MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) -- President Joe Biden’s inauguration received a mix of reactions from the members of Tennessee’s Congressional delegation.
All seven of Tennessee’s Republican House members voted to challenge acceptance of Biden’s electoral ballots earlier this month.
However, some were conciliatory following the inauguration on Wednesday. West Tennessee Republican David Kustoff wrote we are “Americans first and must work together to resolve the challenges facing our nation.”
Mid-state GOP Reps Mark Green and Scott DesJarlais were more reserved.. Green wrote “I appreciated the words of President Biden on unity, and I pray and hope that those words will be translated into action.” DesJarlais added “While I echo the sentiment of President Biden’s unity message, these are words. Actions are more telling.”
Others took a more confrontational tone. Chattanooga area Republican Rep. Chuck Fleischmann reacted to President Biden’s day one Executive Orders saying “Biden’s actions on his first day in office are worrying.”
Tennessee’s two Democratic House members were predictably pleased following President Biden’s inauguration. Nashville Rep. Jim Cooper gushed “Today is a new day for America as decency and hope are restored in the White House." West Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen said “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris return grace, empathy, honesty, and intelligence to the executive branch.”
