Campaign Against Niceley is Rooted in Calumny and Untruth

Tennessee State Senator Frank Niceley has been the victim of untruths, half truths, and calumny in his quest for reelection, and it has forced me to take a stand in speaking out.

I have been very hesitant to inject myself into one of our local primary campaigns here in East Tennessee and specifically in my State Senate district, District 8, between the incumbent State Senator Frank Niceley and Jessie Seal. Those of you who are local to our area are probably aware of the many reasons why I would normally have such a hesitation, but for those of you who are not, it is worth stating that I have many friends and neighbors who are supporting both candidates, some of whom I am very close to. So beyond the occasional offhand remark or social media post, I have been hesitant to inject myself publicly, knowing that either of the men involved in this campaign could end up winning it, being nominated, and in our district likely being elected to the Tennessee State Senate.

However, my personal desire not to upset my friends and acquaintances by overturning the political apple cart has been trumped by a far greater duty, the defense of a friend against calumny and falsehood.

Multiple lobbying groups have injected themselves into this Senate campaign, but the chief one claims to be in favor of what they are calling “school choice.” They have tied themselves to Jessie Seal’s campaign by their expenditure and by their actions. These groups claims that Senator Niceley is opposed to school choice and, in perhaps the biggest political whopper I have ever seen, that same group circulated mailers stating that Senator Niceley, the Grandfather to homeschooled children, is opposed to parental rights. Either those circulating that kind of information are guilty of a monumental case of willful stupidity, or they know that they cannot win their campaign based on Senator Niceley’s actual record.

It needs to be said plainly exactly what it is that these circulars of lies, half-truths, and bull excrement are really about. Governor Bill Lee has decided to inject himself through some of these “dark money” groups from out of State into the races of legislative candidates in various parts of the State who are opposed to his school voucher plan, and that's exactly what it is. This is not merely about choice on its face, and it certainly isn't about parental rights. It is quite specifically about the Governor's voucher plan.

As a homeschool father, I certainly take the concept of educational choice-and especially parental rights-extremely seriously. Some of you reading this very column are aware of the kind of people I have voted for in our local school board races (no doubt some of you reading this are those very people), so it should go without saying that I feel strongly about the whole issue of parental control. That reason is the reason why I am personally opposed to the Governor's plan. When government money is injected into private schools and homeschools, then the government can eventually dictate what will be taught in those private schools and homeschools, how it will be taught, even when it will be taught. There is no such thing as a government grant or use of tax dollars without strings attached in the end. When taxpayer dollars are injected, the government assumes the right to dictate the terms, whether that dictation may come now or later. I do not wish the government to determine the manner in which we teach and train up our children in our home, and yes one can lead to the other (and it eventually will, if not now, then certainly later).

Governor Bill Lee has decided to disgrace himself, and tarnish what would otherwise be a stellar pro-life record, by injecting himself into various legislative races indirectly through dark money political lobbying groups like the so-called School Freedom Fund The Governor has been quite open about targeting legislators who are opposed to his voucher plan, since in Tennessee it is the Legislature and not the Governor which primarily holds the lion's share of constitutional power, as a simple majority can override the Governor's veto in Tennessee. The framers of our State Constitution very wisely determined that Tennessee should have a weak executive in order that power should not be centralized, and the Governor would be answerable to legislators who more directly represent the people of Tennessee within their local counties and districts.

Governor Lee has quite openly admitted that he is targeting those legislators who are opposed to his plans for our education system. In choosing to do so, what the Governor has done is legal, but it shows a profound disrespect for Tennessee's constitutional tradition or order, for if the Governor had chosen to respect Tennessee's constitutional order, he would admit defeat and move on to agenda items which he and the Legislature can agree on. In Tennessee's Constitution, the Governor is meant to be the servant of the Legislature, and not its master. Our current State Constitution continues to use the delineation of powers as it was outlined in Tennessee's original Constitution, which means that our system of government has served us very well indeed for over 228 years.

The worst offense of many of the groups who are trying to unseat Senator Niceley is that these groups have paid a great deal of money to circulate mailers and run television and radio ads saying that Senator Niceley is a liberal, even referring to him as “liberal Frank Niceley.” I have known Frank Niceley personally for many years, and the very mention of the words “Frank Niceley” and “liberal” in the same sentence is a laughable joke. Indeed, on social media liberals don't do anything but mock Niceley because they know that he is one of the most conservative members of the State Legislature. Frank Niceley has a reputation in some quarters of being so right wing that many left-wingers have accused him of being a throwback to some earlier political era, which is not something that any real political conservative should ever have a problem with. How conservative is Frank Niceley? The Tennessee Conservative has reiterated that Frank Niceley has one of the most conservative records in the State Senate, and in the entire General Assembly. Tennessee is blessed with some of the strictest laws against abortion in the country. We would not have them at all if it were not in large part to the dedicated years of effort by Frank Niceley and his immediate colleagues. To even insinuate that Frank Niceley is a liberal is as ridiculous as claiming that I am a member of the Communist Party.

I will not burden the reader by explaining in detail the perils of replacing a reliably conservative legislator who has represented the farmers and small business owners of this rural and agricultural district with fidelity for many years with someone who is untested and untried by comparison. I believe that is a choice for Republican primary voters. However, I will say that if you do not want to reward those who would engage in calumny and falsehood as a means to defeat a perfectly Conservative candidate for office, you should already know how your ballot in the August 1st Primary ought to be cast.