Fly, Robin, Fly

Jim Grinstead on the TNGOP Chair Robin Smith's contradictory service on the TN Human Rights Commission:

Smith apparently sees no contradiction in serving as an officer of an organization working to fight discrimination and saying "We have a duty to inform the Republican base" that Obama's middle name is Hussein and that he is a Muslim. The Tennessee GOP web site also carried a controversial photograph of Obama in traditional Muslim attire during a ceremony ....

Smith wants Tennessee to believe that she opposes discrimination, but her actions expose the lie. She clearly is not afraid to promote fear and misunderstanding and offers no apology for her actions. She backed down only when forced into a corner by those with greater authority and more respectable morals.

Tennessee's Human Rights Commission is no place for someone who supports such tactics. Those turning to the commission for help in discrimination issues expect to find open minds, not a stacked deck. Smith's willingness to employ tactics of fear and innuendo prove she is not an appropriate person to hold that office.

Perhaps if Ms. Smith had limited TNGOP's lyric to Silver Convention proportions (their disco hits typically have less than 10 words), then they would not have so much damage control to do now.