*Note: This is a reader-submitted opinion piece. Opinions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@clarksvillenow.com
After being blown up by a bomb on my third deployment to Iraq, I had to decide where I would live. This Yankee chose Clarksville. The community was growing and our local leadership seemed committed to live out the city’s motto as the “Gateway to the New South.” This motto may mean different things to different people. To me, it meant that Clarksvillians would continue to honor their heritage while eschewing the racial and religious divisions that have been so detrimental to our country in the past. This is why I was so disappointed to learn that Mayor Durrett has announced his support for Mark Green as the candidate for the 7th Congressional District of Tennessee.
I have only had the pleasure of speaking with Mayor Durrett on several occasions. He has always been amiable and is quick to let you know that he is just here to serve the people. One always gets the feeling that he genuinely cares about his constituents; especially our large veteran community. As someone who has spent quite a bit of time around politicians, I can assure you that this is a unique characteristic. Mayor Durrett has also stayed above the divisive political partisanship that permeated every aspect of our lives over the past several years. Considering all of this, it is worth examining why Mayor Durrett would endorse a political candidate for such an important seat a full two months before the deadline for all candidates to file. Perhaps Mr. Green shares Mayor Durrett’s values and vision for our “Gateway to the New South.”
Mr. Green is a fellow veteran. If you did not know that, speak with him for a couple of minutes. He will certainly bring it up. A quick glance at his legislative record on Ballotpedia shows that Mr. Green has sponsored more bills attacking the LGBTQ community over the past two years, than helping our local veterans. A recent Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Study shows that 24,000 veterans in Tennessee do not have access to health insurance. The Medicaid expansion that has worked so well for our neighbors in Kentucky, would fix that. Mr. Green has spent his entire legislative career opposing this expansion.
Mr. Green also seems to forget that there are members of the LGTBQ community serving on the very front lines in the War on Terror. He has disregarded that fact with every new hate bill he signs on to. Today, the United States military started accepting transgender recruits. In a September 14th speech in Chattanooga, Mr. Green wrongly stated, “If you poll the psychiatrists, they’re going to tell you transgender is a disease,” he continued, “if you really want to bring this back to who’s at fault, we’ve got to look a little inwardly. We’ve tolerated immorality.” The American Psychiatric Association removed “gender identity disorder” from its manual over five years ago. For a man who sells himself on his medical expertise, this display of ignorance is stunning. I wonder how those on the front lines feel when they realize that politicians back home are supporting legislation designed to discriminate against them?
Since Mr. Green seems so concerned with morality, let us examine his support of credibly accused child predator Roy Moore. Mr. Green not only donated to the Roy Moore campaign, he also proudly posted pictures shaking hands with the man. To be fair, Roy Moore’s accusers had not come forward at that point. However, Roy Moore had already stated that women and Muslims should not be able to run for office in the United States. Roy Moore had already been removed from the Alabama Supreme Court twice, for violating the Constitution. After the accusers stepped forward, Mr. Green erased the social media pictures with Mr. Moore in the dead of the night. He has not shown the leadership or intestinal fortitude to withdraw his support or even speak publicly on the matter. For a man so concerned about morality, Mr. Green falls woefully short of the standards he has set for others. Perhaps he should consider his own advice and look inwardly at his own support for immoral actions.
Mr. Green has shown a willingness to use his status as a veteran to advance his view of straight, white Christian supremacy. This is, despite the fact, that he is hurting many of his fellow veterans in the process. Mr. Green’s views are so extreme that they disqualified him from becoming Secretary of the Army for the current administration. Keep in mind, this is the same administration that hired a foreign agent, currently under indictment, as our National Security Advisor. It is worth asking if Mayor Durrett supports Mr. Green’s extremist belief system. Why else would he endorse a candidate months before the qualifying deadline? The local press has seemed unwilling to ask these questions. As constituents, it is time we start, or we risk devolving into a divisive and divided community.
-Cliff Ritter