Sher's House of Horrors: Nastiest Legislative Races this Year

The always informative Andy Sher provides the pre-Halloween lowdown on Tennessee's legislative races. It's no surprise that the Fear and Loathing in District 12 contest between Becky Ruppe and Ken Yager makes an appearance:

Just in time for Halloween, the Tennessee Democratic Party is running a television ad attacking former Roane County Executive Ken Yager, a Republican running against Morgan County Executive Becky Ruppe, a Democrat, in the 12th Senate District, which includes Rhea County.

The ad, which Democrats say is intended to deliver a serious message humorously, spoofs a horror movie trailer. The spot portrays Mr. Yager as a deranged, hockey-mask wearing, chain-saw wielding “job killer” who presided over a 25 percent plummet in manufacturing jobs during his final four years in office.

“The new name in terror,” the ad’s announcer says as a woman shrieks and the chain saw roars. “Ken Yager is the Job Killer.”

The ad states that in addition to the 25 percent loss of manufacturing jobs, “unemployment ran higher than the statewide average” during Mr. Yager’s 24-year tenure.

Yager campaign manager Robert Kuykendall charged that the Democratic attack ad was “false” and “tasteless.”

“It appears instead of discussing the issues, Becky Ruppe and her liberal friends in the Tennessee Democratic Party are playing with numbers to hide her dismal record as Morgan County executive,” Mr. Kuykendall said, accusing Democrats of “trying to cherry pick numbers.”

Ken the job killer vs. Becky's liberal friends. There's a future for the loser of this race in cheap fiction.

Scott County Liberals have second thoughts about Becky Ruppe

The latest circular from 12th District State Senate candidate Becky Ruppe has given the Scott County Liberals pause. Figuring prominently in their second look are Ruppe's views on "gay marriage" and her use of gay activist Jim Maynard's comments.

We get it, Becky. You're against "gay marriage."

Becky Ruppe can hardly turn down an opportunity to say she's against "gay marriage."

"I am a pro-life, pro-gun, oppose-gay-marriage Democrat," says Ruppe, 45, who now serves as Morgan County executive.

Apparently Jim Maynard is getting under her skin:

On the matter of gay marriage, Ruppe says she has gotten some grief from members of her own party for her stance. She cites a West Tennessee gay activist blogger who urged Democrats to vote Republican rather than back a Democrat disloyal to party principles.

Wow! It's so strange that a gay man might condemn a candidate of the same party for taking a stand against "gay marriage," especially when it's not even an issue that will come before the General Assembly or the voters again.

Maybe she is the better candidate. I don't know. But I seriously hope no one in any party expects us just to shut up and ignore these comments.

Ruppe succeeds in making "gay marriage" an issue

Becky Ruppe, Democratic candidate for the State Senate in District 12, has succeeded in making "gay marriage" an issue in the race. Her radio spot, which mentions the issue out of no where, has now been matched by her Republican opponent, Ken Yager. If you aren't eating, you can listen to it here.

Of course, it's not an issue between the two candidates since they have the same position. Oh, and it's not an issue for Tennessee, since we have a statute and a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage.

But it is now an issue for GLBT people in District 12. Teens struggling with issues of sexuality and gender get to hear themselves opposed on the radio on the way to and from school every day. Adults who are probably pretty circumspect about their lives and their partners, if they had any doubt before, will know to stay in their place.

Democrats aren't saying a word. Eager to take control of the Senate, they seem to have a Reaganesque rule about not speaking ill of other Democrats. Ruppe's ad titled "Courage" is still posted without negative comment at the State party's blog. This is the same party that says it is "...the party that continues to provide messages of change and hope against the politics of fear and bullying."

Thankfully most Democrats, though silent about her ad, aren't following her lead. The saddest part to me, though, is that Ruppe's life has been one of courage. 90% of her ad rings true. But she has injected additional fear into a part of Tennessee that didn't need any more.

Gratuitous jab at marriage equality of the week: Becky Ruppe

Earlier in the week, Sean Braisted blogged about Democratic Senate candidate Becky Ruppe's radio spot. Thanks to Sean, you can find the audio of the spot here. The ad tells the struggles of her life and then ends with a list of conservative stances including her opposition to "gay marriage."

Thanks for sharing, Ms. Ruppe. Is your district a hotbed of GLBT activism? What exactly prompted you to include that item in your ad? You have heard, I hope, that the Legislature and the voters have already decided this matter in Tennessee.

The ad is also posted here at the Tennessee Democratic Party's blog. Interestingly, it is posted without comment and no one has complained in the comment section.

On her website, she says, "Marriage, as so defined, is a union between one man and one woman: I will make all my decisions regarding this issue based on Christian values." What would she say if she were to learn that some of us who want marriage equality were pursuing it because of Christian values?

Ruppe's ad is pernicious for at least one of two reasons. Either she is misleading the voters into thinking that marriage is an issue in Tennessee or she is whipping up prejudice against GLBT people to bolster her conservative credentials.

If you'd like to share some of your own gratuitous opinions with Ms. Ruppe, you can do so in a variety of ways here.