I was really just gobsmacked by the things that Representative Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee was saying at her town hall, as recorded by Youtuber Kristi Burke who identifies as a constituent of Tennessee’s 1st District. This reps statements were just a mish mash of appalling misinformation and propaganda talking points. Much of the audience in attendance wasn’t buying it. It really seemed like she was clumsily trying to gaslight constituents with talking points she herself doesn’t even understand.
Then, Right Wing Watch reported that Harshbarger literally brought out the antisemitic accusation that the people who were angry at her town hall were paid by George Soros. If I were in her district I would want to birddog her to get her on record answering a question about how she views Jewish people considering that she’s repeating an anti-semitic conspiracy fiction.
Diana Harshbarger also claimed that the people in attendance weren’t local because some had hair dyed purple or teal and wore nose rings. What?
Nose Rings And Purple Hair: Rep. Diana Harshbarger Says Angry Constituents Are Probably ‘Paid Protesters’ 03/04/2025 by Kyle Mantyla – Right Wing Watch “Nose rings do not fly in East Tennessee,” Harshbarger added. “Every now and again you’ll see one, but Lord have mercy. No, they’re not from my area.”
Kristi Burke went and got her nose pierced on purpose after Harsbarger’s obtuse and ridiculous remarks.
I don’t live in Tennessee, but I live smack dab in Appalachia and I’ve had my nose pierced for 35 years. I got my nose pierced in January 1990 when I was attending university in the “Pennsylvania Wilds” region, in the rural town of Williamsport Pennsylvania, at a hair salon called The Best Little Hair House In Town. That was 35 years ago, and back then it was unusual to have a nose ring.
Tennessee’s 1st District includes the famous resort town of Gatlinburg and also Pigeon Forge – home of Dollywood. I visited these places when I visited family who lived in Oak Ridge and Knoxville in 1994. Harshbarger’s district is more affluent and metropolitan than anything in northern Pennsylvania.
So this is such an embarrassing thing to say in 2025. And it seems like such a lame grasping at straws to try to claim “outside agitators” or “paid protesters” in this way. Aside from this not being some cloistered rural backwater, I’ve known more conservatives with all sorts of body piercings and known Republican women who dye their hair all sorts of unusual hues. It’s just silly to use this as a reason to dismiss constituents. But this also demonstrates why nobody should neglect writing reps, with a verifiable address within their district as it’s a sure way to send them a message that people they represent are sending the message, and they can’t deny it – so don’t let them.