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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Democratic Party is disavowing the man who won the party's nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Bob Corker in November, saying the little-known candidate belongs to an anti-gay hate group.
Mark Clayton, 35, reported raising no money and campaigned little but received more than 48,000 votes, twice the number of his nearest competitor in Thursday's seven-candidate Democratic primary.
Clayton is vice president of Falls Church, Va.-based Public Advocate of the United States, which calls itself a conservative advocacy group. The Southern Poverty Law Center calls the organization an anti-gay hate group.
Clayton did not immediately return messages left Friday. Public Advocate says on its website that it "offers strong and vocal opposition to," among other things, "same-sex marriage and the furtherance of so-called gay rights."
The Tennessee Democratic Party said in a statement that many Democrats knew nothing about any of the candidates and suggested that Clayton won simply because his name appeared first on the ballot.
Party spokesman Sean Braisted said officials are trying to figure out what the party can do beyond condemning Clayton.
"We aren't taking any options off the table at this time," Braisted said in an email. "He does not speak for the Democratic Party."
In 2008, the party stripped a state senator who had sided with Republicans in a legislative leadership vote of her 19-vote primary win on the grounds that Republican involvement made the outcome "incurably uncertain." Last month, a federal court upheld the action.
The Democrats and the state attorney general's office argued that the primaries are a party function and not a state election, so courts generally cannot get involved in disputes over who is named as the nominee.
Clayton ran for the Senate as a Democrat in 2008, collecting just over 32,000 votes and finishing fourth.
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For more see TN Democrats dump own Senate candidate.
August 4, 2012 @ 8:20 am
Mark Clayton’s contempt for Gay Americans is just ONE part of the story. He also believes the federal government is building a massive, four-football-field wide superhighway from Mexico City to Toronto as part of a secret plot to establish a new North American Union that will bring an end to America as we know it.
On his issues page, Clayton sounds more like a member of the John Birch Society than a rank-and-file Democrat. He says he’s against national ID cards, the North American Union, and the “NAFTA superhighway,” a nonexistent proposal that’s become a rallying cry in the far-right fever swamps. Elsewhere, he warns of an encroaching “godless new world order” and suggests that Americans who speak out against government policies could some day be placed in “a bone-crushing prison camp similar to the one Alexander Solzhenitsyn was sent or to one of FEMA’s prison camps.” (There are no FEMA prison camps.)
It’s enough to make one turn Republican.
August 4, 2012 @ 1:03 pm
“NAFTA superhighway,” a nonexistent proposal…” (There are no FEMA prison camps.)” The NAFTA superhighway DOES exist. Where have you been? A little info: Chinese goods would be docked at Port Lazaro Cardenas, west coast of southern Mexico. Kansas City Southern Railway de Mexico carries goods to U.S border. A contract to build TransTexas Corridor, 10 lane limited-access tollroad from Mexico to Oklahoma – already leased to Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte. Power of eminent domain will take 584,000 acres farm & ranch land from Texans. NASCO, No. Americ’s SuperCorridor Coalition – its mission, to promote “international, integrated and secure, multi-modal transportation system from Mazaro Cardenas to Winnipeg, Canada. All of this began long ago with NAFTA, signed by Bill Clinton. Texans have been fighting tooth and nail to protect their homes, farms and land. Fortunately, the “American Stewards of Liberty” group have been working with the citizens, local and county governments, and state of Texas for 2 or more years. Using the laws on the books, they have shown the residents in the path of the highway how to organize and combat this monstrosity. Yes, it is intended to create a North American Union. Inform yourself: http://www.eagleforum.org/topics/NAU Check out “Restore the Republic” org, with Gary Franchi, about FEMA camps!
August 4, 2012 @ 7:06 pm
Where and how to begin, Chuck, to respond to such nonsense. Those who support the marriage between one man and one woman are not anti-gay — they are PRO traditional marriage. And the difference, Chuck, between you liberals and we conservatives is that we do not hate you or those who have opposing views. We do not have intolerance for you, and those who have opposing views. You, Chuck, and liberal men and women like you who rant on like you rant on are the intolerant, hateful ones — you just cannot and will not see yourselves for who you really are … intolerant, hatefilled, Chuck.
August 4, 2012 @ 10:59 am
In my estimation Tennessee would be a really difficult state to win as anything other than a ‘traditional marriage’ candidate. Standing on the Dem platform would be like standing on a scaffold platform [just waiting for the bottom to drop out].
August 4, 2012 @ 11:15 am
The AP reports says:
“The Southern Poverty Law Center calls the organization an anti-gay hate group.”
These days the SPLC itself is a “hate” group. Almost any organization that does not either support gay marriage or expresses support for traditional marriage is deemed a “hate group” by the SPLC.
It won’t be long before the SPLC brands religious groups/churches “hate” groups because of their beliefs. The SPLC is nothing more than an extreme group that promotes liberal causes, and in some cases, extreme left-wing causes.
August 4, 2012 @ 11:26 am
I heard Mark Clayton was spotted at a Chick Fil A on Wednesday.
August 4, 2012 @ 11:49 am
I was at Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday, too. Wow, what a coincidence.
August 4, 2012 @ 1:09 pm
Me, three!
August 4, 2012 @ 8:53 pm
Me four and enjoyed the company of pleasant people.
August 4, 2012 @ 11:46 am
The Democratic Party is a hate group; it has always been one since the time of the Civil War.
August 4, 2012 @ 11:56 am
How about we respect a difference of opinion, rather than condemning it? When we are raising children, when they do things that are harmful to them, we try to prevent the occurrence or instruct them about the dangers. This is not hate, but love! In the same way, we must keep marriage between a man and a woman. The homosexual life is harmful to those who indulge in that choice. Giving them legal status may make them feel better about themselves, but they are still wrong. Let us be tolerant about consenting adults, but not give legal acceptance. I will be holding this courageous man in prayer, and watching the outcome of his political career. I will also be watching those who condemn him for having the bravery to stand for what is right, in spite of his silly party.
August 4, 2012 @ 12:23 pm
Did all you folks know that….God himself belongs to an “anti-gay hate-group”, and is probably also a terrorist? Consider the evidence”
“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female. It is an abomination”. Lev 18:22—Well… that is in the Old Testament so it probably does not apply to us, eh?
“for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,…..the men abondoned the natural function of the woman and burned for one another, men with men commiting indecent acts, etc” Rom:1:26-27…..Errr, that probably does not mean what it says…
“Neither ….nor homosexuals…shall inherit the kingdom of God.—err…that’s what I don’ like about you Christians and Muslims, always trying to judge everyone else…
What about Lev 20:13, 1Tim 1:10????
That’s what so many hate about the Bible. That’s why God has to be legislated out of His Universe by idiots.
August 4, 2012 @ 12:57 pm
What is wrong with the 10 Commandments?
Honour thy father and thy mother; Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour, etc.
There are so many other positive Christian qualities that help society behave more civilized, but I think most people realize that if everyone followed Christian principle, there would be less violence, corruption, injustice, etc.
Jesus Christ died for your sins, just look to Him for a joyful, peaceful life.
August 4, 2012 @ 12:30 pm
Awesome, the democrats eat their own! What’s troublesome is the current DNC strategy to make gay marriage a national issue in their party’s reelection platform. On the surface, it sounds like a loosing proposition for them. However, have you talked to young folks lately? As a group, they seem very supportive of that agenda. It is mostly due to the leftist media propaganda and Hollywood celebrities heavy influence over them. Saul Alinksky provided the blue print for leftist radicals who wish to destroy America. In his book, “Rules for Radicals”, he advised to pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. In the 2010 election, their target was the Tea Party, whom the left labeled as dangerous ignorant bigots. If you didn’t agree with the president’s policies it was because he was black and you were a racist. Now their target is opponents of gay marriage. If you are not supportive of gay marriage then its because you are a homophobic hater. In November. I hope common sense prevails and their strategy fails.
August 4, 2012 @ 9:00 pm
Their target changes weekly b/c they just cant find anything to get their base excited enough to overshadow his incompetence and miserable failure’s.
August 4, 2012 @ 12:32 pm
If he is this popular I hope he can win as a write in candidate .
August 4, 2012 @ 12:35 pm
I guess the SPLC should look at themselves,black panthers, nation of Islam,Bill Ayers and the Weather Underground who’s apartment Obama started his run for Ill. Senate seat,Jeff Jones co-founder and who’s company come up with the stimulus package,Rev Wright anti white and American,Van Jones Communist and green job czar,Franklin Marshall Davis communist,in Obama’s book called uncle Frank,David Axelrod communist roots, and don’t forget his mother and father. How many more that are not known?
August 4, 2012 @ 1:01 pm
Democrats are starting to eat their own.
August 4, 2012 @ 1:11 pm
Well, just pass them another serving then!
August 4, 2012 @ 1:07 pm
Among all of the states which recognize gay marriage, did that recognition come due to a vote by the general public in even one of them?
Were those changes not put in place by the legislatures, without public input?
The mainstream Democrat Party is becoming the party of gay marriage. It’s good to see that there are Democrats willing to run for office who do not share that acceptance of the sexual deviant’s desire to appear ‘normal’.
I believe the majority of Americans are (still) against gay marriage, and that was graphically demonstrated by the recent outpouring of support for the Chick-fil-A chain of restaraunts.
August 4, 2012 @ 2:19 pm
”He does not speak for the Democratic Party”
Evidently, he speaks for the people. Heaven forbid he should be the candidate.
August 4, 2012 @ 2:34 pm
Good we need more fighters for man/woman marriages . The jackass are always on the wrong side of what’s right for America.
August 4, 2012 @ 5:51 pm
The SPLC is a Commie hate group. They hate America and American anything. They do love keeping people in poverty, just like their name says.
August 5, 2012 @ 12:49 pm