D.D. 10/19/05

An update to yesterday's entry charging racism in the Tennessee Waltz sting- Rep. JoAnne Favors (D-Chattanooga), said Tuesday that not only were the Waltz investigations racially modivated, but also that state Republicans conspired against black lawmakers to remove them from office. "All you have to do is have some common sense in seeing what's happened," she said.

Will Pinkston, spokesman for the Tennessee Democratic Party, said he believes most party members do not agree with Rep. Favors' viewpoint. Bob Davis, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman, called the accusations "ludicrous" and said Favors "ought to be ashamed of making comments like that."

Update: Michael Silence posts the beginnings of an AP story in which the Waltz prosecutor responds to Rep. Favors remarks: "We do undercover investigations where we have predication...We have to show we have information that somebody is presently or in the past involved in corrupt activities. Number two, we do not take into account and will never take into account race or political party."