Shortly after Chris Devaney announced he was resigning as Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, I reported that Carol Swain, professor at Vanderbilt University and political pundit and activist, had expressed interest in the position. She is now actively seeking the position along with about half a dozen other contenders. Below is her letter of solicitation of support send to members of the State Executive Committee who will chose Chris Devaney's replacement this week. Also attached is her press release. The only change I have made is to remove her telephone number. I have done this for all the candidates, however, I am sure if you wish to speak to Dr. Swain that you may contact her at her email address and she will return your call. Rod
Carol M. Swain
P.O. Box 1385
Brentwood, TN 37024
(615) xxx-xxxx
March 30, 2015
Dear Republican Leader:
As a tenured Vanderbilt professor with a strong grasp of politics and knowledge of how political power is manifested, I believe I am the right person to take the reins of the Tennessee GOP at this pivotal time. I have strong political connections within Tennessee, as well as nationwide, and I believe there are qualities unique to my background, skills and values that make me particularly well-suited for this role. Most importantly, I am an excellent communicator with more than a decade of significant media experience as a savvy, conservative commentator. Additionally, I am intimately familiar with what it takes to be a consensus builder. It requires impeccable listening skills as well as the knack to recognize when it is time to speak and when not to speak, and when it is time to push and when it is time to take the foot off the gas.
My focus as interim party chairman through 2016 would be on expanding the influence of the Tennessee Republican Party across the nation, not just within our borders. Part of my strategy in doing so would be to continue growing the party by reaching out and bringing in conservative Democrats dissatisfied with the pointedly liberal direction their party has taken under President Obama, and there is plenty of trickle-down of that. Many inside the Democratic Party are seeing their own hopes and dreams of a strong America coming off the rails. There is much potential there for Republicans to connect with disenfranchised Democrats by offering a welcoming hand of reassurance and sincere inclusiveness. In this regard, I am confident I can also help the state GOP broaden its reach into the more urban areas of the state, bolstering our ties with those particular demographics.
One of the challenges facing us as we strive to accomplish all this is making sure the Tennessee GOP is fully funded. I have ample entrepreneurial experience and connections to be able to bring in more-than-sufficient funds as needed to hold the existing seats and expand into new territory. I see this role as part salesperson: I can prospect, I can pitch, and I can close.
In this role as party chairman, I would provide experience, soundness of principles, and a passion for politics and good government. Additionally, I pledge transparency, a promise of more inclusive internal processes when working with the State Executive Committee, and an affinity and comfort level with all brands of media. In essence, I bring a fresh set of perspectives gleaned from being a conservative Christian minority woman who has overcome poverty and achieved the American Dream. One of my first priorities as GOP chairperson would be to work on healing the breach between conservative Republicans affiliated with Tea Party groups and more moderate/traditional Republicans. I have good friends and strong connections in both groups. I have spoken at several Tea Party events and have become acquainted with many of the men and women who have invested themselves in politics as a new vocation. What strikes me most about conservative Republicans is our unifying commitment to God, country, and nation. I count myself among those committed to following the tenets of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law that it establishes.
I’m one of those people I referred to earlier, who became disillusioned with the Democratic Party, ultimately attracted to the GOP by its adherence to Judeo-Christian values, the sanctity of human life, individual liberty, free market capitalism, traditional marriage, and constitutional government. I can honestly tell others that the Republican Party is the best hope for our nation in order to remain true to its roots. I believe it is essential to elect Republicans who will honor the tenets of the party platform when it comes to social and political issues. In our effort to expand our base, it is essential that we remain true to core values. I also believe that there must be some accountability to ensure that elected leaders remain responsive to the people and the party values.
I bring to this chairperson role more than 25 years of experience studying and teaching courses on politics and campaigns. I am currently a tenured Vanderbilt University professor of political science and law. Before that I was a professor at Princeton University. I have authored six books and numerous published articles. My most recent book is Be the People: A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith and Promise. My first book, Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of Blacks in Congress, won three national prizes and was cited several times by the U.S. Supreme Court. I am the host and creator of “Be the People” and I offer weekly commentary on Bott Radio. In 2007 and 2008, President George W. Bush appointed me to the National Endowment for the Humanities Board and to the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. I am a member of the Operation Andrew Board, and I have served on the boards of Teen Challenge, Roanoke College, and Christian Women in the Media.
I have been a frequent guest on “Hannity’s: Great American Panel” on Fox News and appeared regularly on CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”I have also appeared on BBC Radio, NPR, CNN’s AC360 (with Anderson Cooper), “Fox News Live,”“Fox and Friends,” PBS’s News Hour, C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal,”“The Laura Ingraham Show,” and ABC’s “Headline News.”Over the next week or so, I will be calling each of you individually and meeting with as many people as possible.
Please feel free to call or e-mail me with your questions and suggestions. I can be reached at 615 xxx-xxxx and by e-mail at carolmswain@gmail.com. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter.
For more about my background, please see my website at either www.carolmswain.net or www.bethepeopletv.com.
* Websites:http://carolmswain.net/ and http://www.bethepeopletv.com
* Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carolmswain
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profcarolmswain
* YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/bethepeopletv
Sincerely Yours,
Carol M. Swain
Swain Seeks Chairmanship of Tennessee GOP
NASHVILLE – Dr. Carol Swain, prominent Vanderbilt University law and political science professor renowned for her conservative political commentary on state and national media, has announced her candidacy for the chairmanship of the Tennessee Republican Party. In seeking to fill the post, Dr. Swain would replace current state GOP Party chairman Chris Devaney, who earlier in March announced he would resign effective April 11 to accept a leadership position with a Chattanooga faith-based nonprofit.
It is expected that the TNGOP State Executive Committee (SEC) will review candidates and select aninterim state party chairperson in time for that person to take office on April 12 and serve out the remainder of Devaney’s term, which ends in 2016.
Dr. Swain, 61, an outspoken Christian conservative who became a Republican nearly 7 years ago after becoming disillusioned with the Democratic Party, believes she can continue and build on Devaney’s successful tenure, which included a record-setting number of Republicans statewide elected to public office, at all levels.
“Chris played a key role in guiding the Tennessee GOP to new heights through such vehicles as the Red to the Roots program, and I would be excited and honored to use my communications skills, fund-rising savvy, and political and community connections to add to what he has accomplished,” Dr. Swain said. “With the 2016 election cycle now here, the new chairperson will have to hit the ground running, and I am prepared to do that.
“My focus as interim chairman through 2016 would be to expand the influence of the Tennessee Republican Party across the nation. This would include reaching out to conservative Democrats discontent with the excessively liberal direction their party has taken under President Obama. Toward that end, I can also help the state GOP bolster its reach into the more urban areas of Tennessee.”
Dr. Swain, the author of six books and a former Princeton University professor, is the creator and host of “Be The People,” offering weekly political commentary on Bott Radio. She has also been a frequent guest on Fox News and CNN, as well as on BBC, PBS and C-Span. In 2007 and 2008, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Swain to the National Endowment for the Humanities Board and to the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.
To learn more about Dr. Swain’s background, visit her website at carolmswain.net or bethepeopletv.com. Contact her at 615-xxx-xxxx or carolmswain@gmail.com.
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