To the Editor:
To paraphrase Thomas Paine, “If we members of the Democrat Party do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.â€
The longtime Democrat office holders who have endorsed the Republican candidate for mayor apparently have forgotten why they are Democrats.
We are Democrats because we truly believe in equality for all people, because we join with labor unions in fighting for working families, and because we believe tomorrow’s leaders deserve the best public education. We are Democrats because we believe that all citizens have a right to quality, affordable health care, and because we believe that government exists to help the 99 percent and not just the wealthiest one percent.
In these troubled times, it is more important than ever for real Democrats to stand together. The current divisiveness will not only undermine our local candidates but those running for state and national office. I can’t help but feel that much of what is happening now is the result of personal grudges and misplaced loyalties within the Democrat Party. His opponent’s commercials depicting Rick Davis as a political “insider†are laughable, because it is the “insiders†in the Democrat Party who have lined up against him.
Rick Davis is the only candidate to stand up to Vectren and its rate increases. Despite his opponent’s commercials, he was the first mayoral candidate to state that our community needs to fight the meth problem. He has a jobs program. He has a quality of life program. And he has the “fire in his belly†to lead this community.
We have already lost so much and are at risk of losing so much more. It is time for all Democrats to come together and support the candidate who truly cares about all the people.
Phil Hoy
Excellent letter, Phil.
We may not agree on the issues, but we both see Rick as someone who has the courage and integrity to stand up to the “comfortable establishment” in both political parties.
Great support for Rick Davis! However, has anyone asked the question why? Why can nothing be done by the State Democratic Party until after the election? Why is the Vanderburgh Democratic Party not bound by party bylaws? Could it be that no one knows what the party bylaws are or what they state? Could it be that democrats no longer care about “right or wrong”? Why?
Anna, the State Democratic party knows exactly what is going on with the rouge Central Committee leadership. This is how the State Democratic party responded in the past:
http://www.indems.org/index.php/news/entry/state_democratic_central_committee_removes_henry_county_chair/
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party State Central Committee met today and unanimously voted to remove Henry County Chair Steve Clark from his position as a result of failed leadership that included multiple violations of party rules.
Clark was barred from holding any party office sanctioned by the Indiana Democratic Party for a term of five years. The Henry County Vice Chair will assume the Chair’s responsibilities until the party reorganization meeting on March 7.
Clark was removed from office following a formal investigation into allegations that he allowed Democratic party officials to openly support the Republican mayoral candidate in New Castle in 2007, leading to the election of the first Republican mayor there in 56 years.
A Jan. 19 report summarizing the investigation found that “[t]he Hearing Officer came away from the hearing with the clear but sad conviction that the Henry County Party is in disarray. Individuals on both sides of the controversy are good and sincere people, but the hostility between factions in the County Party is extensive and alarming.”
Party rules allow for the removal of a party officer for neglect of duty; willful violation of the party rules; conviction of a felony; disloyalty to the party; or any other course of conduct that does not promote the best interests of the party or creates dissension within the party.
“This is never a step we like to take, but the rules are in place to make sure the party can achieve its goal of electing Democrats,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker. “When a party officer permits other party officials to work for a Republican candidate, we can’t turn a blind eye.”
Parker said Clark’s removal will bring new leadership to Henry County Democrats.
“It’s time to turn the page on this chapter and get back to working hard to elect Democrats in Henry County,” he said
Phil, are you the same Phil Hoy who served for years as a Republican County Councilman? If so then welcome to the darkside. Glad you finally saw the light.
What an insult to the Evansville Police department. They and the current mayor have been fighting Meth long before the current Dem candidate decided to make it talking point.
Well the current administration is doing a bang up job…It seems reported meth arrests are up, not down (which means EPD is actually doing their job, but what is being done to run it out of town?)
Ummmm, the current Rep candidate has also made it a talking point, and his big idea is a tank.
Phil, although a good man, is the classic case of the grass is always greener on the other side. First a Democrat, then a Republican, then a Democrat again. Make up your mind Rev
Uh…isn’t Phil the one encouraging people to vote for the DEMOCRAT in this election?
Seems pretty clear to me.
“To paraphrase Thomas Paine, “If we members of the Democrat Party do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.—
———
And this Sir is exactly what the machine demos are afraid of….hanging separately!
JMHO
Davis Proposes Gallows for all political opponents
Phil was on a roll until he threw in this Occupy Wall Street redistribute wealth gem:
“…government exists to help the 99 percent and not just the wealthiest one percent.”
Missed that in the Constitution. However, Phil’s endorsement of Mr. Davis is not as damaging as Connie Robinson’s endorsement of Mr. Winnecke, which was later neutralized by the endorsements of Mike Pence and Mitch Daniels.
Great letter Phil!
JoeBiden. So you believe that government exists to only help the 1%? Government should treat everyone equally and not cater to the 1%.
Why not just treat EVERYONE equally?
That’s what I said and I think that’s what Hoy said
He was implying that the government should work for the 99% like it already works for the 1%.
Bless you, Rev. Hoy.
As a longtime Evansville resident, I do not necessarily see a correlation between local Democrats and Republicans in terms of their support of a national platform.
There have been some mighty good mayors here, both Democrat and Republican.
You are one of my heros, Rev. Hoy. You really made a difference. Your passion to help the less fortunate separates you from other politicians.
You are a good man, and your opinions carry weight.
Godspeed, Rev. Hoy. You are among Indiana’s true pubic servants.
“It is time for all Democrats to come together and support the candidate who truly cares about all the people.” (Hoy)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
How about supporting the candidate the democratic primary voters elected? Can you believe this current bunch of democratic party office holders think it is alright to tell those voters to take a hike?
I have NEVER witnessed elitism on parade like this before in this city. They are not even ashamed of their behavior because they feel there will be no consequences for them, personally or as a group.
__
Good idea is it Rev. or Mr. Hoy, vote with just because not with your brain. In others words vote Dem. or Rep. if you are one no matter what the person is. All blacks should vote for Obama in your way of thinking. Remember kids don’t think and study, just vote the way your mothers and fathers voted the rest of your life and by all means vote a straight ticket. How stupid Rev. Hoy.
It was mentioned that Phil Hoy was a Democrat, then a Republican then a Democrat.
He can’ make up his mind about anything. First a Baptist, then a United Church of Christ member. What next?
He can belong to whatever organization he desires as long as he continues the public services that he has provided to this community for decades. The food pantry would not exist if it were not for Rev. Hoy. And unlike other recently named reverends I’m pretty confident he has never been involved in any sort of political scandal or back-alley dealings. It’s hard to be a true independent when you only have two choices of parties. Just ask Dan Adams. Thank you for all of your services you have provided to our community over the years Rev. Hoy.
The truth is, Dan Adams or anyone else can run as an independent so long as he meets the legal requirements per state election law. If that’s what Dan Adams is, an independent, wouldn’t he have been more honest to have run as one rather than as a Democrat? Seems sort of intellectually dishonest to say he’s an independent and then run as a Democrat just to scab off that extra 10% or so straight party vote.
You mean like 80% of the current elected Dems who care nothing about Democratic/progressive principles but run as Dems because there are more D’s in the city than R’s??
“We are Democrats because we truly believe in equality for all people, because we join with labor unions in fighting for working families, and because we believe tomorrow’s leaders deserve the best public education. We are Democrats because we believe that all citizens have a right to quality, affordable health care, and because we believe that government exists to help the 99 percent and not just the wealthiest one percent.
Phil – get a grip!! This is the same tired mantra of yesterday.
Your party is for unions and NOT for working people, it is for collective education NOT for the best public education which lets families make school choices, and your party is for liberal ideas only and is NOT for equality that includes conservative thought. Your party is for splinter groups that want to be mainstream and the fact is that there is already a mainstream – it is called the conservative thought.
Yeah, yeah, you are for quailty affordable health care, as long as someone else has to pay for it. You are for spreading the wealth of the 50% working class while the other 50% lives off their taxes.
The growing discontented in this area and this country are rapidly replacing your leadership with conservative leadeship. Did you forget about the elections of 2010?
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