Election of Alabama lesbian overturned by committee

[walkon]

Alabama Democrats: Is this how we want things done?

http://pageoneq.com/news/2006/alabama_082406.html

[LorettaNall]

1. Circular Firing Squad!!

I am extremely disappointed in this ruling and I plan to be in attendance at the Democratic Executive Committee meeting tomorrow in Montgomery to show my support for Patricia Todd, even though I am not a Democrat. It should be OBVIOUS to anyone watching this unfold that Ms. Todd won the primary AND the run-off fair and square and this is a debate that should never have taken place. Joe Turnham's response
to the sub-committee's ruling should be applauded.

For in depth coverage of this issue see Circular Firing Squad

[walkon]

2. I hope the DEC

still believes in Democracy and Diversity. The disqualification ruling is gutless.

[Syrinx]

3. I expect the party to overturn this decision on Saturday

But I am getting increasingly fed up with the state party, as other posts of mine in this forum attest.

[trof]

4. Joe Reed is apparently behind this.

A state Democratic Party panel may have decided to disqualify both runoff candidates for the House District 54 nomination, but more than a few party activists think the outcome was the design of party Vice Chairman Joe Reed.

Reed will be pacing and some say orchestrating when the state Democratic Executive Committee meets today in Montgomery to choose a nominee. Some committee members may take his name in vain, while others may look to him for cues on which way to vote. That's a role in which Reed is quite comfortable.

For nearly 40 years, Reed has been one of the most formidable power brokers in Alabama, a driving force behind court cases and redistricting plans, raw power plays that have given Alabama among the nation's highest numbers of black elected officials. In the District 54 contest, he wrote a letter before the runoff urging black voters to support Gaynelle Hendricks and continue the district's black representation in Montgomery. Patricia Todd received 59 more votes in the July 18 runoff, but Hendricks' mother-in-law challenged the outcome.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/115658383186160.xml&coll=2

[Syrinx]

5. Alabama Democrats reinstate gay candidate for Legislature

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Openly gay Patricia Todd was reinstated Saturday as the Democratic Party's nominee for a seat in the Alabama Legislature in a vote that turned more on the race of the candidates than sexual orientation.

The Alabama Democratic Party Executive Committee voted 95-87 to reject the ruling of a subcommittee that had voted to disqualify Todd, who is white, and her black opponent, Gaynell Hendricks, in the race for the House seat from Birmingham's District 54.

The committee vote pitted vice chairman Joe Reed, a powerful black political leader, against other party officials. Reed had written a letter to black leaders in Jefferson County before the July 18 runoff asking them to support Hendricks so that a black would be elected from the majority black district.

The vote fell mostly along racial lines. Committee members were asked to stand to show their vote and no whites were seen standing to vote to uphold the subcommittee report, while a small number of blacks stood in support of Todd.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/15369817.htm

Joe Reed is a racist. Pure and simple.

[LorettaNall]

6. Democracy is Beautiful when it works

I attended todays meeting and here are my thoughts on it.

[walkon]

7. Justice Done.