I got the snail-mail letter above yesterday (click on the letter to make it larger). It seems that a local Panhandle Democrat named Jim Perkins is unhappy with one of my posts (probably this one). He claims to be the vice-president of the West Texas Coalition of Democrats (an organization I've never heard of), but I don't know if he's speaking for that organization or just mis-using their name to make his letter sound important.
Now Jim could have just let me know about his displeasure by putting his views in a comment to the post. That's what a normal person would do. Surely he didn't think I wouldn't post his silly letter. He should have known better. I am a blogger and the letter was addressed to me so I feel I have the right to post it.
Enough preliminaries. Let me address his letter paragraph by paragraph:
1. I don't know where you get the idea that I have written to "Austin", or anyone else for that matter. The truth is that I haven't written to anyone. And why would you think I am trying to hide something from you (or the party). My views are very public and posted on this blog every day. I don't even know what you mean by taking my "chances locally". I vote, I attend my precinct and county conventions, and my thoughts are available to anyone anywhere that reads my blog -- including local inhabitants of the Panhandle. What other "chances" are you talking about?
2. Exactly how am I using the Democratic Party to "suit" my "radical, off-the-wall opinions" and doing "irreparable damage to the Democratic Party"? I doubt that my little blog is powerful enough to irreparably harm the Democratic Party (but I appreciate the compliment anyway). Do you really believe the Democratic Party is so narrow-minded that it can't stand for members to state their own viewpoint? I don't think so. Aren't we supposed to be the "big tent" party, or does everyone have to agree with you to be a good Democrat?
3. I do support Green Party candidate Deb Shafto for governor this year and it really doesn't matter that the odds of her winning are very long. She is the only progressive in the race. You ask me if I would rather have Bill White or Rick Perry in the governor's office. My answer is neither one. As I've said before, the difference between the two is more a small matter of style and not substance. I don't think either one will do much to help ordinary Texans.
4. You demand proof that White is a corporate-owned conservative. Gimme a break! He's an energy company executive who still has substantial energy company holdings and he has never forwarded any truly progressive ideas. Carrying the Democratic label does not make one a progressive. If you want to support one or more "blue dogs" just because they call themselves Democrats then that is your right. It is my right to neither support nor vote for them.
5. As for my promising to support all Democrats when I was chosen as a delegate, I made no such agreement and don't remember anyone else doing so either. I have said I support and will vote for every Democrat on the ballot except Bill White and it is my right as a Democrat and a citizen to do that. If that's not good enough, you can always try to revoke my party membership (but rest assured I will not go quietly).
6. "Become a Democrat"? Are you serious? I have probably been in the Democratic Party as long as you have. I have attended many state conventions as a delegate. I was a precinct chair in Tarrant County, and since moving to the Panhandle I have voluntarily chaired my last two precinct conventions. I have also volunteered to work the booth at the upcoming convention for Hank Gilbert. There's nothing wrong with my Democratic credentials. As for your last sentence, how petty and ridiculous of you to infer that I'm a Nazi. You're the one that blindly follows the party line -- not me.
Also, how did you get my mailing address? The only way you could have gotten it is from the Potter County Democratic membership rolls. Do you think it is proper to use the Democratic membership rolls to send an angry and semi-threatening letter to a fellow Democrat? I don't, and I wonder if the county party does. I'll bet they wouldn't approve.
Finally, I have never voted for a Republican in my life and I never will (and I would be proud to have that chiseled on my gravestone). But that does not mean I must blindly accept anything the Democratic Party does. And I don't have to agree with you on everything (or even anything). If that means I'm not a "good" Democrat in your eyes, then that's just too bad. Deal with it.
P.S. - Thanks for reading my blog, Jim!
Interesting enough to get my curiosity fired up. They have a blog but nothing has been posted on it since July 2008. And, according to this, they have received no donations or had any expenditures. Other info:
ReplyDeletePamela H. Brink, President
Contact Address 2301 Broadway
The Studio
Lubbock, TX 79401
Think your friend might be a nut job?
It's a possibility, tnlib.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteJim's letter comes across as ultra-paranoid. What crawled up his backside and infected his brain?
"...we will know about what you want to hide from us." Creepy, man.
"...you are a nut case..." Yikes.
"Become a Democrat, a republican..." Totally petty to capitalize Democrat but not "republican." Then the Nazi reference! Is this guy for real?
Did this letter come in an official-looking envelope? From a local address, postmarked locally? Is it possible that it's a fraud? This seems like an awfully rash email to come from an official.
PS. I assume this is the same "Jim Perkins" that was listed as part of the "Amarillo Area Democratic Headquarters," as recently as last January (as part of an email talking about Bill White, though he no longer appears on their site.
ReplyDeleteKevin-
ReplyDeleteI assume it is the same person. I also thought it was petty and disrespectful to put a lower case "r" on republican. And what about putting Green Party in quotation marks? weird.
The letter was locally mailed and both the address and return address (a post office box) were handwritten.
Dear Jim,
ReplyDeleteAs a registered democrat since 1964(when I turned 21)(had to be 21 to vote then)and a yellowdog democrat as soon as I found out there was such a thing..so Jim, as a yellowdog democrat I'd like to take this oppurtunity to tell you to go fuck yourself..Thanks..Jacque Denney.
Jim had a falling out with the Amarillo Area Democrats about a year ago, which is why he no longer appears on their site and why the West Texas Coalition of Democrats exists.
ReplyDeleteHe and his wife are decent people, but he is a bit hot-headed. This incident is disappointing in and of itself, but also noteworthy in that it is a microcosm of the way the Democratic party (who, during the Bush years, bragged about not enforcing groupthink) have acted once in power. I'm no longer officially a Democrat since I had to cross lines to vote for an uncrazy SBOE candidate in the primary, but I am this close to not considering myself a Democrat in any way, shape, or fashion.
Let me clarify my above comment. Jim's falling out with the Amarillo Area Democrats didn't lead to the creation to the West Texas Democrats, but it is why he is no longer affiliated with Amarillo and is with WT Dems.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the background info, SD.
ReplyDeleteYDG-
Stop beating around the bush and say what you mean.;-)
Thanks for the support.
Ted: I forgot to pay tribute to your response to this rather weird person. I can see Texas politics hasn't changed one iota since I lived there. ; )
ReplyDeleteThanks tnlib.
ReplyDeleteI think Will Rogers must have been looking at Texas when he said, "I'm not a member of an organized political party. I'm a Democrat."
Heh. Makes me laugh. The man could not post a comment? Or send you an email? But read this on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI do have to agree with him about Texas Democratic Party rules. Pg 5 "Every person who accepts a party office at any level (including the position of Convention Delegate and Alternate) must agree to support all the Party's nominees or shall be removed".
http://txdems.3cdn.net/b365cb3e72bc521333_pom6vdrl3.pdf
That's the reason why I was, myself, only temporarily a precinct chair here, because I couldn't bring myself to support Chet Edwards, who continually calls himself independent on his literature while taking Democratic party money and voting with Republicans. In other words, I, like you, don't follow party, have never voted (and probably never will) for a Republican, but if I was going to represent the Democratic party and follow their party rules, I HAD to only endorse Democratic candidates, even those that were DINO.
If that is in the party rules, and I don't doubt you, then it is a silly rule (especially in a part of Texas like the Panhandle that has a scarcity of Democrats). If they want to kick me out, they can. But I will always support the candidates of my choice (and they will always be progressives).
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for refusing to support Chet Edwards. He doesn't deserve to call himself a Democrat
There have been many wonderful Texas progressive Democrats in the past, but the current leadership seems afraid of their proud history. They have decided only a conservative can get elected and abandoned their principles to get someone in office carrying the Democratic label.
This hasn't worked in the past and will not work this year. Why should Texans vote for "Democrats" who act and vote like Republicans. It makes no sense.
Let's be very clear, Jim Perkins is no longer affiliated with the Amarillo Area Democratic Headquarters in any way. We at AADH are an open-minded accepting group who embrace the diversity of opinions and ideas that Democrats bring. We believe it is precisely that open-mindedness that most defines us as Democrats. We welcome all kinds of Democrats, as well as Independents and even Republican's who may want to support the odd Democrat candidate. We are about inclusion-which unfortunately sometimes makes certain people uncomfortable. I hope your readers will not adversely judge such a fine organization based on the ramblings of a former, disgruntled member and instead check us out and see for themselves what a great group of people we really are.
ReplyDeleteKeran Krane
Communications Chair
Amarillo Area Democratic Headquarters
Thanks for your input Keran, and let me reassure you that I don't think the Amarillo party was in any way responsible for the ridiculous letter.
ReplyDeleteSince moving to Amarillo approximately five years ago, I have met many area Democrats and they have all been very friendly and accepting. I have the highest regard for them.
I also urge anyone to contact and meet area Democrats, and I believe they'll find a great group of people dedicated to making our state and our country a better place for everyone.
But Perkins still has the most awesome toupee I have ever seen!
ReplyDelete