Damning audio from privately educated Southern belle exposes Democratic Party’s greatest problem
With less than two weeks to go before a special election in a Tennessee congressional District, newly resurfaced audio has exposed the out-of-touch attitude that is plaguing Democratic Party candidates across the country.
Aftyn Behn, a Nashville Democratic state representative who is her party’s nominee, sneered that she ‘hates’ the city that she hopes to represent because it’s filled with Americans who enjoy partying and country music.
‘I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville. I hate it,’ Behn can be heard saying in the resurfaced clip from the GRITS podcast in February 2020.
She has also previously called sororities ‘a staple of white supremacy,’ and branded the whole of Tennessee a ‘racist state.‘
Behn, 35, was privately educated at the $27,000-per-year Webb School in Knoxville and went on to study at the University of Texas at Austin.
Republicans seized on the damning audio, arguing that it is absurd for Behn to try and represent a place she admitted she hates.
‘If Behn hates Tennessee so much, why is she trying to represent it?’ the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted on Thursday.
Behn refused to respond to the resurfaced podcast directly but her campaign manager Kate Briefs claimed the GOP is clutching at straws.
Aftyn Behn, a Nashville Democratic state representative, made the comments in 2020 podcast
Behn also said she ‘hates country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville.’ Pictured is Country star Kelsea Ballerini at this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards in LA
Late night visitors enjoy the lively atmosphere in downtown Nashville (file image)
‘Republicans are panicking and in a last ditched attempt, they are distracting from the fact that Washington Republicans … are raising costs on Tennessee families and ripping away their health care,’ Briefs said in a statement.
‘Aftyn Behn will lower Tennessee families’ costs and make groceries more affordable by eliminating the state’s grocery tax.’
But Behn is in an uphill battle against Republican Matt Van Epps, a former Tennessee General Services commissioner, running to fill the state’s 7th congressional seat, formerly occupied by Republican Mark Green, who resigned earlier this summer to take a job in the private sector.
The seat is rated R +10 by the Cook Political Report, despite Green’s prior win being by over 20 points. The race has also shifted slightly toward Democrats, going from ‘solid Republican’ to ‘lean Republican’ last week.
Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. jumped into the race as well last week, with a small expenditure of $15,000 for phone banking.
Significant Democratic electoral victories earlier this month have drawn substantial media attention and money to the race in the last few weeks.
Former vice president and failed 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail in person to boost Behn earlier this week, calling her race ‘the most competitive race in America.’ However, she did not mention the candidate by name or appear alongside her.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, supported Van Epps via a tele-rally last week, calling him a ‘true America First patriot who has dedicated his entire life to serving our country.’
Seventh Congressional District candidate Matt Van Epps, who is running against Behn, is seen at a political forum in Dickson, Tennessee, in September
Behn has been endorsed by groups such as the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, AFL-CIO, and the Working Families Party.
At the same time, Van Epps is supported by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Club for Growth PAC and the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Green’s sudden departure from Congress came as a surprise.
‘It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from Congress,’ he said in a statement at the time.
‘Recently, I was offered an opportunity in the private sector that was too exciting to pass up,’ Green added.
Green called it ‘an honor of a lifetime’ to serve in Congress, he also touted many of his achievements as committee chairman.
He also addressed his previous retirement announcement and subsequent reversal.
‘Though I planned to retire at the end of the previous Congress, I stayed to ensure that President Trump’s border security measures and priorities make it through Congress,’ he wrote.
‘By overseeing the border security portion of the reconciliation package, I have done that. After that, I will retire, and there will be a special election to replace me.’
The announcement also came after Green was publicly embroiled in an alleged 2024 affair and roasted by his ex wife online.
