Barry accused in ad of omitting 'under God' during Pledge of Allegiance

In a new radio ad paid for by a political adversary, Nashville mayoral candidate Megan Barry is accused of leaving out the words "under God" during the ceremonial Pledge of Allegiance that takes place at the beginning of Metro Council meetings.

The ad is paid for and narrated by departing Metro Councilman Duane Dominy, a critic of Barry and supporter of mayoral candidate David Fox. The ad, a version of which Dominy said aired on the Christian radio station 94.1 FM The Fish last week, is not affiliated with Fox's mayoral campaign.

"It is important that you know what I have witnessed before you vote," Dominy says in the 60-second ad, which the term-limited, Antioch-area councilman said he plans to bring back to the airwaves on another network on Tuesday.

Barry, a two-term at-large councilwoman, rejected the ad's claims and also argued that Dominy sits three rows behind her at council meetings and wouldn't even be able to hear her. She likened the ad to a "junior high school game." The Barry campaign says it is exploring legal options to prevent the radio ad from playing ahead of the Thursday runoff election.

"Duane Dominy has either come totally unhinged or he's suddenly clairvoyant, because he sits three rows behind me in the council chamber," Barry said in a prepared statement. "But for the record — I say the pledge of allegiance as written — including the phrase 'under God.' Duane and David may like this junior high game, but the adults would like to talk about issues that matter to Nashvillians."

The Fox campaign said they played no part in the ad and said they have not encouraged its airing.

"This ad has nothing to do with our campaign, and is not authorized nor encouraged by our campaign," said Israel Ortega, Fox campaign spokesman. "It appears that this is one Metro councilman who has a personal beef with another Metro councilman — and it is nothing we have anything to do with."

The ad comes after a separate radio ad paid for by the Fox campaign last week singled out blog writings of Megan Barry's husband, Bruce Barry, a longtime contributing writer for the Nashville Scene, to suggest that the couple has been disrespectful to people of Christian faith. Fox has rejected the notion that his ad was an attack on Barry's faith.

Dominy's ad features only Dominy talking.

"Sept. 10, Nashville elects our next mayor," Dominy says in the ad. "Before we vote, I am compelled to share with you what I have personally witnessed. Right after being sworn in, it was pointed out to me that during the Pledge of Allegiance Megan Barry skips the words, 'under God.'"

Music in the ad reaches a crescendo when those two words are uttered.

"Over years of meetings, civic functions and more, each time I have been in position to see her, I have witnessed the council member skipping the words, 'under God.' In eight years, I've never discussed religion or faith with Ms. Barry. It's not my place to judge her level of faith, though her husband has referred to fellow Christians as simple-minded, bigoted and part of the Jesus-Industrial Complex."

The ad concludes: "This message is approved and personally paid for by me, Councilman Duane Dominy."

Listen to the ad here:

Amid earlier accusations about Barry not saying "under God" during the Pledge of Allegiance that were detailed in a recent email chain from an opponent, The Tennessean observed Barry recite the pledge at last month's council meeting. Barry did, in fact, say "under God," which audio taken by The Tennessean also supports. In previous meetings, The Tennessean did not specifically focus on whether Barry did or did not say those words.

"This claim is absolutely ludicrous," said At-large Councilman Ronnie Steine, a Barry supporter who sat directly next to Barry for the past four years in the council chambers. "I am embarrassed to tell you that we're in an environment where I have to say this out loud, but yes, Megan Barry says the entire Pledge of Allegiance, including the word 'God.'

"I'm perhaps the only person who could hear her every single time for four years. Unless, (Dominy) is Superman with super hearing, the claim is absolutely beyond ludicrous."

Former Councilman Mike Jameson, another Barry supporter who sat near Barry, agreed: "I sat behind her, and she said, 'under God."

Dominy, though, a conservative councilman who disagreed with Barry on several policy items over the years, claims that he and other council members witnessed her omit the phrase.

"It's not just my word," Dominy said, adding that sometimes during the Pledge of Allegiance he stood near the doorway to the council chambers, which is next to Barry's seat.

Among those who back up the ad's claims is former Councilman Michael Craddock, who sat behind Barry at meetings from 2007 through 2011 and is also supporting Fox in the runoff.

"I never in four years heard her say the words, 'under God,' when we would recite the pledge," Craddock said.

Dominy said he is using excess funds from his council re-election campaign account to pay for the ad.

Barry campaign spokesman Sean Braisted, calling the ad "patently false," said that the campaign will pursue whatever legal options or remedies it needs to in order to keep the ad from playing.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.