Tennessee GOP Congressional Race Comes Down To Who Can Be More Anti-Islam

Two Republican congressional candidates in Tennessee appear to be competing for votes in Thursday’s primary election based on who is more opposed to Islam. Challenger candidate Lou Ann Zelenik is attempting to defeat incumbent Rep. Diane Black by making a campaign issue of the construction of a local mosque.

The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, about 30 miles south of Nashville, has been the center of controversy since its construction began two years ago. Zelenik has been outspoken in her opposition to the mosque and has warned of potential terrorist connections. On her website, Zelenik declares that she “will work to stop the Islamization of our society, and do everything possible to prevent Sharia Law from circumventing our laws and our Constitution.”

Rep. Black has also been vocal in her opposition to the mosque, issuing several statements when controversy first erupted in 2010. She said that communities have the right to protect themselves from Islamic institutions that might aid a “jihadist viewpoint.”

But Reuters reports that Zelenik believes the incumbent congresswoman has not been forceful enough in her opposition. Believing Black does not take the Muslim threat seriously enough, multimillionaire Andy Miller recently pumped $105,000 into a group supportive of Zelenik. Miller is also the executive director of a non-profit whose primary mission is to “Educate citizens on the realities of Sharia and stop the growth of Radical Islam.”

Other anti-Islam supporters of Zelenik’s include former Saturday Night Live star Victoria Jackson and two Tennessee lawmakers who recently proposed a law that would define Islam as treasonous.

Not willing to back out of the anti-Islam competition just yet, however, Black’s campaign spokeswoman issued the following statement: “No one is more opposed to Sharia law, radical Islam and terrorism than Diane Black, but unlike her opponent, Diane Black respects our Constitution.”

Of course, the kicker to all of this is that, beginning this fall, the mosque will no longer exist within Black and Zelenik’s representative district.

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This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.