Swift breaks silence on matters political
Music superstar Taylor Swift announced Sunday that she’s voting for Tennessee’s Democratic Senate candidate, Phil Bredesen, breaking her long-standing refusal to discuss anything politics.
“In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post. Swift has faced criticism for not speaking about political issues despite having a global platform. The pop star — who spent later years growing up in Tennessee — also slammed Republican candidate and U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn in her lengthy post Sunday, citing Blackburn’s opposition to certain LGBTQ rights and voting against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.
“As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,” Swift wrote. Swift said she’s not only voting for the former Tennessee governor for Senate but also Democrat Jim Cooper for the House.
“Thank you for the kind words. ... I’m honored to have your support and that of so many Tennesseans who are ready to put aside the partisan shouting and get things done. We’re ready for it,” Bredesen tweeted Sunday in response to Swift’s post.