October 12, 2006

Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood

WSMV's Larry Brinton reports that noted Republican fundraiser Joe M. Rodgers is hosting a fundraiser for Democrat state Sen. Doug Henry later this month. That's not all that surprising - the Belle Meade blueblood elite Republicans have long supported Henry, even though he's a Democrat. And back when the Senate was dominated by Democrats, that may have made sense. But today the GOP is the majority in the state Senate, though two years ago two GOP state senators voted with Democrats and made it so Democrat Sen. John Wilder was picked by a nose to continue lead the body.

Rodgers isn't the only upper-crust, well-connected Davidson County Republican from Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood who are supporting Henry this election year instead of backing the hard-working, high-quality Republican nominee Bob Krumm. The Rochford family - senior and junior - are hosting a fundraiser for Henry this month. If you're a member of the Davidson County Republican Party, you really have to be scratching your head over this because Trey Rochford is a member of the Davidson County Republican Party's Executive Committee. But he's co-hosting a $1,000-per-couple fundraiser for a Democrat at the very same time the organzation he helps lead is urging its members - most of whom probably can't afford $1,000 fundraisers - to get out and work for the election of the Republican nominee.

I know the younger Rochfords a little bit - they introduced themselves to me last year as readers and fans of my blog. I find myself quite surprised that they are backing Henry in this race. Maybe it's a family loyalty thing. Maybe the Rochford family has supported Henry for decades. If so, well, perhaps they had to throw the Henry fundraiser even though there's a legitimate and serious Republican nominee running against Henry for the first time in ages. If that's the case, they could at least make partial amends by donating the maximum allowed - $2,000 apiece - to Krumm's campaign, right now.

Rodgers, the Rochfords and other Belle Meade bluebloods and business elites may think Henry is conservative enough that supporting him instead of Krumm makes no difference in terms of policy. But it does, in many ways. First, Sen. Henry has presided over countless tax increases over the many long years he's been chairman of the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee.

Just on the issue of taxes and spending, Sen. Henry is much less conservative than Krumm. Last year, for example, Sen. Henry pushed legislation that would have stripped Tennesseans of their current right to vote on county wheel-tax increases, a bigger-government/higher-taxes proposal pushed by a lobbyist for the county mayors association. And in the most recent session, Sen. Henry blocked consideration of the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would restore the broken cap on the annual growth of state spending. Krumm supports the proposed amendment.

On the all-important issues of leadership and ethics, Sen. Henry has promised he'll vote for Wilder again, despite Wilder's coddling of the senators indicted last year on bribery charges. Krumm won't vote for Wilder.

Perhaps the Belle Meade elites think another four years in office for Sen. Henry will be good for their business interests and their social calendars, but the decision by Rodgers and the Rochfords to support Henry means Rodgers and the Rochfords are supporting keeping the state Senate controlled by Democrats even if Republicans are the majority party, and prefer the Senate Finance Committee be run by a politician whose record is of raising taxes and letting the state budget grow unrestrained and faster than the incomes of the average Tennessean.

But they look to be a minority in the Nashville GOP. Here's why: The latest campaign finance disclosures from Krumm and Sen. Henry show that Krumm, not Sen. Henry, is the choice of the average individual resident of the 21st District. While Henry has raised most of his money from special-interest groups and lobbyists, Krumm has raised all of his money from individual donors

And Krumm has received contributions from many more individuals than has Sen. Henry, who is relying on special interests and a handful of wealthy elites to fund his campaign, and refusing to debate Krumm, denying the people of the 21st District an opportunity to hear the senator discuss issues facing the state now and in the future.

The wealthy Belle Meade Republicans may want to reward Sen. Henry for his 36 years of service.

But elections aren't supposed to be about the past. Elections are supposed to be about the future.

Update: I've requested the Davidson County Republican Party send me a copy of its bylaws, to see if it is against the rules for a member of the DCRP's leadership to raise funds and work for the election of a Democrat.