Grant Starrett is not going to birng up that stuff about Scott DeJarlais pressuring his misstress and his wife to have abortions.

Grant Starrett Pledges To Not Attack Personal Issues 

Challenges Scott DesJarlais to do the same 

Grant Starrett

Press release, (MURFREESBORO, Tenn.) – Today, Grant Starrett challenged Scott DesJarlais to join him in a pledge to the people of the 4th Congressional District of Tennessee that he will engage in a policy-centered campaign, not a campaign on personal attacks.

In a video posted to his official campaign Facebook account, Starrett stated:

“I've gone out of my way not to talk about Scott DesJarlais' personal life, instead I've highlighted our differences in vision, in policy, and how we'd approach the job of being a Congressman. And what I'm going to tell you today, is that is exactly what I'm going to continue to do. I'm going to talk about just that: our policy differences. I'm not going to attack Scott DesJarlais' personal life.

Now, make no mistake, we will have a vigorous debate over policy. I find Scott DesJarlais' record in Washington unacceptable. I'm going to continue to talk about the fact that Scott DesJarlais has voted for hundreds of millions of dollars in Obama's military cuts, he's voted for hundreds of billions of dollars in Obama's food stamps, and he continuously refuses to define when life begins. I know when Tennesseans know the real DesJarlais record, I will win this election.

And if DesJarlais feels that he has a record he can run on, he's welcome to join me in this battle of ideas, because that's exactly what he called for when he ran for reelection last time. His campaign said that they left 'The negative personal mudslinging to political opponents knowing that voters want to focus on issues, not personal attacks,' and that 'It is just the sort of disgusting gutter politics we'd expected from Nancy Pelosi and her allies in Washington.' That's exactly what Scott DesJarlais has called for.

"Look, ultimately, as Christians, our sins will be held accountable by God. As Americans, our politicians will be held accountable by the people. Let's make this election about how to help Tennessee families, not about how to attack each other's."


In 2014 and 2012 DesJarlais’s campaign decried personal attacks from his political opponents:

"DesJarlais spokesman Robert Jameson called the piece "just the sort of disgusting gutter politics we'd expected from [U.S. House Democratic leader] Nancy Pelosi and her allies in Washington."
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/jul/13/tracy-rakes-up-abortion-scandal-against-desjarlais/252060/

"We have focused on his official work in Washington and Tennessee and left the negative personal mudslinging to political opponents knowing that voters want a focus on issues, not personal attacks," spokesman Robert Jameson told National Journal."
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/09/what-does-it-take-to-get-voted-out-of-congress/455712/

"He's chosen to engage in these same sort of gutter politics that Tennesseans have rejected in the last two elections."
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/jul/13/tracy-rakes-up-abortion-scandal-against-desjarlais/252060/

"Desperate personal attacks do not solve our nation’s problems, yet it appears that there are those who choose to continue to engage in the same gutter politics that were characterized by national media as the nastiest in the nation just two years ago."
http://nooga.com/157766/rep-scott-desjarlais-remains-silent-amid-allegations-he-pressured-mistress-to-have-abortion/

"They have once again resorted to pure character assassination."
http://nooga.com/157766/rep-scott-desjarlais-remains-silent-amid-allegations-he-pressured-mistress-to-have-abortion/

My Comment:  I would like to see Scott Desjarlais defeated.  I think it matters even it you vote pro-life but pressure your pregnant  mistress to get an abortion. If you do, you are not a person of character and I think character matters.  This issue has been used against Scott Desjarlais before however and apparently his constituents do not care; they have elected him and reelected him.  I have heard chatter that the Desjarlais's campaign has sent out a hit piece of Grant Starrett.  I have not seen it and this is not confirmed and I do not know the context but have been told it was a nasty personal attack. If anyone has the piece please shoot a picture of it and mail it to me at Rodwilliams47@yahoo.com.

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Mark Levin Endorses Grant Starrett For Congress

Press release, MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Last night, Mark Levin endorsed Grant Starrett on

Grant Starrett

his live, nationally-syndicated broadcast. Mark Levin is one of the most influential conservative talk radio hosts in the country and can be heard each evening across the entire 4th Congressional District.

In the interview with Grant Starrett, Levin said "I want to endorse you, strongly. I think you'd make an outstanding Constitutional conservative in the House of Representatives" and "wouldn't it be spectacular to get some new fresh young blood in there, another Constitutional conservative who will give 'em hell?"

Levin had choice words about Grant's opponent: "Scott DesJarlais, the fact of the matter is he's utterly and completely useless. He's definitely a sell out, he's definitely a creature of Washington now."

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Scott DesJarlais Spends More Taxpayer Dollars Than Any Other Republican Member of Congress in Q1 2016

More than quadruple the amount of all other 8 TN Congressmen combined; 2nd of all voting Members of Congress, only trailing a Democrat defeated in an April election, indicted and standing trial on 29 racketeering charges Press Release, (MURFREESBORO, Tenn.) – An investigation by the Knoxville News Sentinel just posted, detailing how Scott DesJarlais spent more money on taxpayer-funded communications than any other Republican Member of Congress in the country for the first quarter of 2016, totaling nearly $67,000. Compared to the same time period in 2015, he spent a fraction of that amount--$5,600. Also, astonishingly, DesJarlais spent more than every other member of Congress from the State of Tennessee combined during Q1 2016. In fact, DesJarlais spent more than quadruple the amount of all other Tennessee Members combined. In an abuse of power, ever since Grant Starrett entered the race, Scott DesJarlais has dramatically increased his taxpayer-funded spending. Ironically, DesJarlais is spending the taxpayer's money to defend his votes to misspend taxpayer money on things like $700 billion in Food Stamps. Read the article here: "Scott DesJarlais, In Re-Election Battle, Ramps Up Spending On Taxpayer-Funded Communications" DesJarlais comes in 2nd of all voting Members of Congress only to Democrat Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania, who is at the moment of this writing standing in a federal courthouse trial for 29 racketeering charges including "a wide-ranging conspiracy involving bribery, concealment of unlawful campaign contributions and theft of charitable and federal funds to advance their own personal interests" according to the Assistant Attorney General. Fattah was also defeated last month in his Democratic primary. Here are the Mass Communications disbursements with taxpayer dollars for TN Members of Congress from January 1 - March 31, 2016: 1. Scott DesJarlais - $66,639.50 2. Diane Black $5,432.80 3. Steve Cohen $2,890.96 4. Phil Roe $2,743.90 5. Marsha Blackburn $2,600.00 6. Chuck Fleischmann $2,021 7. Jimmy Duncan $0 8. Jim Cooper $0 9. Stephen Fincher $0 Statement from Tommy Schultz, Campaign Manager for Grant Starrett for Congress: "In an abuse of power, Scott DesJarlais is clearly spending Tennesseans' hard-earned taxdollars to fund his re-election campaign, plain and simple. No other Tennessee member, Republican or Democrat, is spending taxpayer dollars like DesJarlais is. DesJarlais is scared that Grant Starrett's campaign is knocking on thousands of doors each day, exposing DesJarlais' bad votes in DC from the past six years. So now DesJarlais is pumping our taxdollars into a re-election campaign. DesJarlais spent more than every single other Republican Member of Congress and was only beat out by 2 Democrats -- one named Chaka Fattah from Pennsylvania who is on trial for racketeering charges for using federal tax dollars inappropriately, and the other is Pedro Pierluisi, the non-voting commissioner from Puerto Rico. DesJarlais has clearly abused the power and responsibility of the people's seat, a common sickness that grows on too many of the political class in DC."

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Scott DesJarlais chose not to ask a single question of Planned Parenthood

Press Release, MURFREESBORO, Tenn. –  After Scott DesJarlais chose to pass the microphone during the House Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Planned Parenthood last week, the Grant Starrett for Congress campaign released the following lines of questioning that Grant would have asked Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards.

Grant Starrett, Republican candidate for Congress in Tennessee's 4th District:

"On September 29th, the President of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, came before Congress to testify at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Scott DesJarlais had the opportunity to question Richards at one of the most important hearings in Congress this year.

Watch what happened when he was given the opportunity: https://youtu.be/9Pi9byVXQk0.

Unbelievable. Scott DesJarlais chose not to ask a single question of Planned Parenthood, even in the wake of recent undercover videos that unmasked the horrifying practices of Richards’ organization.

Here are the questions that Scott DesJarlais chose not to ask, and that I would have asked, the head of Planned Parenthood:

​1. Would Planned Parenthood ever discourage a woman from seeking an abortion? What if a woman was explicitly interested in only male children? What if a woman was explicitly interested in only children of a particular race? What if a woman was being paid by a tissue harvesting company? ​

2. Before performing an abortion, what steps does a Planned Parenthood clinic take to ensure the child’s father hasn’t coerced the ​mother into an abortion?

​3. Recent undercover videos unmasked that Planned Parenthood will alter abortion procedures so that the baby’s body parts can be sold for cash. Planned Parenthood officials are shown haggling over price, including a notorious reference to a Lamborghini. Federal law says “It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration if the transfer affects interstate commerce.” How do the activities on these videos not violate this law?

4. Regardless of the law, do you hold yourself responsible for these actions? Does the buck stop with you?

​5.  A grand jury report said that inspectors found “blood-splattered floors, and blood-stained chairs” in an abortion clinic in Philadelphia. You opposed the application of typical, widespread regulatory standards for outpatient surgical centers and hospitals. What regulations, if any, are reasonable for abortion providers? Does an abortion qualify as an outpatient procedure? What about an abortion makes it undeserving of routine safety and cleanliness standards?
​
6. Should abortion be available until the moment of birth? What is the difference between an hour old child and a child an hour from birth?

​7. Since 2006, the number of customers that go to Planned Parenthood each year for cancer screenings declined year after year. At the same time, some 13,500 community health centers don't receive the half billion dollars that go to Planned Parenthood. Why shouldn't organizations that provide cancer screenings but manage to avoid killing unborn children be the beneficiaries of your taxpayer dollars?

​Are you seriously suggesting that caring for women's health is impossible without providing abortions? You suggested in your testimony that you do not use Planned Parenthood for your own medical needs. Why not? Are you satisfied with your primary healthcare provider? Does it provide abortions?

8. You believe that abortion is a right. Does a right have to be financed by taxpayer dollars? If so, do you support the federal government subsidizing American citizens' purchase of firearms? In other words, should the federal government pay for my Glock?

9. You say that taxpayer dollars don't fund abortions, but your organization performs almost one out of every four abortions in America. But money is fungible, and you receive half a billion dollars from the federal government. How many private donations are then allowed to subsidize abortion as a result of your massive taxpayer subsidy?

​10. Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, observed, “The most obvious practitioner of racism in the United States today is Planned Parenthood, an organization founded by the eugenicist Margaret Sanger and recently documented as ready to accept money to eliminate black babies.” According to the CDC, African American babies accounted for 37.3% of all abortions in the United States in 2011, yet African Americans make up only some ten percent of the population.
​ ​
Do black lives matter in the womb?​"

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Grant Starrett to challenge Scott Desjarlais

In Case You Missed It: National Journal: "Who's the 27-Year-Old Republican Challenging Rep. Scott DesJarlais?" 

Grant Starrett

Press Release MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-  National Journal is up with a piece today looking at the "eye-catching" levels of support that Grant Starrett has received in his run for Congress: "That's Grant Starrett, whose recent campaign launch earned praise from well-known conservative pundits like RedState's Erick Erickson, National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru, and Power Line's Paul Mirengoff. Ted Cruz's pollster, former Republican National Committee staffers, and conservative activists joined an eye-catching collection of people tweeting about a young, first-time candidate.

Starrett has motive, means, and opportunity to win a congressional seat, though. He's made allies across Republican politics who insist he'll be a formidable campaigner and fundraiser. And DesJarlais, a physician and third-term Tennessee Republican, has faced political trouble since decade-old divorce proceedings became public in late 2012, detailing sexual relationships with patients and coworkers-some of whom he urged to have abortions.

In announcing his campaign last week, Starrett made a passing reference to the fact that DesJarlais was the only member of Tennessee's congressional delegation who wasn't endorsed by National Right to Life, but he otherwise criticized DesJarlais for votes against balanced budgets and on other fiscal issues. When asked how much Starrett's campaign would call attention to DesJarlais's personal issues, spokesman Mark Braden said in a statement that the campaign will focus on how DesJarlais's 'liberal voting record in Washington does not add up to his rhetoric when he is back in the district.'"

Read more at http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/scott-desjarlais-challenger-grant-starrett-20150407

What They Are Saying About Grant Starrett 

Paul Mirengoff, Founder of Powerline: "Starrett is a rising conservative star...It's clear to me that Grant is the kind of energetic, talented Constitutional conservative we will need to preserve the House of Representatives as a bulwark against the left's "transformative" agenda and, should circumstances permit, to make it the engine of conservatism transformation." (Powerline, 3.26.15)

Erick Erickson, Editor in Chief of RedState: "Here's what I know: Grant is a man of character and conviction.  He is a constitutional conservative of the highest order," (RedState, 4.2.15)

Ramesh Ponnuru, Senior Editor of National Review: "I've met Starrett and was impressed by his intelligence and commitment to conservative causes," (National Review, 4.2.15) ...

Ponnuru: "[Grant] would be a tremendous improvement." (Twitter, 3.9.15)

The Hill: "Starrett's statement notes that in 2014, the National Right to Life group endorsed every Tennessee Republican up for reelection except DesJarlais." (The Hill, 4.2.15)

Powerline: "He would be a welcome addition to the Hill at a time when the world is increasingly dangerous but too many members still do not understand the importance of a strong defense to handle and deter rising threats." (Powerline, 3.26.15)

 Huffington Post: "Starrett bills himself as a conservative Christian who intends to run against DesJarlais from his right. He has picked up some support from the conservative blogosphere," (Huffington Post, 4.2.15)

Chattanooga Times Free Press: "[Grant] once worked at the Senate Steering Committee under then-U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, a hard-right Republican who is now president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington." (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 4.2.15)

Nashville Post: "Starrett said that while DesJarlais "claims" to be the the most conservative member of the Tennessee Congressional delegation, the congressman has "voted against legislation that would have balanced our budget, cut wasteful spending, implemented pro-growth tax reform, and put our country on a path to prosperity."  (Nashville Post, 4.2.15)

Murfeesboro News Press: "Starrett appears to be running to the right of DesJarlais, whose voting record doesn't match his rhetoric, the challenger said. "We lack people in power with conservative principles," he said." (Murfreesboro News Press, 4.3.15) Associated Press: "[Starrett] said he wants to be elected to Congress to help fight a "moral crisis" facing the country." (Associated Press, 4.3.15)

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Conservative revolt fails, Boehner keeps his job. How the Tennesee delegation voted.

Twenty-five Republican members of the House voted against John Boehner for Speaker. The only Republican member of the Tennessee delegation to vote against Boehner was Rep. Scott DesJarlais. 

To be elected speaker requires more than half the votes of the members voting. Boehner got 216 votes out of the 408 votes cast. To deny Boehner a victory on the first ballot 29 Republicans would have had to vote against him. Had he failed to win a majority of votes cast then another vote would have had to be taken until someone got a majority of the votes of the members voting.

There was little danger that voting against Boehner would have led to Nancy Pelosie or a Democrat having been elected speaker since over 50 Republicans would have had to vote "present" rather than casting a vote for a candidate.  Even if Pelosie got the most votes and the Republican vote was split, she would not have been elected Speaker. If Boehner had not won, and members would have held firm, then a candidate other than Boehner that could have been agreeable to the majority of those voting would have had to be placed in nomination. So, 29 Republicans not voting for Boehner could have led to the election of someone other than Boehner. I am not advocating that that is what Republicans should have done, simply pointing out the process.

For a list of the Republicans who voted against Boehner, follow this link.

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National Journal says Scott DesJarlais 4th most conservative member of congress. Diane Black # 15

The National Journal recently released a list of the 15 most conservative members of Congress.  Unfortunately, most of them I am not familiar with. Two of them however I am familiar with.  They are Tennessee Congressman Scott DesJarlais who comes in at number four and Diane Black who comes in at number fifteen. Congratulation! Despite Desjlais position at number four, I cannot support his reelection. I think a person's personal character matters.  It is unfortunate that DesJarlais has a history of urging wives and girl friends to have abortions.

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GOPAC endorces Jim Tracy.

State Senator Jim Tracy who is running against incumbent U. S. Representative Scott DesJarlais for the the Republican nomination for that seat, today received the endorsement of GOPAC.  He is only one of four House candidates to receive the organization's endorcement.

GOPAC has been around since 1978. It was founded by founded by Delaware Governor Pierre S. du Pont, IV. Former Chairmen have included Michael Steele, J.C. Watts, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. GOPAC's mission statement says, " we realize Republicans must champion the ideas that unite voters around a vision of creating jobs, getting government spending under control, making government more effective, and keeping America safe. This is why Republicans turn to GOPAC for coaching and best practices on effective ways to communicate conservative ideas and solutions." Along with GOPAC's enforcement will come financial contributions up to the maximum allowed by Federal law.

Most conservatives do not find fault with  with Scott DesJarlais voting record but cannot stomach the pro-life doctor's habit of talking wives and girlfriends into getting abortions. That is why I am supporting Jim Tracy.  Also, I think Jim Tracy will make an excellent U. S. Representative. Congratulations Jim Tracy on getting the GOPAC endorsement.

To visit Jim Tracy's website and make a contribution, follow this link.

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Tracy out raises DesJarlais by more than 8 to 1

Tennessee GOP Rep. Scott DesJarlais only brought in $18,000, a small fraction of the $146,000 his primary challenger Jim Tracy raised. (link)

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State GOP leaders rally behind Jim Tracy in his bid to defeat Scott DesJarlais

The state's top Republican elected officials and other Republican leaders are flocking to endorse Jim Tracy in his bid to unseat Scott DesJarlais in the 4th Congressional District. Desjarlais is a doctor and an avowed pro-life Republican who had an affair with a patient and pressured her to get an abortion when she became pregnant.  He also talked his wife into having two  abortion. Jim Tracy has a substantial lead over DesJarlais in fund raising.

Those who have joined Tracy's "Leadership Team" include Betty and Governor Winfield Dunn, Sindy and Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Senate Ron Ramsey, Speaker Pro Tempore Bo Watson, Chris and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, Theresa and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron, State Senator Randy McNally, State Senator Rusty Crowe, State Senator Steve Southerland, Deanna and State Senator Jack Johnson, Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick,House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada,Speaker Pro Tempore Curtis Johnson and a whole bunch more. To see the list, follow this link.

In addition to the big heavy hitters, little guys like me and other Republican rank and file who are disgusted by the hypocrisy of Scott DesJarlais are supporting Jim Tracy. To contribute to the Tracy campaign, follow this link.

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Rivals DesJarlais, Tracy, Carr all oppose Senate immigration bill

All say, Secure the border first

WBIR-TV - The Daily News Journal asked U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg and two of his Republican primary challengers, state Rep. Joe Carr of Lascassas and state Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville, to provide statements about their positions on the ...(link)

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Marsha Blackburn named 3rd most conservative

The National Journal has released its ratings of “most conservative” and “most liberal” members of the House of Representatives and Marsha Blackburn is rated as the third most conservative member of the House. To see the full report follow this link then on the right see click "raw data."

Diane Black is in a three-way tie ranked at 26.  Jim Cooper is ranked 258, making him the 20th most conservative Democrat congressman.

Other Tennessee Representative hold these ranks:
         Steve Cohen       370
         Scott DesJarlais 59
         Stephen Fincher 63
         Chuck Fleisman 86
         Phil Roe             115
         John Duncan      219

In the Senate, Bob Corker is ranked the 35th most conservative senator and Alexander is ranked 39th. By way of comparison, The National Journal ranks Lindsey Gram as more conservative with a ranking of 33 and John McCain more conservative with a ranking of 28.

One interesting observation from looking at the data is that the most liberal Republican is more conservative than the most conservative Democrat in both the House and the Senate. That was not always the case.

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Joe Carr has added Thomsen Smith to his campaign "exploratory committee."

Representative Joe Carr has added Thomsen Smith to his campaign "exploratory committee."  Smith, who is a heavy-hitter will lead the fundraising for the Carr committee. Already on board are Republican heavy wights Lee Beaman, who is chairing the committee, and Dr. Nate Schott as treasure.

Thomsen Smith runs RAAMPAC (Republicans Achieving a Majority PAC) for Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey. He has worked for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Bill Frist and Fred Thompson for US Senate, Lamar Alexander and Fred Thompson for President, Ron Ramsey for Governor, and the Tennessee Republican Party under four Chairmen. Thomsen’s past Congressional clients include Ed Bryant for Congress, John Linder for Congress (GA), Mark Norris for Congress, Stephen Fincher for Congress, and Jim Tracy for Congress in 2010.

State Representative Carr is running for the U. S. seat currently occupied  by Scott DesJarlais in the 4th Congressional District. Carr has most recently gained media attention by proposing a bill that says that if the Federal Government passes any new legislation  regarding gun control that not only will the state not enforce it, but local law enforcement personnel will be required to arrest federal agents enforcing new federal gun laws in Tennessee. 

DesJarlais is the ethically challenged Congressman who ran as a pro-life candidate who tried to talk a mistress into having an abortion and who did encourage his then wife, now ex-wife, to have two abortions, which she had.  Also, he is a medical doctor and in violation of ethical standards slept with at least two of his patients, one of which we know he prescribed drugs for, which apparently makes the offense of sleeping with a patient somehow even more offensive. Anyway, he is a deeply flawed human being and a hypocrite who needs to be defeated in a primary challenge. The primary will be in 2014 and since the district leans heavily Republican, the winner of that primary will most likely win the general election.

In addition to.Joe Carr who is exploring running against Desjarlais, State Senator Jim Tracy has also announced he is running.. Senator Tracy has received the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, former Republican Gov. Winfield Dunn, Senate Speaker Bo Watson, Senator Mark Green, and others. This is going to be a long campaign, expensive and hard fought. Hopefully no other major candidates will get in the race. It would be a shame if the vote was slit so many ways that Desjarlais remained the Party's candidate.

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State Sen. Tracy Announces Challenge To DesJarlais

State Sen. Tracy Announces Challenge To DesJarlais
State Sen. Jim Tracy has officially announced that he will run for the congressional seat held by embattled fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais. more>>

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Ashley Judd says DesJarlais an embarrassment, should withdraw from race

DesJarlais should withdraw from race 
by Ashley Judd, The Tennessean, November 2, 2012

Ashley Judd

We Tennesseans have sent many principled politicians from both sides of the aisle to Washington; they have served with honor and integrity. We vote for our leaders for different reasons, but, universally, we expect our candidates to be who they say they are, to be truthful, and we share a bottom-line expectation they won’t be an embarrassment to our state or a national spectacle. (link)

For nude pics and sex scenes featuring Ashley Judd follow this link.

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TN conservative Union calls for DesJarlais to resign

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV-AP) -
The chairman of the Tennessee Conservative Union has called on Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais to resign after reports that include the congressman once urged a mistress to terminate a pregnancy.

Chairman Lloyd Daugherty said in a release on Tuesday that DesJarlais' actions have "reached a level of hypocrisy that is simply untenable." (link)

My Comment

The TCU is wrong. I stand by my position stated yesterday: Hold your nose and vote for DesJarlalis.  I would rather have a rascally Republican rather than a saintly Democrat. We have too much at stake to give away a seat. If he votes right, and there is ever reason to believe he will continue to vote right, that is what is most important. If Republicans can get him elected this term, then in two years he can be challenged in a primary if we can find a more morally pure candidate. He was separated from his wife at the time and anyway, the inappropriate actions were 14 years ago. Maybe he is a changed man. 

If it was earlier in the game and we had time to find a replacement to run, then I could be persuaded to throw him overboard, but to do so now is to hand the Democrats a seat they could not win. Republicans, Stand by your man.

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Another DesJarlais mistress steps forward

A second woman who says she had an affair with Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) has come forward in an interview with the Chattanooga Times Free Press, saying it began when he was her doctor.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press is providing the women anonymity but they say they have verified her identity and she was listed as a "potential witness" in Desjarlais's ex-wife's divorce filing. The women also said Desjarlais smoked pot.

This is bad news.  Does it disqualify him from office?  No. Not in my book. It is kind of slimy and makes him less than the idea candidate, but I would still vote for a personally flawed conservative over a personally moral liberal. Legalizing abortion, bankrupting our country, and advancing an agenda that destroys our liberty is a greater sin than any personal transgressions.

The events happened fourteen years ago, while he was already separated from his wife. Dating a patient is a violation of a doctors ethics, but really is that such an ethical lapse?  It may be technically unethical, but there is no allegation he took advantage of venerable women. The smoking pot?  I don't care. I would bet that if the truth be known, most people of the baby boomer generation have smoked pot. We have a president who snorted coke and a previous president who smoked but says he didn't inhale. Smoking pot is no big deal.

The most troubling thing is the effort to talk a mistress into having an abortion. I am having a hard time buying his explanation of those events.  It sounds to me like he really was trying to talk a mistress who he assumed was pregnant into getting an abortion. Nevertheless, I am sure Scott Desjarlais will vote pro-life and that is more important.

Voters with conservative values should not let the fact that Scott Desjarlais has feet of clay lead them to voting for a Democrat who will vote against all of their values.  While we would want our legislators to be moral people and role models, we are voting for legislators; not choosing ministers.  If you are in DesJarlais district, please hold your nose and vote for him anyway.

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Scott DesJarlais explains scandal in his own words

Open Letter to My Supporters

You have probably seen the recent media coverage regarding details of my divorce from over a decade ago. I had genuinely hoped this election would be about my record in Congress – not a 12 year old divorce.

Unfortunately, my opponent is making the same types of accusations Lincoln Davis used in 2010 when he ran what was described as the nastiest campaign in the nation in an attempt to dominate the headlines.

I know that many of you were disappointed to hear the news regarding allegations of a relationship I had while separated during my divorce proceedings. I am deeply sorry for that. But what was reported in the media was not only inaccurate, it doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story.

First, there was never any pregnancy and there was no abortion. Second, my ex-wife and I had been separated for quite some time before this incident. There was an agreement in our separation that both she and I could see other people while finalizing the divorce. To say that I had a mistress or that I had an affair is inaccurate. Third, the media wrongly reported that I recorded the conversation myself. I was recorded unknowingly and without my consent.

Here is what is true. While legally separated from my wife, I was involved with a woman who I had briefly treated for a foot injury. The relationship was completely mutual. After approximately four months after we had last seen each other, she told me she was pregnant. I won’t go into details out of respect for those involved, but I had several reliable reasons to believe this was false. I had a conversation with this woman over the phone that was recorded without my knowledge. During this conversation I was incredibly frustrated. As such, I used rather strong rhetoric in hopes that it would lead to her admitting the truth – that there was no pregnancy.

I appreciate that this was an imprudent approach to this situation and I’m not proud of it. In retrospect I should have dealt with these matters in a more diplomatic fashion.

There is no question that I had a very long and very difficult divorce. In fact, it seems almost as if I’ve never run against another candidate – only a 12 year old divorce. That being said, I understand that I am an elected official and therefore am subject to public scrutiny. But I also have a family. I think that often gets overlooked by those who resort to these sorts of smear tactics.

Through grace and redemption, God has truly given me a second chance. I have had an incredible marriage to my wife Amy of ten years and have been blessed with an opportunity to raise three wonderful children. I have a strong pro-life record in Congress and history of fighting for values important to Tennesseans. I hope you will judge me on these facts because that is who I am.

It speaks volumes that my opponent and his political mentor Lincoln Davis would gleefully exploit this private and personal issue for political gain. I suppose they must be confident that they are completely without sin.

I am not trying to justify my actions or say that I am without fault. But I am not the hypocrite my opponents and some liberal media outlets are portraying me as.

I hope that you will continue to fight with me for issues important to the people of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District. We face big problems and we need big solutions – not desperate personal attacks.

Thank you for your support and understanding, and I stand ready to speak with you personally and answer any questions you may have.

 Scott DesJarlais

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Grassroots Gathering with Congressman Scott DesJarlais

9.12 Project Nashville

Friday, May 11, 2012
2:00 PM

Papa's Butt's and BBQ
2910 Old Fort Parkway
Murfreesboro, TN 37128

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