Audio clip
Rep. Zach Wamp
Tennessee needs a governor willing to stand at the state line and guard against federal incursions in areas ranging from guns to environmental enforcement, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Zach Wamp said Monday.
“Part of the reason I’m running for governor is because states are going to need to declare their sovereignty, stick together with other governors to protect freedom in our states and be willing to meet the federal government at the state line whether it’s environmental regulations, the speed limit, gun laws, whatever the federal government’s doing that’s onerous,” the Chattanooga congressman said.
States “need to stand up ... and say, ‘No — we’re going to meet you at the state line and negotiate with you, but you’re not going to run all over us anymore,” U.S. Rep. Wamp said. “We need tough strong governors who will stand up against the federal government.”
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester later charged U.S. Rep. Wamp “is pandering to the extreme right and that at the end of the day, if he is the nominee, average Tennesseans won’t ascribe to his viewpoint in any shape or fashion.”
U.S. Rep. Wamp’s comments came in remarks to reporters shortly before he spoke to hundreds of supporters attending the seven-term lawmaker’s free, annual Labor Day picnic. The 5 to 7 p.m. event, held at the farm of former Hamilton County Commission Chairman Harold Coker and wife, Lil, in Tyner, attracted an estimated 1,500 friends and supporters by 6 p.m., a campaign spokesman said. Some 2,000 people indicated they intended to come, supporters said.
Health restart
Earlier, U.S. Rep. Wamp said President Barack Obama needs to “push the restart button” on health care reform and press for incremental change because “we’re not ready for a government takeover of our health care system or any part of it because we know that’ll be the part that will grow.”
He said the opposition to President Obama that flared during the August recess “is the strangest situation I’ve seen where you’ve had this much of a negative reaction this early in an administration.” The Tea Party movement of protest against the president, U.S. Rep. Wamp said, “is a true grass-roots movement against Washington, and Washington is more and more out of touch with the American people.”
Citing the example of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Wamp said “we need two dozen governors that will stand together and say the 10th Amendment has been run over too long. We’re going to protect freedom in our states and we don’t want the federal government running all over us.”
The 10th Amendment states the principle of federalism by declaring powers not granted to the federal government or prohibited to states are reserved to the states or the people. Texas Gov. Perry last spring touched off a flap when he told Tea Party protesters, who shouted out calls for secession, that “there’s a lot of different scenarios. We’ve got a great union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that.”
U.S. Rep. Wamp said he was not talking about secession.
Democratic Chairman Forrester said the congressman’s remarks seem like “plain and simple grandstanding and sort of reminiscent to the civil rights battles of George Wallace and others who refused to desegregate public schools, the sort of behavior for a Tennessee governor that would be inexcusable.”
During the event, supporters chowed down on barbecue and sipped on water, tea or lemonade. U.S. Rep. Wamp eyed a brewing thunderstorm and raced through his comments to supporters, noting, “I’m going to move fast. If I get struck by lightening, I did it with ... love in my heart and a smile on my face.”
Larry Gatlin, a Grammy Award winner who is part of the Gatlin Brothers, was Rep. Wamp’s musical guest. Nashville-based conservative radio talk show host Steve Gill was the event’s emcee.
Chattanoogan Stefanie Wittler, who recently was crowned Miss Tennessee, performed the National Anthem.
Many in the crowd were from Chattanooga and other parts of Southeast Tennessee. But a bus from Middle Tennessee’s Williamson County brought some 60 supporters to the event.
“The grass-roots are really coming out,” said businessman Corky Coker, Mr. Wamp’s Hamilton County finance committee chairman whose family hosted the event.
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Staff Photo by Margaret Fenton Gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., center, talks with East Ridge Vice Mayor Tom Card at the Coker Farm during the congressman's annual Labor Day picnic.
Mr. Coker said the campaign had received 2,020 responses to the event, the same figure used in Wamp’s 2020 slogan, referring to the campaign’s 20/20 Vision of what Tennesseans want the state to become between now and the year 2020.
Campaign officials said more than 1,500 had arrived at the free event by 6 p.m. before the thunderstorm erupted, sending many to their cars.
U.S. Rep. Wamp said the turnout was “really special.”
“I’m excited,” he said. “We’ve got 10 months until people start voting. But I’ve got a very, very good chance of being the first governor from Southeast Tennessee in 105 years.”
Rep. Wamp, 51, is one of four candidates with name recognition seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination next August. Also running in the primary are Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons.
Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
“we’re not ready for a government takeover of our health care system or any part of it because we know that’ll be the part that will grow.” -- Zack Wamp. Wow - that's terrific, Zack. You are against the public option because it will become wildly popular, will lower costs and will help millions of uninsured Americans get quality health care. How very twisted. Admit it, you're so comfy in the pocket of corporate interests that your constituency has shrunk to them and them alone. You are wholly unqualified to be governor and pandering to the quacks on the right wing won't put you over the top, but I'm sure your fascist and philandering friends at the C Street House are praying for you. Hee Haw!
Dear Librul,
Anyone who doesn't think that the cost will go up when the government gets involved in any process is not dealing in reality, especially if a single payer or "government option" system is put into place!
There is absolutely no reason to make a major overhaul in our health care system other than to get some tort reform legislation that restricts huge liability claims, allow for access to all insurance companies across state lines by all persons, require that insurance companies not be allowed to exclude anyone from getting insurance at a reasonable price, require standardized forms be used by all insurance companies and giving tax credits to allow individuals to buy their own insurance. This will fix the problem. We do not need a medicare type single payer government run program.
Name just one program run exclusively by the government that is not financially in trouble or that has cut costs and has not grown bigger than originally anticipated. Name one.
While I agree that problems exist in health care across the nation, I totally disagree that a single bill should be passed by the Federal Government to reform the system.
What works in Chattanooga may not work in San Francisco.
For example,who should pay for the medical risk of a person who willingly uses recreational drugs? Who would agree to purchase the homeowner's risk of replacing their home when it is on fire? Who would agree to insure the life of a person bent on suicide?
If we force insurance companies to insure everyone, we would be doing all the above!
Since the Federal Government exacts taxes as it's source of income, who do you think actually pays for this if the Federal Government decides to "pay" these premiums. Like so many other Federal Programs, this does not make any sense!
The majority of Tennesseans think and act differently than those who live in Los Angeles, New Mexico, or Boston.
Let Tennessee citizens chose if they want to pay to transfer risk! Do not allow the Federal Government - or any level of government - to force us to buy risk protection or force a private insurance company to assume that risk.
I plead with you to honor our Constitution which limits the powers of the Federal Government, and carry the banner of freedom which is stained with blood of many for 200 years, and is now being stained with corruption in our Federal Government. The power is not theirs. The power is ours!
I totally agree with Zach Wamp. Stop the Federal Government at our Tennesse boarders! They have no right to govern Tennessee - or for that matter, any other state.
You tell 'em Zach! Just because the federal government says that Negroes should be able to eat in our restaurants doesn't mean we should let them. We should meet the Feds at the state line. Just because the federal government says that Negroes have a right to the same accomodations as we have doesn't mean it's so. We need to meet the Feds at the state line.
My comments about forcing insurance companies to not be able to deny coverage is based on the idea of spreading risk. IMAMERICAN listed some examples of insuring people who use recreational drugs or are suicidal. The insurance companies already insure folks like that and assume that a certain percent of the folks they are insuring are risks.
Someone who buys insurance coverage their whole life, but at some point develops high blood pressure should not become uninsurable even if they have to change employers or insurance companies. Insurance should be portable and you should not be dropped from the coverage just because you have a medical problem like cancer.
If you have home insurance your policy not only includes the likelihood that your house will catch on fire but rather on the risk of all home policy holders' houses catching on fire. I have a home in the middle of a residential area with good fire protection, but I am sure that some of the homes covered by the same policy or company are located near a forest or some other more dangerous location for fire risk. The insurance companies group these risks. This is not a new concept and is the current practice.
Granted someone with no insurance and their house is on fire should not be able to buy fire insurance that takes effect at that moment in time, but the insurance company should be able to put the policy in force the next day after the fire has occurred. This policy would be in force from that time forward.
Just a thought.
I agree totally with "Pharm", and as I said, health care problems exist. Insurance companies have been regulated by the several states, but as we know, large insurance companies operate in several states because they agree to that state's insurance rules.
Portability ought to exist, I agree. Insurers class large groups of people which allows them to absorb certain risks.
Several things can be done to "encourage" the insurance industry to solve problems - primarily by competition. If Unum Provident tells a client that his employees will be covered - for life - regardless of where they live at the same rate they are currently paying, is it possible that that company's numbers would increase dramatically? Would I, as an employer, be tempted to pay a little higher rate for that coverage because it would attract the very best employees? Then, would United Health Care be tempted to start a national program of portabability - and compete with Unum?
I'm suggesting that consumers become educated, and the free enterprise system be allowed to work.
Yes, there are problems, but the President, and Congress certainly will not have a solution, other than to expand this government until it controls every aspect of our lives.
By the way, I consider this to be an honor, and very American, having an intelligent dialog. Hard working Americans have always come up with solutions. So far, I have not seen the Federal Government EVER solve a problem involving social issues.
Nor, have I seen people who use these forums to display their own ignorance ever bring about positive change.
Just some more thoughts...
Just a sidebar to my previous comments. Tennessee Democrat Chairman Chip Forrester, along with comments by Librul and Max ought to be read, studied, and evaluated for content, logic, and perhaps motive!?
Perhaps IMAMERICAN you are too young to remember the battles that took place in the late 1950s and 1960s over state's rights and the federal government. I am not. My father was a United States Deputy Marshall who served his country well during these times. the cry of "state's rights!" was common, and the letters "FED" and "n** lover" were regularly scrawled in the dust on our family car (U.S. Deputy Marshal's were not issued take home cars at the time, but used their family automobiles in the performance of their duties). In what way would you challenge the content, logic or motive of my posting? Since the story refers to Zach "Cocaine Dealer" Wamp as complaining about federal government involvement in the area of guns and environmental enforcement, and other stories related to this story have mentioned Wamp's comments about speed limits, I fail to see the relevance of your comments and those of your pharmacist friend to the story. So maybe the content, logic and perhaps motive of your own missives should be questioned.
Dear Max,
I would have been proud to serve with a man like your father, and I thank you and your family for his service. I spent over 20 years serving my country in the military, including Viet Nam. On a much, much smaller scale, I understand how prejudice works. I maintain my position that the Federal Government cannot solve problems that should be solved at state government levels. If our local communities were willing to dialog like this, our motives, logic, and willingness to listen with a desire to understand, then solutions would become more clear.
Name calling has been going on as long as I can remember, and I do remember the 50's vividly. When I was called names, I bravely replied with "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." It's not always easy to believe that, but it is possible to be above name calling and overcome the hurt one feels.
I admire all who were willing, and are willing to fight for their rights. This is what makes America Great! Our governments - at all levels should not be "us vs them." The government is designed to be of the people, by the people and for the people.
All citizens should be protected by the same US Constitution, since all are created with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
This Constitution limits power granted to the Federal Government and grants powers not specified to the states. When the Federal Government takes the right to tell you or me what kind of lightbulb we must buy, or what kind of insurance we must buy or what kind of automobile we are allowed to buy, does this not bring back pains of those who suffered prejudice because they were told where they must sit, which washrooms they must use, or suffer blame for killing babies during wartime, and wherein they had no recourse?
Where does this stop? When do we make a stand for our rights as Americans? How far do we let the Federal Government go? What is the price tag for this massive government buildup?
You may not like Zach Wamp. You may not like me. That's OK. I served to protect your rights, just as Max's father fought against bigotry, corruption, lawlessness, and he was willing to give his all for that fight. We can still work together for solutions to problems when we can agree what the problems are.
Thank you Max for giving me more understanding. Your comments give me more reason to realize I do not have all the answers. I am certain that the Federal Government does not have them either. Perhaps this kind of forum can provide a way to discover palatable solutions, if only the majority of people would care enough.
This is a great discussion!
MAX, the reason that some of us talked about health care (insurance being one part) is because it was mentioned in the article listed above.
Health care appears to be a flash point for lots of our citizens because we are just tired of big federal government programs and the control that we give up every time the government take it. From a state's perspective the 10th amendment is important because the federal government forces unpaid mandates on states and health care will be just the latest example of that.
IMAMERICAN had a great point that what works for one city or state may not work for another city or state.
I remember the 1950s and 1960s. I remember it as a great time to be an American! We were a lot freer then and more in control of our own lives. Yes there were racial problems and some federal intervention was very appropriate. We have now elected a racially mixed President and he was not elected only by minorities. I would say that we don't need to worry about going back to the Jim Crow days. I have mixed race grandchildren and I would fight to the death to keep this from happening.
I believe most Americans are just tired of the government intruding in their lives. We are appalled at a government that forcibly takes over private industry or business. Little by little the Federal government has reduced our freedoms and rights. We allowed them to do this. It is time to reverse this trend. Our forefathers provided for this by giving us the Constitution which was written to "limit the power" of the government.
Dear IMAMERICAN
Concerning your 9:19 pm entry. You said what I wanted to say in a much better way than I am able to write.
I too respect Max's dad and what he did. I regret past offenses that have occurred throughout this country's history. I hope we can move beyond them, not forgetting them, but being willing to fight that they never occur again.
I salute your service. I was a medic in the US Army, 101st Airborne in Viet Nam. I am older and frail now, but would strap on my pack again to defend and uphold the Constitution. Like you I took that oath and I haven't forgotten it.
You are right that we shouldn't depend on the federal government to do what we should be doing locally. That is how our country is supposed to be run.
Keep the faith.
Dear Pharm,
Thank you for your service to American Freedom, and the Freedom of oppressed peoples. Again, I want to thank Max, Librul, and you for exercising your God Given Right to express your opinions. Oh... if only the people of other nations had this same RIGHT! We live in troubled times, but haven't all times been troubled? Prophets were killed, dissenters were killed, the out-spoken were killed, and it continues today in nations all over the world. It seems to me that the quest for power, greed, and corruption now dominate the governments of the nations.
I will fight to the death to keep that from happening here.
America is still the greatest, richest, free-est nation ever to exist on earth. Not because of our Federal Government, but because brave men and women fought and died to defend our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
May God richly bless you, Max, Librul, and ALL Americans.
Nice to get to know you folks a little better.
"Zack Wamp supports State's Rights"! Since when?
He's supported too many bills and actions by Congress that usurped State's Rights. Conservative? Not by a long shot--he's merely a mouth-piece of whoever most recently has buttered his bread.
He's a politician, not a statesman. He represents the interests of those who pay him (surprise-not the taxpayers who pay his measly salary of $174,000.00)but Big Religion, Big Corporations, and Big Government.
Sorry Zack, you lied about term limits, Federal Bailouts, Corporate Handouts, your religious subsidized residence on "C" Street, and the list goes on.
You're just a common politician, much like the common cucaracha, bellowing the cry of "State's Rights" to garner support to continue your fiefdom.
It's time for a patriot with pointy-toed boots to back you into a corner and stop you.
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