The Republican Party is standing behind U.S. Rep. Diane Black’s decision to vote in support of the debt ceiling compromise, despite the onslaught of criticism from some members of the Tea Party.
“We stand behind our Republican delegation,” said Adam Nickas, executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party. “We know they are up there holding President Barack Obama’s feet to the fire. Very prominent leaders in the state support Black because they know her record. It’s a record of fiscal conservatism.”
More than 30 Tea Party members peacefully protested Tuesday outside of Black’s office in Murfreesboro to express disapproval over her decision to vote for increasing the nation’s debt limit.
“She is not representing her constituents,” said Murfreesboro resident Micah Forrest, who organized the rally. “How much more debt does she, and the rest of Congress, plan on adding to the federal budget? When will this spending stop?”
Matthew Hurtt, a Murfreesboro native who trains Tea Party activists nationwide, cautioned against putting too much blame on newly elected Republicans, including Black.
“It’s impractical to judge an elected official based on one vote cast out of hundreds or even thousands,” said Hurtt, a 2009 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University who now lives in Arlington, Va. “Take a look at Black’s entire time in Congress, and then judge for yourself whether or not her record is overall more conservative than the alternative.”
Black was one of 174 Republicans who voted for the Budget Control Act of 2011, which raised the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by more than $2 trillion earlier this month.
“Tonight my fellow freshman colleagues and I, who voters sent to Washington to change business as usual, have halted the upward trajectory of the size and scope of government,” Black said in a press release, following the vote. “What’s more, for the first time in my 61 years, the federal government will spend less money next year than we spent this last year.”
The bill passed the House by a 269-161 vote, and by a 74-26 vote in the Senate. Obama signed the last-minute compromise bill into law Aug. 2, after more than three months of political wrangling between the Republican and Democratic parties.
“Our country faces a staggering national debt of more than $14 trillion, and I will readily acknowledge that the cuts in this legislation are not nearly enough,” she said. “So, this bill is no great victory; however it is yet another tangible sign that this Congress is committed to spending less and making Washington more accountable.”
The bill faced considerable opposition from conservative groups like the Tea Party, which strongly supported Black’s election to Congress last year.
“Any in-fighting is part of the process,” Hurtt said. “It holds incumbents accountable and strengthens candidates overall.”
Forrest, who is also a member of the Tennessee Freedom Coalition, said he organized the rally because he felt Black should know that constituents are angry and want answers.
Lou Ann Zelenik, who lost to Black in the 2010 Republican primary race for the 6th Congressional District, founded the Freedom Coalition.
According to the organization’s website, “it is a grassroots movement of dedicated individuals working to make a positive difference.”
After a luncheon Wednesday with the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Black responded to the criticism.
“I say that I’m walking arm-in-arm with the Tea Party,” Black said, during an interview with Nashville Public Radio. “I agree [that] we need to be angry. We need to make sure that we turn this country back around. It’s going in the wrong direction, and we’ll work together to make that happen.”
Ken Hodges, a Murfreesboro businessman who builds custom guitars, said he is tired of conservative politicians compromising.
“She was elected largely due to the Tea Party’s support,” Hodges said. “If she doesn’t have the guts to make the tough choices, then she should face a primary challenger.”
Forrest agreed with Hodges, adding Black campaigned as if she was a member of the Tea Party and he felt “betrayed” by her vote.
“People feel lied to – we elected her to be a staunch conservative,” said Murfreesboro resident Gabriel Fancher, who ran as Republican candidate for the Rutherford County Commission last year.
Despite the blowback, Nickas said he believes constituents should give Republican leaders more time.
“The culture is beginning to change,” he said. “Is it going to change over night? No. But, we’re working to change that.”
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