The year 2020 will go down as being known for COVID-19, social-distancing and the political ambush of John DeBerry by the Tennessee Democratic Party. DeBerry, a Memphis Democrat and respected statesman in the House of Representatives, was ousted by his own party back in May by a 41-18 vote by members of the Tennessee Democrat Executive Committee.
Rather than letting voters take him off the ballot, a committee of Democrats who probably never visited his district cast him out for being conservative on social issues.
But it seems when God closes one door it seems he always opens another, and He had a bigger plan for DeBerry. Gov. Bill Lee announced on Nov. 30 that DeBerry would join his cabinet as a senior advisor beginning Dec. 1. His office will be at the State Capitol, and he'll receive an annual salary of $165,000. DeBerry will play a key role advising the governor and shaping policy when it comes to important issues impacting Tennesseans.
DeBerry, a faithful Democrat since 1970 and representative for House District 90 since 1995, is an honorable man of deep conviction and integrity. He dutifully served his district for 26 years, never wavering from the same core beliefs voters elected him 13 times to uphold.
“I think the agenda is to sanitize the Democratic Party to where it is a mindless group of folks who simply follow an agenda that is placed before them,” DeBerry told Morning Host Robyn Walensky of Memphis KWAM News on June 22.
“I see them going backwards trying to sanitize the country. We are going down a dangerous path. We're on a slippery slope that's going to lead us exactly where our enemies said we were going to be in the '60s,” DeBerry said.
The media barely covered the DeBerry political ambush when it happened.
Do you know why?
The reason is that the narrative doesn't line-up with the agenda of the lying left, who tout themselves as the party of tolerance. DeBerry is a victim of religious persecution at the hands of an ever-growing leftist Democrat Party. A party who has become anti-Christian, anti-life, socialist and intolerant of others views.
Democrats' dwindling base further demonstrates how out of touch the left is with the majority of people in our state.
What the Tennessee Democrat Executive Committee did to Rep. DeBerry is wrong, and creates a slippery slope on free and fair elections. The voting rights of the people of Memphis were more than suppressed; they were forbidden to vote for their 26-year state representative who has represented them with integrity and character. Shame on you NAACP, ACLU, Tennessee Democrat Executive Committee, mainstream media and others who turn a blind-eye to this racist, anti-Christian bigoted atrocity.
Thankfully, an overwhelming majority of Tennesseans can plainly see that the Democratic Party has become the party of intolerance and will only move our state backwards.
Mike Sparks lives in Smyrna represents the 49thHouse District, which includes part of Rutherford County.