At least two chapters of the Tennessee Republican Party say Governor Bill Haslam isn’t conservative enough and they’ve passed resolutions calling on state party leaders to sanction him.
GOP leaders tell The Nashville Tennessean the resolutions were initiated by tea party activists and passed by members at recent county party meetings. They condemn the Republican governor for policies that include the hiring of gay individuals, Democrats and a Muslim-American lawyer. Haslam spokesman David Smith downplays the resolutions, noting a recent poll showing 79 percent of conservative Republicans approve of the job Haslam's doing." State Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney is urging Republicans to stand together on the core GOP principles.