Senator Michael Williams ate lunch at the Pig & Chick last Friday. I know because I was there. In fact, I harassed Williams for the duration, and I didn’t feel bad about it at all. As a constituent blogger, it’s my job to nag my elected officials while they’re eating green beans, right?
Yeah, I thought so.
Look, it’s not that I dislike Williams. It’s not that I like him either. That’s the problem. I’m trying to figure out why, in the hometown of his Republican opponent (and the two italicized words should have secured the race for Faulk here,) Williams is finding so much support that if you say anything remotely negative about the incumbent, random little old Ladies on the street whack you with their pocketbooks, strongly worded emails arrive from the Steel Magnolia, Aunt Ethel, some of the soccer coaches and another close relative, who asked to remain nameless (and while I don’t like using unnamed sources, one must always honor such requests from their mother) who claims she wouldn’t trust Faulk as far as she could throw him. Oh, and let’s not forget the Old Guys at the Spit-n-Sit, who question whether your Daddy raised you right or not.
I realize Williams is not super-outrageous bad like a Stacey-Campfield-brand-crazy because he’s remained pretty much off my radar. But his ability to fly under the radar doesn’t justify the amount of support he’s gathered in his opponent’s backyard. So, did he save the world and I missed it? Is it because he seems like a regular guy? Do people identify with his NASCAR fixation? Is it the mustache? Does he hypnotize people with it? Is it because – as Steel Magnolia continuously points out – she thinks he’s attractive?
Feh. Those arguments are lost on me. People don’t elect representatives in government based on the fact that they’re from a similar background, have similar interests or because they’re “attractive” which is entirely subjective anyway. Do they? Because hell, Mike Faulk is a fisherman with such nice legs he could be a boy Rockette if he wanted. This doesn’t mean I have his campaign button pinned on my shirt.
Besides, if I were suffering from the “elect-them-if-they’re-pretty” voter mindset, I’d be more likely to write in one of the assistant trainers from the UT Women’s Soccer Team or our local Republican juvenile judge – who is, you know, pretty fly for a white guy.
Anyway, since I don’t know enough about Williams to understand what folks find so appealing: giving him indigestion by interrogating him about the increase in the tobacco tax, the tollway act, Ron Ramsey, John Wilder, his’ odd NASCAR fixation, reports that he has been making nice with Democrats, and any other question I could think to ask seemed to be a good way to figure this out.
So, I didn’t hesitate when I got the chance:
“Senator Williams. How are you? Good to see you. How did your Democratic fundraiser go the other day?”
“Democratic fundraiser?”
“Well, I read somewhere Phil threw a fund raising party for you.”
“Phil?”
“You know, the Governor, the $500 a plate thing?”
” Oh! Oh, it went well,” Williams responded without looking shamefaced. Shouldn’t he look shamefaced over the whole Bredesen endorsement? Just a little bit? Because he didn’t. Not at all.
“Well, you know, Phil… er the Governor is a Democrat right?”
Williams smiled and then said nice things about Governor Bredesen, which is not surprising. The mutual respect between Governor and Senator is one of the reasons listed by his supporters to keep him in office. But the problem with the “Governor argument” is this: Bredesen’s time is limited. Williams, if re-elected, would serve a 4-year term. What about those last two years?
Williams paused to chat with a county commissioner, who seemed genuinely happy to see him – even though that commissioner is a bona fide Republican. Meanwhile, I pondered upon the question: Would it be better to elect a Republican state Senator if the next Governor was likely going to be a Republican? Would this benefit my county? Then if you elect a party loyalist: what of the first two years? With the Governor and the bicameral Legislature all at odds, I can’t imagine much would get accomplished beyond the usual: the Republicans would take swipes through the media at the Democrats, the Democrats would swipe back, Stacey Campfield would have good intentions but somehow make such an ass of himself – neither party would comment.
When he concluded the conversation with the commissioner, I asked:
“So, what do you think about Frist?”
He gazed at his plate longingly. His food was getting cold and he probably wished I’d go away, “Bill Frist? I like him. Why?”
“Well, let’s say if he were elected to Governor – could you work with him.”
“Well, sure,” he says – then gives me this smile which is the same on my dad gives me when I call parts of my car “doohickies”.
(Hey, I think it was valid question. Folks said to be eying the governorship include Frist, Blackburn and Ramsey. There was no need to ask about the other two since I think pigs would fly before they could be elected. And if the swine do manage to get airborne, I’m buying a blue t-shirt and heading to Kentucky – therefore, I won’t give a damn either way.)
Three old ladies interrupted my interrogation – then a guy slapped Williams on the back and explained he was in town for his wife’s doctor’s appointment. For some reason Williams seem to know why the wife was having an appointment. It was one of those “How’s your Mama-n-em” moments. I poked at the lemon in my tea with my straw while waiting to annoy the Senator with the next question about the Tennessee Tollway Act.
I’ve heard the Republican version of the tale: Williams voted in favor of toll roads in the Transportation committee and then didn’t vote for it on the floor. According to some GOPers, the reason he changed his mind because he was worried about how it might affect his re-election campaign.
According to Williams, however, the sponsor of the bill Senator Diane Black had been approached by constituents in Sumner County. They wanted to be considered for a toll road project and had expressed as much. Williams felt if this was what her people wanted, then it deserved consideration. However, when it came before the full Senate, the language was too broad, he didn’t support the measure, not for all 95 counties – so he voted against it.
It all sounds very reasonable, but I didn’t believe him. Why should I? So, after I came home, looked for my eyeglasses and located them in the freezer (don’t ask) I did a little research. Four phone calls later, I discovered that yes, many folks in Sumner County were favorable to the notion of a toll project – and lobbied for this. I also discovered something else Williams AND the Republicans failed to mention. Not only was the (Republican) bill sponsored by Diane Black (a Republican) and passed on to the Finance Ways and Means Committee with the approval of Sen. Jack Johnson (a Republican) and Williams – three of the same Republicans, who ultimately voted against the Bill on the Senate floor (this does not include Ron Ramsey who voted in favor of the bill) Woodson, Southerland and Beavers also sit on the Transportation Committee – but all three Republican senators were absent during the vote. If you view the video, Woodson reappears a few minutes after.
Now, I’m no political expert – but technically, if Republicans had an issue with the bill: they could have killed it in the Transportation committee or had it sent off to a “Summer Study for Crap that Will Never Happen.” Right? So, instead of leaving Williams holding the bag by himself: shouldn’t they also be upset with Johnson and those three senators who skipped the vote? Isn’t the leadership being selective in who they blame? I’d think so – if the whole thing didn’t reek of a “maneuver.”
But Williams is either too naive to see it or too polite to mention it. And far be it from me to stir what looks like a pile of Republican Poo.
Next, I asked about Ron Ramsey’s push to oust him from the Senate and Williams’ vote in `04 for John Wilder. My goal was to get him to admit aloud Ramsey was an asshat, but it didn’t happen. Williams had little to say about Ramsey or Faulk and told me in no uncertain terms he doesn’t respond to attacks and he doesn’t use those tactics himself. I believe him – but this kind of campaign is not nearly as much fun as the other side – who’ll talk bad about Williams and all the people to which he might be kin with just a little prompting.
“So, why did you vote for John Wilder?”
“Because he is fair. He has always been fair.”
Williams also points out that Republicans casting their vote for Wilder isn’t uncommon – and otherwise repeated what he said in 2004 and again in 2006 about Wilder.
This is not an uncommon explanation either- or a new one. Wilder has always been known for gathering support from both sides and awarding his supporters in both parties with committee assignments. Consequently, Republicans who vote for Wilder have been giving this same speech for years. (Those Republicans would include Ron Ramsey, who voted for Wilder in the Senate and Naifeh in the House – although I’m not sure he did much speech giving.) However, after Williams gave the speech in `04, the executive committee of the Tennessee Republican Party allegedly announced that sanctions were possible for Republican legislators, who cast votes for Democrats for organizational purposes – such as endorsing a challenger in the primary.
Of course, the Republicans allege Williams’ vote had more to do with being named Speaker Pro Tempore than any attempt to ensure fairness. Williams says this is not so – but even if it is how much righteous indignation can we display here?
At this point, Nick Spirko wandered by the table and talked to the Senator – oh and I nominated the politician for a role in the next Rogersville Playhouse musical. After Nick departed, Williams started talking about Rogersville, the Hale Springs Inn, the little league, tires and the new high school in Grainger County.
I steered the conversation back to the more important issues by blurting out:
“You know a lot of people here are angry about the tobacco tax increase?”
Again, Williams smiles and informs me that a lot of people also credit the tax increase for their decision to quit smoking. He then points out that smokers are twice as likely to seek health services, so why shouldn’t they pay more into the system if they’re taking more out?
Okay, the money went into the general fund – with the exception of what was allocated to the ag program and the Trauma Center Fund, also supported by Williams. So, technically, I guess this could be true. But I still say the tobacco tax hike was unnecessary since we had a surplus in that year. I’m familiar with the argument against using the surplus to fund ongoing programs or enacting tax cuts – eventually this depletes the surplus and the government is left with a deficit. (No more unreliable than using an unstable source of revenue though)
So, as it was, the surplus wound up in community enhancement grants. And we were all pissed off about that for a minute – but since the checks started rolling in around the same time local budget cuts started hitting the various community organizations – no one seems to mind the money smelled faintly of Brian Kelsey’s bacon.
Still, I do not approve. I do not support the vote: yet again, there’s a problem with Republicans spinning this as some type of dissident act or lack of party discipline. If something passes the Senate, it must also pass the House in order to become law. In the House, I found 13 Republicans, who favored the hike – the group which included Mike Harrison (Hancock/Hawkins Co) Ford (Washington/Hawkins), Hawk (Greene/Unicoi) and Roach (Claiborne/Grainger/Jefferson) and Williams (Carter). Are we calling for their removal too? Oh wait! Maybe we are and we’re just starting with all names beginning with W.
(Psst. Ron Ramsey supported a tobacco tax increase in 2002. Is he on the list too? Just askin’.)
Other things that tend not to support the argument that Williams has gone all Democraticish: he signed on to food tax cut, wants school lunch programs to use locally grown produce, supported legislation demanding that all toll bridge owners must be American, supported a bill permitting citizens to shoot intruders who threaten them. Likewise, Williams would prefer you speak English, thinks it’s your right to do so, wants you to go to be punished for transporting illegal aliens or hiring them. He thinks it’s okay if you shoot bears in bars and smoke if you have a small business.
He doesn’t feel the Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding for an abortion… Uh, these things aren’t making a believable “Williams is a Democrat” case for the GOP.
By this time, my favorite waitress wondered by and commented on the Senator’s van, which was plastered with Dale Earnhardt #3. “I love your van. I just wanted to tell you that,” she told Williams, “I cried like a baby when he died.”
Again, I poked at my lemon until Williams concluded his conversation. He excused him and exited the resturant. I thought I’d finally ruffled his feathers so much he’d fled – but he re-entered with a model car, which he handed to the waitress. I couldn’t see it but I assume was Earnhardt-related.
“You give a lot of NASCAR stuff away.”
“I do. I love seeing people’s faces light up when you give them things like that,” Williams went on bout how the cars were meaningful because they were authentic, from Richard Childress Racing. And how sometimes the company would let him know about close-outs, for instance if a driver leaves – he gets those discounted items – meanwhile I started thinking the only things I’ve ever gotten from politicians were some candy and a Phil Roe sticker.
Hmph. Cheapskate Republicans… they tend to spend most of their money on consulting, polling and yard signs. Not stuff… because you know, if they gave away shoes… I’d probably be an GOP adherent – at least while people were looking… straight at me… and they didn’t blink much.
“I noticed you don’t have any signs up. Are you not going to do political signs or advertising? Or are you just going to hand out campaign materials or goodies?”
“I am going to do signs. I need to get those made, and I will. But yes, I’d rather give things away. It means more to people.”
Just then another lady stopped by the table. She told Senator Williams how much she also loves his van and Dale Earnhardt – how she’d been in the bathtub when a girlfriend called and told her Dale died and she just couldn’t get out of the tub. His death had killed the magic of the sport for her until she started rooting for Jr.
“Did you ever meet Dale?” I asked him when she left.
“Just Once.”
“NASCAR helps you relate to voters or them to you, doesn’t it? I know you love it, but it’s also like your gimmick, no?”
“No.”
This was followed by a speech about how Dale came from nothing, worked his way up and remained a man of the people – and how regular people could relate to him. (I’d heard a similar speech when Williams presented Senators Kilby and Burchett NASCAR jackets identical to his own on the Senate Floor.)
“I still don’t get it.”
“What?”
“Being so interested in a person you dont’ know – or how people get swept up in that or emotionally involved in a sport. I don’t understand that.”
“Well, maybe you’re a snob and that’s why.”
The jibe was made in good humor, I think – but it floored me nonetheless.
Friday night, one of the Sit-n-Spitters rang me up. We’ll call him Goober. Anyway, Goober’s brother and “`em boys he’s got working for him” had been at Pig & Chick for lunch while I was grilling the Senator.
“He heard what you said to Mr. Senator Williams there, and I just wanted to call you up there, and tell you Republicans can give Mike money in case you didn’t know that. It ain’t illegal.”
“What?”
“He said he heard you say something about how only Democrats can give him money or something and that ain’t so. Republicans can give money. You can give money to anybody you want. If it’s under $100, your name don’t have to go on the report.”
“Why would you care if your name was on the report?”
Goober didn’t say anything for awhile, and then finally: “You’ve got a lot to learn, Sally.”
After I hung up, I thought about the countless people who stopped by to talk to Senator Williams. While I was stabbing a straw in my lemon thinking about big issues, partisanship and trying my utmost best to give a state senator indigestion – they were talking about their lives, their families, their work, their heath, their Mamas, their car, their plumbing problems – or Dale Earnhardt and how they cried over his death in the bathtub.
Real people. Real life. Real stuff.
That’s when I realized Williams and Goober were right. I am a snob – and I’ve got a lot to learn. One of the most important things being if you need to understand politics: you don’t search the state records or news archives so much as the people.
I get it now.
Mike Williams has been a regular visitor downtown since his first campaign bid for office. He has not changed from day one…. down to earth without any doubt that what he says is the truth. When talking to Mike a couple of weeks ago, I suggested that he read your blog. Hope he does!
Angelia -
First, a very interesting post, but I don’t think you’re a snob at all. Just because other voters don’t bother to research their candidates and instead choose to talk to their elected representatives about stuff that said representative doesn’t care about and won’t remember two minutes later doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you.
Second, the first comment states:
“He has not changed from day one…”
Wow. I guess Williams has always been stupid.
I don’t say this as an insult or through name-calling. Heck, before Williams turned on the Republicans, I spoke at a Lincoln Day in the 4th District. Williams was also one of the speakers. I was floored that this man was an actual member of the Tennessee General Assembly. Perhaps I was naive, but I always assumed, for someone to be elected to the Tennessee Senate, that person had to be one of the state’s best and brightest – or, if not, blessed with the charisma to hide any deficiencies. Hearing Williams address the crowd brought to light that the best of what it means to be a Tennessean doesn’t necessarily represent citizens in Nashville.
You’ve spoken to him in the past few days. Do you feel that I have misread Williams? Have I merely observed him on “off days?”
Cheers,
Rob
Angelia, you are baiting me, and i see right through it, but i am taking the bait anyway!
Here’s what i think is the essence of why Senator Williams has so much support in Hawkins County—those of us who are common people who have worked with him over a long period of time are well-pleased with his performance and see no reason to replace him.
As far as i have been able to ascertain, the reason we are being called on to replace him is because he won’t dance to Ramsey’s tune. Now around here we find that kind of behavior refreshingly apolitical. Simply put, when session starts in January, we can have a senator who is his constituents’ man, or we can have a senator who is Ramsey’s man.
Senator Williams is a populist and what he cares about is his constituency.
i am not through, but i am going to lunch with some wonderful people who have just bought a significant historical property here. i want you to meet them.
Also, i hope you will come to Doc’s memorial tomorrow night.
Rob, are you too old to be sent to your room? i am thinking you may need to get off by yourself somewhere and ponder the fact that most of us in Hawkins County consider ourselves Senator Williams’ peers, and when you call him stupid, we think you mean all of us.
If you will get to know us, you will discover that the problem with trying to herd us like sheep into the voting booth is that there is hardly a stupid one among us.
@ Carolynn:
I have soccer practice until 6:30 or so – but afterwards yes.
I should be there just in time.
@ Rob,
As far as “turning on Republicans” you and I are never going to see eye-to-eye on that. I understand having party loyalty is important to a certain extent: but in my district (especially my county) if we do not have a representative willing to stand up for the people (before the party or against the party if need be) this could have a very negative outcome for us.
I don’t want to get into that too much. I will expound upon it later but not until Williams’ opponent has been given an opportunity to address my concerns. And that offer has been made.
Did you hear Williams speak on an off-day?
I cannot answer that question with a reasonable degree of certainty. I did not get the impression he was stupid or unintelligent (although I’m curious as to why you did and hope you’ll fill me in.)
I will say Williams is not tech-savvy. He strikes me as one of those guys still scratching his head over how to “work the email.” Since technology dominates how we communicate and how information is moved/stored, I think this is somewhat relevant: in that lacking of those abilities could be limiting. Otherwise, he seemed quite knowledgeable about the issues and aware of how certain policies/proposal would affect the district and what improvements should be made. That’s not to say I agree with him on everything, (Pre-K for one) but did I catch him on a good day?
Again, I don’t know.
It does seem a majority of those people who have worked with Williams and those who know him better than I do would not agree w/you – or they haven’t mentioned anything along those lines. So, I’ve no reason to think competency or intelligence would be an issue in this race.
To me, looks like we’re down to deciding based on on political philosophy, personal integrity, or whatever the hell else other people use to make these decisions – who had the best goodies or signs maybe.
(BTW, I saw your comment earlier and knew it was just a matter of time before you’d be scolded. Rob, meet our resident Steel Magnolia, Carolynn Elder.)
A.
….”voters don’t bother to research their candidates…”
….”said representative doesn’t care about…”
“I guess Williams has always been stupid.”
….”before Williams turned on the Republicans…”
The only one having an “off day” is the snob that posted this pretentious rhetoric.
You’re too late Kandy.
He’s already been sent to his room.
A.
Shucks!!
Kandy and i have known Senator Williams for a long time. In his first Senate term, he set out to get to know the people in his new district. At that time Kandy had two businesses on Main Street. (Actually, she had four businesses in two buildings! Kandy for Rogersville City Economic Developer!) But, i digress…
Mike loves history and all the things that go with it, preservation, restoration, antiques, etc. He would come to town somewhat regularly and he and i would go up to Kandy’s businesses and stroll around. He was never in a hurry and acted as if he had all day to explore Rogersville. And those of us who think the party cares more about its own issues than about what is good for the rest of us grew to really respect him.
And don’t forget how he stood against Sundquist in that state income tax debacle. i figure i get to keep several thousand dollars a year that i wouldn’t have had without his actions. Loved it when he told the Nashville papers Sundquist had “made a deal with the devil!”
Carolynn is correct about Mike! He has always been interested in the community and its people. Mike is one of the few that takes the time to visit between elections.
And Carolynn, sweetheart, you were way too nice to Rob. The woodshed would have been more appropriate for his punishment.
Hope to see everyone downtown this evening for the Cruise-In and Storytelling to honor Doc McConnell.
Angelia -
I’ve heard Williams on many occassions and spoken with several of his colleagues. It wasn’t an off-day.
To the Other Commenters -
I suppose this is a philosophical tilt. I want someone better than myself as my elected representative. I want the best and the brightest to tackle the enormous tasks of running our government. The reason for that is that I have worked on Capitol Hill and I understand the incredible complexity of our government. Yes, that tends to mean that doctors, engineers, and lawyers tend to get my support, but that si because they tend to be the best and the brightest.
It seems that y’all want someone who is a “man of the people” who will show up at parades, show up at ribbon cuttings, and fight for earmarks for the district.
We want different things. It’s that simple.
As for “the room” or the “woodshed,” the only person who was successful in doing that over my political lifetime was Senator Frist back when he was Senate Majority Leader. And it was deserved at that time. It certainly didn’t happen here.
Finally, don’t lecture me on Hawkins County. I used to live in Surgoinsville, kick back in Rogersville, and am very familiar with the county.
Cheers,
Rob
Rob, Mike must have been so dazzled by your speech at the Lincoln Day Dinner that he was unable to compose himself to give a brilliant talk himself. You know those Lincoln Day Dinners are the stuff of which memories are made.
Kandy and i are so stupid and so out of touch with Nashville that we need a bunch of doctors, lawyers and engineers, who are so much smarter than we, to explain things to us and to make our decisions for us. Thank God we have one of the “best and brightest” who you say is “better than” yourself trying to replace Senator Williams and save us from our ignorant ways. Personally, i don’t consider Mike Faulk “better than myself.” Recent events and his response to them leave me unclear on my opinion.
You should check with local party officials here. That lack of parade goin’, ribbon cuttin’ stuff from Senator Williams is what ticked them off to start with. Then they were inducted into the Ramsey Vengence Machine. And the rest is Lincoln Day Dinner history.
If i met you, i probably would like you, as Angelia seems to do so, and she is one of my favorite women in the world. But your communication in writing lacks a personal charm. And, frankly, your criticisms of our senator are rather vacuous.
Rob:
Your comment seems reasonable to me. You have some insight as to the complexity of government and see the need to elect bright, well-educated individuals to office.
Nothing wrong with that viewpoint.
So, considering McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy 894th out of 899 and Palin has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism whereas Obama graduated Harvard magna cum laude and Biden has double majors & degrees” this means you’ll be voting on the Democratic ticket this year? How are you going to explain that at the next Lincoln Day Dinner?
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
A.