now that he’s running for office, he is telling you what he thinks you want to hear — that he’ll work across the aisle and won’t block the president at every turn. The reality is legislators — especially in the United States Senate — must pick a team, and he will be…

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Marsha Blackburn: Phil Bredesen is Schumer’s ‘Number One Recruit’

Chris Butler
Chuck Schumer, Phil Bredesen, Marsha Blackburn

ADAMS, Tennessee–Democrats nationwide are interested in the Volunteer State right now, and it has everything to do with advancing the liberal progressive agenda, U.S. Senate Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn told a crowd in Adams Friday night. Blackburn’s opponent for that senate seat is former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is especially interested in this race, Blackburn said. “Chuck Schumer has said Phil Bredesen is his number one recruit,” Blackburn told the crowd of about 200 people. “Phil Bredesen and Tennessee is Chuck Schumer’s path to majority leader. We all know if Phil Bredesen were to go to D.C. what would be the first vote he would take? Chuck Schumer — that’s exactly right. A vote for Chuck Schumer for majority leader.” If Chuck Schumer is majority leader, and the Democrats control the U.S. Senate, then hard-core leftists will control many committee chairs, Blackburn said. U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein of California, for instance, would control the Judiciary Committee, Blackburn said. “That is the end of all these conservative judges and Supreme Court justices,” Blackburn said. President Donald Trump has thus far appointed one-seventh of the members of our federal judiciary. Those people are Constitutionalists…

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Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Supports Left Wing Democrats Like Fellow Harvard-Educated New Yorker Phil Bredesen

Anthony Accardi
Phil Bredesen, Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook has set itself up as the final arbiter of what is news and what is not, what is real and what is fake, a virtual referee with the power to promote certain articles while sending others down the memory hole, never to be seen by the reading public. But it is only the providers of conservative news who are unhappy with Facebook’s new extreme vetting process, launched in reaction to accusations that its site was used by the Russians to influence the 2016 presidential elections. Facebook removed three Tennessee Star articles Thursday morning that were critical of former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, the Democrat nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in this November’s election, from The Tennessee Star Facebook page. By early Thursday afternoon, all three of those articles mysteriously reappeared on The Tennessee Star Facebook page, along with four other articles that had also been removed early Thursday. All told, seven Tennessee Star articles that were posted on The Tennessee Star Facebook page shortly after midnight Thursday morning magically reappeared on The Tennessee Star Facebook page 12 hours later, at about 12:45 p.m. central time Thursday. One can only surmise that it took that amount of time for Facebook fact-checkers to pore over the stories with a fine-toothed comb, looking…

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Expert: New Phil Bredesen Solar Project Unlikely to Save Energy

Chris Butler
Phil Bredesen

An expert says solar power isn’t as effective an energy saver as people in government might lead Tennesseans and others across the country to believe. That expert, Nick Loris, of the Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, also said solar is more expensive. He also said it’s only hobbled along as far as it has because of government subsidies and tax incentives. Loris said this on Thursday, only a few days after a company with direct ties to Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Bredesen reportedly launched a new solar initiative in northeast Tennessee. Bredesen did this through his company Silicon Ranch. As reported, Bredesen personally benefitted from solar energy policies he enacted while Tennessee’s governor. Electricity generation from solar power, Loris said, is only 1.3 percent of all electricity generation — even with government subsidies to give it a boost. “It is still more uneconomical than other energy sources,” Loris told The Tennessee Star. “Not only do you have to pay to back it up when the sun isn’t shining, but a lot of times you have to build new transmission lines and to get the solar from the places that it’s being built to where you need the…

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Phil Bredesen-Supporting Elizabeth Warren Shows No Compassion for Iowa Girl Murdered by Illegal Alien

Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is supporting former Gov. Phil Bredesen’s campaign for the U.S. Senate, used her airtime Wednesday morning to stump for immigration reform rather than addressing the tragic death of Mollie Tibbetts. Tibbetts, who had been missing for 34 days, was found dead in an Iowa cornfield after her murderer, an illegal alien, led police officers to the scene of the crime. On Wednesday morning, Warren appeared on CNN to discuss the issue, calling the Tibbets tragedy “hard, not only for the family, but for the people in her community and people throughout Iowa.” The Democrat then immediately turned her attention to family separations at the border, lamenting over the personal encounters she had with mothers who had been separated from their children. “But one of the things we have to remember is we need an immigration system that is effective, that focuses on where real problems are. Last month, I went down to the border and I saw where children have been taken away from their mothers,” she said, saying she had personally visited with some of the parents. “There was no plan for how they would be reunified with their children. I think we need immigration…

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Nashville Predator Crony Capitalist Backs Bredesen As Payback For Democrats’ Help

Jason M. Reynolds

Phil Bredesen hopes Tennessee voters forget about his ties to liberal national Democrats as he runs for the U.S. Senate, POLITICO reported. Meanwhile, Nashville Predators Chairman Tom Cigarran, a Republican in name only, is backing the former governor as thanks for his help. Phil Bredesen is trying to tell Tennesseans he will not help flip the Senate for the Democratic Party. “It’s not pessimism but self-preservation that tinges Bredesen’s assessment of the Senate landscape,” POLITICO said. “An upset win in Tennessee could, in fact, put Bredesen’s party in the majority if Democrats were to run the table elsewhere, and the former governor’s path to victory depends on convincing voters that they wouldn’t be handing power to national Democrats and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.” Trump won the state by 26 points in the 2016 election, and Democrats haven’t won a Senate race there since 1990. Early polls show Bredesen running close against U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07), but he needs independent and Republican support. “If the question on the ballot were, ‘Do you want to send a Democrat or Republican to Washington?’ I would lose. If it’s, ‘Do you want to send Phil Bredesen or Marsha Blackburn to Washington?’ I think…

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