Well, the Tennessee GOP’s tactics in campaigning against Barack Obama have once again garnered national headlines.
There’s no doubt about it: TNGOP Communications Director Bill Hobbs knows how to get some attention for the Republicans of the Volunteer State.
But my guess is that state GOP insiders are getting increasingly uncomfortable with this stuff. After all, everyone knows there’s a role inside political parties and campaigns for the Karl Rove guy - that guy who quietly and stealthily drops the bombs on behalf of the party or campaign, without getting party leaders’ hands too dirty by tying their names directly to the attacks. But that guy generally keeps a very low profile. You probably don’t know his name, or even where his office is located. He’s the party hitman, and like all good hitmen, he keeps his head down and moves through crowds unnoticed.
But Bill Hobbs is the face and voice of the entire Tennessee Republican Party. He’s also a known entity in state politics via his popular and very controversial political blog, which he operated long before being hired as the state GOP’s mainstream PR guy.
So is Hobbs mixing up to the two roles to the detriment of the party’s credibility? Is he trying to be both stealthy hitman and party cheerleader to the mainstream media? Can he do both successfully, or does the mix just make a mess?
I suggest the latter.
Your thoughts?
AN UPDATE: Kleinheider thinks Hobbs’ hardball-maverick ways in approaching his role as state party spokesman are a mark of courage and conviction.
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The tactics of Bill Hobbs deserve a response in kind, so I will simply state,
Bill Hobbs is a douchebag.
As long as Robin Smith is Chairman, Bill Hobbs is going nowhere. If the so-called “insiders” want rid of Bill, they will first have to get rid of Robin.
thanks