Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee leaders put weight behind Turning Point USA chapters

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and state lawmakers, including Sen. Jack Johnson and Reps. Johnny Garrett, a Goodlettsville Republican, and Jack McAlmon, a Franklin Republican, joined the announcement the state of Tennessee will partner with Turning Point, USA. (Photo: Sen.Jack Johnson Facebook)

To great fanfare, Tennessee officials announced a partnership with Turning Point USA to set up chapters in high schools across the state.

They were so proud of the initiative they decided against inviting the media to the event at the State Capitol, instead sending out a video on a social media site I’ve never heard of, accompanied by yet another video by Gov. Bill Lee, who less than a month ago said he didn’t know anything about the plan.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn put together the event as the group founded by the late Charlie Kirk gathers influence in the wake of his untimely death.

“Partnering with Turning Point USA to support the expansion of Club America chapters in high schools across Tennessee reflects our commitment to the founding ideas of free speech, limited government, and liberty – the values Charlie Kirk stood for,” Johnson said in response to questions from the Lookout. 

Johnson said no state funds will go toward the partnership and explained that it’s a grass-roots organization students can form voluntarily “to celebrate the founding principles of our great nation.” 

“The state of Tennessee stands ready to support those patriotic students’ efforts and ensure their constitutional rights are respected,” Johnson said.

It’s almost as if they’re expecting backlash before this deal starts.

Kirk, who frequently asked students to prove him “wrong,” was shot to death during an event at a Utah university where he was set for a debate. 

Interestingly, Kirk made numerous demeaning remarks about Black women and men by questioning their intellect, urged women such as Taylor Swift to submit to men and, after the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, said such deaths are the price of Second Amendment rights, according to an article in The Guardian.

President Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the wake of his death.

Lee declined to comment about Kirk’s inflammatory statements this week but said he “broadly” supports the group’s efforts to bring about “civil discourse” in schools. He added that people need to learn how to “disagree better.”

“I certainly appreciate what they do, but as far as a formal partnership, I don’t know about that,” Lee said, leaving more questions than answers about the state’s endorsement and why a “partnership” is needed.

Some key lawmakers wish Kirk hadn’t made such comments, but they’re comfortable with his organization, which is a template of sorts for Trump’s MAGA movement.

Even though Turning Point USA is a so-called beacon for free speech, numerous people who criticized Kirk after his death were fired.

Clarksville resident Monica Meeks, represented by the national nonprofit, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, filed a federal lawsuit over her firing by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance after she posted a private Facebook comment critical of Kirk.

Former MTSU employee Laura Sosh-Lightsy also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, as well, against the university after it fired her for a critical post of Kirk. 

The violent act is unforgivable, but the irony here is fascinating. 

Kirk traveled the country debating students and urging free speech and “civil discourse.” Yet the government purged itself of anyone who had the temerity to challenge his statements publicly. 

Is this what Charlie would do? 

Just as high schools have had Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapters for decades, schools can allow students to start their own Club America groups to meet before school or during break. (You remember FCA. Hardly anyone went to the meetings, but when they took the yearbook picture, half the school showed up to get out of class for a few minutes.)

During these Club America gatherings, students can discuss “limited government” in which the government backs their rights but infringes on other people’s free speech. They can also talk about the governor’s comments that it’s not really a “partnership” and the fact no money is flowing for group activities, at least not this year. The budget is way too tight. But hope springs eternal.

The overriding question, though, is whether students at urban schools such as Nashville’s Pearl-Cohn and Knoxville’s Austin-East will form chapters. Not likely.

Watch your sugar

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Tennessee’s request to cut sugary drinks, snacks and other unhealthy food from people’s SNAP purchases. (That’s stuff bought with what were once referred to as food stamps, now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is enough to put a bad taste in anyone’s mouth.)

One of the notable things is that people won’t be able to use their SNAP cards, now that we’ve gotten rid of the stamps, to buy prepared fried chicken. Yet they can buy flour, cooking oil, spices and chicken to fry. 

Feds approve Tennessee’s SNAP waivers excluding soda, sugary foods from benefits

Luckily, few people eat fried chicken around Christmas. It’s always ham or turkey (my pre-New Year’s resolution is to cut out pork, except maybe a couple of pepperonis), which leaves turkey, the reason we have Thanksgiving only once a year.

But back to this SNAP deal. Sugary soda pops (also known as cokes) will be prohibited, along with sugary cereals and snacks. Does that mean people can’t buy pecan pies at the store? What about canned cooked apples, which are likely loaded with sugar? And what about sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade? I’m told by health freaks they contain a lot of sugar.

Thus, no Cap’n Crunch, no fried chicken, no pop (I’m not really from the North, unless you consider Hendersonville part of Kentucky), and no pecan pies.

This could be the worst Christmas ever for some folks. Or it could drive them to get a job at a fast-food joint, where the food is probably not real food but has plenty of sugar and grease.

Back at you

Republican Sen. Kerry Roberts filed a counter-suit against Knoxville-based Apex Bank, claiming it forced him and his wife to default on a $4.6 million loan for a massive renovation of his historic Springfield home, the Tennessee Journal reported.

Roberts filed the lawsuit in Robertson County Circuit Court, claiming the bank dragged its feet on providing funds for the project that made him lose time on construction and $750,000 in potential income from weddings, corporate retreats and Airbnb reservations, according to the report.

The Springfield senator counter-sued over the bank’s foreclosure after Sumner County General Sessions Judge Kee Bryant-McCormick determined that the bank took advantage of the Roberts but didn’t do anything illegal and should be allowed to acquire the property and adjacent tracts used as collateral, the Tennessee Journal reported. 

Gonna hitch a ride

Always on the lookout for ways to protect Tennesseans, state Rep. Gino Bulso is sponsoring a special bill for pregnant women and just in time for Christmas.

Bulso filed HB 1457, which would classify any person in the second or third trimester of pregnancy as a “disabled driver,” along with those who have a pregnancy deemed a high risk by their doctor.

If this means the woman will be able to obtain a placard allowing them to park in a spot designated for handicapped or disabled people, that might be a good thing. Kudos for the idea, though it could force businesses to leave more open spaces for pregnant women. Of course, how many of us have seen people without handicapped parking placards parking in handicap spots, even though they show no outward signs of disabilities or a pregnant bump.

We also know of women who’ve been forced to go out of state for treatment of a high-risk pregnancy, which means we don’t mind if they park closer to the Walmart door but can’t go to their doctor for the care that could save their lives. 

Maybe the bill needs a tweak or two.

Give me Kmart or give me death

With state departments requesting $300 million for technology in next year’s budget and lawmakers looking at replacing their aging payment and HR system, Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson told senators this week “society is evolving quickly” (or devolving) and that the state needs to meet constituents “where they are,” whatever that means.

“We cannot be Kmart when our citizens expect Amazon,” he said.

Some old-timers might take exception to that comment. For decades, Kmart was my go-to for underwear, socks and golf balls and not necessarily in that order. Going there was an adventure, too, because even after the stores added 15 checkout counters, they hired only one person to work them.

After standing in line for 30 minutes and losing circulation in my legs, I’d proudly place my items on the counter, and, 99.9% of the time, the checkout person would pick up the pack of Hanes and say, “Did this have a price tag on it?” Response, “Well, it was the only pack.”

Which would require the employee to get on the loud speaker, “I need a price check on men’s underwear!” The words reverberated through the store as women behind me cackled. Fifteen minutes later, the price would arrive. But in spite of this shopping gauntlet at least I could walk out the door with underwear and socks in hand.

Kmart’s problem was not with prices and products. They spent more money on technology than people. Alas, when they closed, the breakup was hard. 

“Baby, I don’t wanna leave you / I ain’t jokin’ woman, I got to ramble.” *

*Led Zeppelin – “I’m gonna leave you” (Written by Ann Bredon in 1960s and also recorded by Joan Baez)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the real Stockard on the Stump.