Once again our state Democrats display the abject hypocrisy for which they are famous. Only a few days after Rep. Jim Cooper called for the removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust in the state Capitol he was the featured speaker at the state Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner which one Democrat described as a "vital" fundraising event" for the party.
Since both Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson owned slaves I find it abhorrent that the Democrats raise funds for their activities trading on the names of two well-know slave owners. I call on the party to immediately return all the money to the donors and drop the Jefferson-Jackson name from their fundraising activities.
Missouri has already dropped the names and now call their event the Harry Truman dinner. I recommend that the state Democrats change their name to the Ray Blanton dinner. If there was ever a Tennessee Democrat who knew how to raise money it was Governor Blanton.
Douglas Jones