A gay winner & a sore loser.Patricia Todd Patricia Todd (b. Richmond, Kentucky) is an American politician from Alabama. A Democrat, she is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives representing District 54 in downtown Birmingham. She was sworn-in in November 2006. clearly won. Joe Lieberman Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman (born February 24, 1942) is an American politician from Connecticut. Lieberman was first elected to the United States Senate in 1988, and was elected to his fourth term on November 7, 2006. In the 2000 U.S. clearly lost. That's how direct elections work. Todd, an out lesbian candidate, won two primary face-offs to be one of Birmingham's Democratic candidates for the Alabama state legislature--virtually assuring her victory in November--while Lieberman was turned away as Connecticut's Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. So why did a state party committee attempt to invalidate Todd's electoral win? And why is the Human Rights Campaign still endorsing Joe Lieberman for the U.S. Senate? Is direct democracy that difficult to understand? Yes, Lieberman built a decent record on gay rights during his three terms in the Senate, earning a high HRC HRC Human Rights Campaign HRC Human Rights Council (UN) HRC Human Rights Commission HRC Hard Rock Cafe HRC Hillary Rodham Clinton (democratic senator/presidential candidate; former first lady) rating. But he's also one of President Bush's fiercest Democratic allies on the Iraqi war as well as energy, taxes, and judicial nominations. Lieberman even voted with Bush to strip Terri Schiavo's husband of his rights--a failed attempt to use federal power to interfere with a partner's most private and painful decisions. HRC turned a blind eye to the Schiavo vote, and it may argue that Iraq and taxes are not "gay issues." OK. But Connecticut's Democratic voters, who ought to have the final say in which Democrat represents them, told Lieberman to take a hike, and that's reason enough for HRC to withdraw its endorsement from the now "independent" senatorial sen·a·to·ri·al adj. 1. Of, concerning, or befitting a senator or senate. 2. Composed of senators. sen candidate. HRC need not endorse the untested Ned Lamont, who beat Lieberman, but sticking with the sore loser is personal loyalty to the point of obstruction. By ignoring voters' clear choice of their party's candidate, HRC has aligned itself with certain forces in the Alabama Democratic Party The Alabama Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Alabama. It is presently chaired by Joe Turnham. Current Democratic Officeholders State Lieutenant Governor
tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. Todd on a ruleS technicality, despite her twice-counted 59-vote runoff victory on July 18. It briefly appeared that a rancid ran·cid adj. Having the disagreeable odor or taste of decomposing oils or fats. rancid having a musty, rank taste or smell; applied to fats that have undergone decomposition, with the liberation of fatty acids. combination of racism Todd would replace an African-American legislator--and homophobia might overturn the voters' will. But two days later the Alabama Democratic Party executive committee voted 95-87 to reject the committee's recommendation, and Todd's ballot-box victory was reinstated. Votes don't always go our way, but we all need to play by the rules. We should be loyal to the democratic process above all. |
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