Blount County Republican Women Stand Firm Against RINO Attempt To Cancel Free Speech

Image Credit: Blount County Republican Women / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

In an email sent to the “friends and members” of the Blount County Republican Women’s Club, a Tennessee RINO aggressively urged the group to rescind “divisive” Conservative Gary Humble’s invitation from local speaking engagements but the club is standing firmly against this campaign to “Cancel Free Speech”.

Ted Boyatt, who sent the email, currently serves at the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, was formerly the Director of Strategy and Legislative Affairs for the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and prior was the vice chairman of the Blount County GOP.  

According to his Twitter feed, Boyatt is a ‘Never Trumper’ and an outspoken fan of Liz Cheney.

The email was cc’d to the Tennessee GOP chairman Scott Golden and the Tennessee Federation for Republican Women’s president, Linda Kollman.

In the email, Boyatt aggressively expresses his displeasure with upcoming keynote guest speaker for the Blount County Republican Women’s Club, Tennessee Stands president Gary Humble.

Boyatt calls Humble “disreputable and notoriously divisive” and alleges that Humble has a “nomadic history of parasitically roaming from state-to-state and town-to-town, launching various crowdfunded businesses or donation-driven initiatives before moving to his next unsuspecting host community.”

In a reply email, Humble addressed every “concern” presented by Boyatt.

Regarding Boyatt’s opening volleys, Humble replied, “You begin by referencing my ‘nomadic’ history, pointing to an article from when I owned and operated a microbrewery in Texas for 5 years. What you don’t get out of that article is that much of that time (just about all of that time actually) was spent as a young man in ministry after graduating Bible college and starting off as a counselor in Iowa working with Teen Challenge and ministering to men at the end of their rope from drug addiction. And for some years following, I spent time at various churches as a worship pastor eventually becoming an executive pastor. Unfortunately, it is very common for young worship pastors to incur 2-year stints in ministry. Oftentimes, I wished that was different for me. But it wasn’t. It is what eventually led me and my family out of vocational ministry and into starting a new business.”

“You continue the email by demeaning my character and insinuating that I travel from state to state asking for money. I moved here with my family in 2017. After some time and through some connections in the church, I ended up working with the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) with David Fowler, the state’s premier advocacy organization for Biblical family values, marriage, and right to life legislation. It was during that time that COVID hit and in the middle of 2020, I started Tennessee Stands as a response to what I saw as government overreach and began challenging the emergency orders and mandates that were happening throughout our state. I am proud of that work and it is worth noting that David Fowler, my previous boss and very well-respected 3-term Tennessee State Senator from Signal Mountain, TN supported my recent campaign for state senate against Majority Leader Jack Johnson. Imagine, such a brilliant constitutional law attorney and former legislator supporting an evil criminal such as myself. Also incredible that I won on Election Day with 54% of the vote and when counting early voting, came away with almost 49% of the vote against a 16-year incumbent and Majority Leader. Not bad for a nomadic loser with no message.”

Boyatt goes on to state that Humble stood against the “Campaign Finance and Ethics Reform Law,” the bill that many Conservatives refer to as the “Incumbent Protection Bill,” saying that Humble “dishonestly” characterized the bill as an attack on free speech. 

Humble replied, “You continue by painting me as a fraud who refuses to release financial records and fight against transparency. Quite the opposite. Please show me (1) 501(c)(4) in the United States that puts all of its financial records including its donor list online. Donors to a 501(c)(4) have an expectation of privacy and reasonably so since it is guaranteed by that IRS designation. And with good reason. Political retribution is at an all time high. And it is why we are committed to protecting our donors. The problem with the legislation that passed is that it is indeed an attack on free speech as it would unlawfully treat a 501(c)(4) as a PAC for engaging in what cannot be characterized as “political speech.” It is a serious distinction.  It is worth noting that Americans for Prosperity, The Beacon Center of Nashville, Tennessee Firearms Association, CPAC, the NRA, Citizens for Renewing American (run by Trump’s former OMB Director) and every 501(c)(4) that I can think of that operates within Tennessee was and is against the bill for the same reasons. Tennessee Stands was just the tip of the iceberg in opposition to that bill.”

Boyatt goes on to remind readers that Humble is currently under investigation by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance and refers to Tennessee Stands as a “dark money group.”

Humble replied, “You then move on to mention the current finance investigation by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Any person with knowledge of this issue knows full well that this is nothing more than a political witch hunt and punishment for me daring to primary the incumbent Majority Leader of the party. And the board member driving the investigation, Tom Lawless, just so happens to be the member of the board appointed by the Senate Republican Caucus (Randy McNally and Jack Johnson), just a coincidence I am sure. If you are actually interested in the truth, you can watch the full hearing here https://youtu.be/pIW8PBxyqXg This meeting cannot be characterized as anything other than political retribution. The meeting is laughable and an embarrassment to state leadership. This is one big nothing burger. I have committed no finance violations and in the end, this will be a black eye on the board and those who worked behind the scenes to call the investigation.”

Boyatt goes on to criticize Humble for him saying that the Tennessee Republican Party’s leadership “needs a complete overhaul,” that the party is “not fighting for Conservative values,” and for voicing support for Blount County Conservative State Executive Committee Candidate Mark Pulliam.

Humble replied, “And of course, you land the plane on my displeasure with Republican Party leadership. Sir, I am not alone in this sentiment. It is shared by other members of the SEC. It is shared by many of our state legislators and other elected officials across the state. The discontent with the TN GOP leadership did not begin with me and it certainly will not end with me. And I stand by my statements.  You would be hard pressed to read my commentaries and/or watch my videos and walk away not viewing my positions as anything but conservative. Unfortunately, those very conservative viewpoints do not always agree with the policies running through our supermajority Republican legislature. And the fact that those things are being brought to light makes me a threat to the establishment in this state. And I understand. And frankly sir, it doesn’t bother me one bit.”

Following Humble’s reply, Heather Fair, president of the Blount County Republican Women, issued her response to the group’s members and associates that included Humble’s response.

She urged members/associates to read the email and Humble’s response to “see the truth for yourself.”

Fair states that she was “appalled” by the content of Boyatt’s email and states that he first “suggested” pulling Humble’s speaking engagements last week.

She states that after questioning both her judgment as well Humble’s character, he stepped up his “Cancel Free Speech” campaign by asking a former Blount County Republican Women officer for the group’s membership list, but he was denied.

At this time, Fair hasn’t learned how Boyatt gained access to the personal contact information of the group’s members but is doing her utmost to find who is responsible.

“So many aspects of this are upsetting: The bullying. The call for censorship. The leak, or possible theft, of the Membership list. Character assassination. Take your pick – it’s all a disgrace. What is motivating Ted Boyatt to act out in such a way, I can only imagine. I’ve never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Boyett as he doesn’t attend BCRW meetings. Nor has he made any effort to call or email me privately to discuss his concerns, which appear to be many. And yet not pressing enough to address without an audience.  Ted Boyatt’s harassment of our group certainly doesn’t speak to Republican values,” Fair wrote.

Fair states that the motivation for asking Humble to be a guest speaker is that he is a “strong Conservative voice” and is a man who “puts his ideals into action, pushing back against government overreach and advocating for the preservation of our Constitutionally protected God-given rights.”

Fair confirms that Humble will be speaking at the group’s September 26th meeting at Louisville Town Hall at 6:15 PM.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com