Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, detailed how three new fundraising entities in the Volunteer State – collectively called The Best of Tennessee – mirror the agenda of the nationally focused, Never-Trump organization The Lincoln Project.
On Wednesday, Pappert reported that Knoxville-based, pro-abortion lawyer Chloe Akers (pictured above) has joined forces with Tennessee political fundraiser Kim Kaegi to form three strategically intertwined organizations – a 501 (c) (4) nonprofit, a political action committee (PAC), and a super PAC – to “elevate moderate voices and engage voters who feel alienated by major political parties.”
Pappert likened the fundraising entities to that of the Lincoln Project, explaining on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show how the groups are likely going campaign against “virtually anybody in Tennessee who has a pro-Trump message.”
“It really does make sense when you consider it as the Lincoln Project of Tennessee. It’s going to exist probably to go after Andy Ogles, to go after Mark Green, to go after virtually anybody in Tennessee who has a pro-Trump message,” Pappert explained. “And what an odd pairing to do it: A fundraiser who, despite raising money for Democrats on multiple occasions, is still referred to by the Tennessean as a Republican fundraiser, alongside a pro-abortion attorney who, as far back as a year and a half ago, was speaking to the media about her desire to reshape Tennessee politics. It’s an odd couple and it is a Tennessee Lincoln Project.”
Despite the creation of the fundraising entities which have the ability to raise billions of dollars for leftist candidates, Pappert said he believes Tennesseans are “smart” and will not fall for such tactics.
“I will say, I don’t think this is going to work,” Pappert said. “The people of Tennessee are very smart. The Lincoln Project, I don’t really think it worked. It almost seems to be a welfare project for political consultants who are getting a little long in the tooth and may not have any other allies considering they’ve aligned themselves against President Trump. So it seems to be just this revolving door of money from billionaires to political consultants so they can keep their nice houses and pay their lease for the new car.”
“I think these rich people who are going to fund this operation would have a better chance of winning Tennessee voters by putting all of their money into a giant bonfire and lighting it aflame. I think that would fight inflation. I think people would be excited about it and it might turn some heads. I don’t think this is going to work,” Pappert added.
If the fundraising entities were successful in their efforts to support candidates campaigning against the Make America Great Again agenda, Pappert noted how big money donations could potentially “make Tennessee a battleground like it hasn’t been in a long time.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Jeff Bezos himself got involved and why not the other TV and mainstream millionaires and billionaires too? Maybe Mark Cuban could donate some money. I think this opens the door to really make Tennessee a battleground like it hasn’t been in a long time. I think you’re going to see Democrats, I think you’re going to see people who you’ve never heard of before, and frankly, again, they would be better off setting their money on fire,” Pappert said.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Chloe Akers” by Chloe Akers.
