Lee Beaman Tells How he Became English Only's Largest Local Contributor

Local auto scion Lee Beaman gained a bit of notoriety this week after campaign disclosure filings showed he was the only largest local contributor to Eric Crafton's failed English Only amendment. As S-Town Mike at Enclave points out, Beaman's $6,000 contribution to the controversial bill fell squarely in line with his past efforts.

In 2004, Beaman gave $3,500 to the Swift Boat campaign against John Kerry. Last year, he contributed the same amount to support Prop 8. Between 1995 and 2000, Beaman Motorsports gave more money to politicians than Goodyear Tires, with nearly all of it going to Republican causes.

Figuring out where Beaman stands on the issues of the day, therefore, is pretty self-explanatory. What isn't is why he decided to back one of the most divisive propositions in Nashville's history. So we decided to ask him.

Yesterday, Pith called up Beaman in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Fresh off the slopes and driving in what he described as a white-out, Beaman explained why he backed Crafton.

Naturally, his answer included Jesus Christ and a very persuasive Brazilian woman...