May 20, 2013
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- At least two chapters of the Tennessee Republican Party say Gov. Bill Haslam is not conservative enough and have passed resolutions calling on state party leaders to sanction him.
GOP leaders told The 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 downplayed the resolutions, noting a recent "poll shows that 79 percent of conservative Republicans approve of the job he's doing."
State Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney urged Republicans to stand together on the core GOP "principles that unite us."
