Today's anti-woke hero is . . . again the Tennessee GOP, who were recently overheard talking about the situation amongst themselves. At issue was one representative (Barrett) who voted against ejecting Gloria Johnson (the only white person protesting.) Her colleagues told her that she caused them a lot of trouble; they had wanted to eject the white person despite the lack of evidence to derail perceptions of racism.
“Man, you hung us out to dry … This would’ve been bad anyway, but good God … it brought the racism into it because you didn’t stay with us.”
Another was angry that he was being called racist for ejecting the two black representatives who protested. "I’ve been called a racist, a misogynist, a white supremacist more in the last two months than I have my entire life. And by golly, I’m biting my tongue. And I’m telling you, all due respect, those days are wearing thin right now.” Poor guy. It's like you can't even target black people without being called a racist these days.
He then described his dismay that he would have to see this person back in the legislature. "I’m going to have to swallow this seeing Mr. Jones back up here walking these hallowed halls that the greats of Tennessee stood in. And watch them disrespect this fucking state that I chose to move to. And by golly, it’s got to stop.”
Finally he made a statement that sums up Tennessee republicans perfectly. “You got to do what’s right, even if you think it’s wrong.” Remember - party before morals. That principle must be why the Speaker of the Tennessee House doesn't live in the district he represents. Sure, that's wrong (and against the House's own rules) but you got to do whatever lets you hold on to power. You got to do what's right, even if it's wrong.