Cammack Campaign Suicide Watch: Regarding His Membership in Belle Meade Country Club

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By Jeff Woods in Politics, Woods

Thu., Jun. 25 2009 @ 5:29AM

Pith's smug anonymous insiders just won't shut up about Ward Cammack. When last we heard from our hero, you will recall, he was denying reports---well, one report anyway--that his campaign is dragging ass. Now, here's the latest: When Cammack has made fund-raising calls, several prominent Nashville Democrats have told him that they could not support him as long as he belongs to the Belle Meade Country Club. You didn't know he's a member? Well, now you do.

Democrats have succeeded in painting the Tennessee GOP as racist with a lot of help from Republicans themselves. How can Democrats now turn around and support a gubernatorial nominee who belongs to Belle Meade? That's what these Democratic dollar dudes asked Cammack. At least one reminded Cammack that Bill Frist quit the club when he ran for the Senate in 1994.

At the time, Frist told the media, "I simply didn't want to be a member of a private club since I am asking all Tennesseans to join my campaign."

Update: Cammack insists he'll "stick it out."

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6 comment(s) / Post a Comment

JaStep says:

I'm confused as to why this is an issue. Aren't all country clubs private?

I know most people don't belong to country club and probably see them as a little snobby, but why is that an issue in a political campaign?

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 25 2009 @ 9:32AM

Berger says:

Agreed. Most people running for office in a state-wide campaign will have had a good degree of financial success, and that usually means membership in a country club. Good gesture on Frist's part I guess, but I doubt it would have mattered in the end. Doctors are supposed to belong to country clubs, and so are finance wizards.

Some other "clubs" he's supported: Nashville Humane Assoc., Junior League of Nashville, YWCA, Boy Scouts of America, Exchange Club Charities, Eating Disorder Coalition of TN, to name a few. (all this is from his bio)

These dems don't need to make the same mistake the GOP is making: finding some meaningless issue to get lost in and missing what's important.

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 25 2009 @ 10:06AM

TennRod says:

JaStep, it's an issue because the Belle Meade Country Clus is an historically and verifiably racist institution that for generations long barred black and Jewish members and now, as I recall, has one token black member who conveniently lives out of state and doesn't affront them with his presence more than once or twice a year.

Even Frist had the common sense to know that exclusive institutions with a racist bent are not a proper membership for a public official.

If that's no big deal to you, OK. It is a big deal to me and others who just have a bad taste in our mouths for racists.

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 25 2009 @ 10:13AM

Ben says:

I didn't know about the Belle Meade Country Club's history, but I was on my way to Google to find out.

If this club excludes anyone, then no one seeking public office should be a member. Frist is right. How can you represent all Tennesseans when you won't associate with all Tennesseans.

Where is the Tennessee Republican Party on this? Republicans have been gnashing their teeth because Judge Sotomayor belonged to an all-female club. Seems they would be all over a "Democratic" candidate for governor belonging to an exclusive club.

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 25 2009 @ 10:48AM

common sense says:

I just want to ask Mike McWherter why he hates Tennessee Democrats so much.

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 25 2009 @ 1:55PM

TennRod says:

What does that mean, C.S.?

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 25 2009 @ 2:33PM