![[Valid RSS]](/images/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
« Ward Cammack withdraws from gubernatorial race | Home | Another day, another Tennessee Democrat exiting a congressional race »
December 3, 2009
Photo: House Speaker Kent Williams compared to biblical Judas
A member of the Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee sent me an e-mail that had originated with another SEC member, Tim Rudd.
The e-mail contained a photo that was taken this past January, just before the surprising House election wherein Rep. Kent Williams voted with the 49 Democratic representatives to become Speaker. House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower had widely been expected to receive that position after the GOP won an historic majority in the House.
To those who may not be familiar with the faces, the fourth person in, on the right-hand row, is Mumpower (blue tie)—and the man holding his right hand, as they bowed in prayer, is now-Speaker Williams (red tie).
There is no question that Speaker Williams pulled a fast one on his GOP colleagues. But to this observer, the comparison to the Judas character in the Christian narrative smacks of mixing religion with politics, and is more than a little melodramatic. The fact that he "joined hands and prayed" before carrying out his personal mission adds no special significance, and calls for no extra pearl-clutching. Was it a sneaky act? Yes. Does the scenario depicted in this photo increase that sneakiness? Barely, if at all.
The reason this is being raised at this point is that the State Executive Committee will meet this coming Saturday to decide whether or not to re-admit Speaker Williams as a full-fledged Republican Party member. It appears at this point that he will not be, which is against the wishes of many Republicans in his district (Carter County).
Be sure to check out some primary-source comments at Post Politics.
Political News | By joe lance | 9:27 AM
Comments
You are certainly correct that the comparison to Judas is "more than a little melodramatic." Clearly, it is over the top. However, the point that it smacks of mixing religion and politics" is not well taken. If he had used the name of Benedict Arnold instead, would he be accused of invoking the Founding Fathers in behalf of Mr. Mumpower?
The fact that they were observing an invocation makes the Judas reference somewhat interesting; however, this is an overly zealous citation of the most famous betrayer in history, not a mixing of church and politics.
Posted by: MCO at December 3, 2009 8:08 PM