Sanford/Hunt: Memphis’ National Guard presence demands collaboration over partisanship
U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., speaks as President Donald Trump, from left, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee listen before Trump signs a memorandum in the Oval Office on Sept. 15. (Alex Brandon/AP)
Otis Sanford
Otis Sanford is a political columnist, author and professor emeritus in Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis.
Keel Hunt
Keel Hunt is a columnist and author of three books on Tennessee political history.
The Daily Memphian welcomes a diverse range of views from guest columnists about topics of local interest and impact. Columns are subject to editorial review and editing for length and clarity. If you’re interested in having a guest column considered by The Daily Memphian, email Eric Barnes.
At the very time Tennessee should be bringing to bear its proudest traditions of bipartisan local, state and federal collaboration — our history of elected leaders working “across the aisle” for good outcomes — it appears our state is being disserved at this critical moment.
Instead, we are watching a perversion of that history by Gov. Bill Lee and both our U.S. senators, out of a fear they might displease an extreme president.
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