Houston Democrats

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Howard Dean speaks for ME.

Martha brings up a very serious issue in her response to David Berg's op piece in the Houston Chronicle: The location AND size of his missive compared to the cumalative news reporting on the local party throughout the year. We have one obviously "connected" individual that has taken a public swipe at our party's national Chair with a larger amount of ink than we have seen this year.

By the way, Mr. Berg currently is NOT a Sustaining Member of the Harris County Democratic Party.

To all of the David Berg's in the world I must say that we have a FIGHTER for Democrats with Howard Dean. We have someone that will FINALLY speak up for the average American. Governor Dean is one of the few politicians that really "GETS IT!" When it comes to the individuals that make up this nation's great melting pot we call home, our Democratic National Chair understands their difficulties. He is willing to step up and voice the issues that need to be heard.

Governor Dean may say some pretty harsh things, at times, but he is speaking out for those that cannot be heard. We certainly DO NOT need fellow Democrats to be taking aim at our messenger. The "liberal media" and the "dark side" already have a steady eye on him... That's why Mr. Berg's op piece received the space and place in this Sunday's edition of the Houston Chronicle.

We have to stand firm and resolute in our support of the Democratic Party. The Republicans have been successful over the years, contributing to the "divide and conquer" activity that has plaqued our party repeatedly. We cannot and should not allow this negative energy to permeate our organization any longer.

Remember, we all have someone in our family that is "near and dear" to each of us. At times, this person may speak his/her mind on a particular subject and "ruffle a few feathers" along the way. However, we respect this person as a member of the family and understand in America we all have the right to express an opinion... no matter if we agree or disagree. We subscribe to the philosophy to "agree to disagree."

If we are to be successful in our efforts to turn the Republican tide into wins for the Democratic column... DEMOCRATS, regardless of "connections" or not, need to subscribe to a UNITED front and leave the "dirty laundry" or infighting/disagreements where it belongs... INSIDE our own house and not for the world to speculate on. Perhaps, then we can enjoy a healthy share of "good press" in the local media and not have to count the number of letters in one op ed piece to determine our fair share of "good press."

Here is an op-ed piece sent to the Chronicle this morning in response to the formerly Democrat David Berg:
DEAREST DAVID BERG
YOUR CAPITULATION TO REPUBLICAN DEAN BASHING IS NOT HELPING

P.S.: You should give some thought
To standing aside in the Democratic Party
To let a winning populist agenda work.

By Stan Merriman

I will not be at the fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee on June 17 in Houston with Howard Dean either. I can’t afford it. But, let me advise my colleague David Berg, who similarly will not be at this event, but for reasons of disapproving of DNC Chair Howard Dean’s rhetoric, that I will be continuing my monthly financial support to both the Harris County Democratic Party and the Texas Democratic Party. I invite Berg to join me in that commitment. I will also be continuing my thousands of hours yearly in work to restore grassroots organization to our Party, especially at the precinct level. I also invite Berg to join me in that work. I regret that Berg chose not to invite any activist I work with in grassroots field organizing or our County Party Chair to the meeting he convened after the Kerry route. He might have benefited from our real world, on the ground experience in their post mortem of reasons for our loss. We agree on one thing…………we Democrats failed to convey a belief system on key voter concerns in November……Security, an ill-conceived and unjustified war and an economic plan to fund basic citizen survival services and a clear differentiation from Republican social and economic policy. We were not an opposition Party with a better idea for America.

Berg’s Republicanesque characterization of certain “entitlements” was certainly astonishing, as I once knew him as a good Democrat. And his suggestion that our ’04 campaign was injured by “angry language” was even more surprising. It was as if he and I were participating in two entirely different campaigns. The Kerry campaign was timid, unfocused and devoid of a passionate commitment to a belief system.

Now to the point of Howard Dean’s rhetoric. First, he mis-understands Dean’s strategy. Moderate Republicans and independents are not the “target group” Dean has in mind to rebuild and move this Party to the winning column once again. Nor is that group the responsibility of an opposition party offering a better solution. Participation in the actual work of our Party would reveal to Mr. Berg that in this period of renewal, our target is the 40% of the electorate who have opted out of the system because we Democrats are not speaking to and for them. And our target are the “Reagan Democrats” who left us because we were not addressing their economic needs and speaking to them in populist, bread and butter-dinner table language.
What Berg fails to understand is that Howard Dean is leading in a manner we progressive populists have elected him to do. We tried Berg’s capitulation strategy for the better part of the last 15 years under DLC Party leadership. We progressives, at least many of us, endured and even support their attempt out of misguided Party loyalty. It failed, quite miserably. So, now it is our turn. Had Mr. Berg engaged in actual Party work he would have discovered that progressive populists are the dominant force in the Party and we want to speak truth to power. We want Dean to say it like it really is……The Republican Party is 80% white and Christian; It’s agenda is dedicated to advancing the power of the wealthy and corporate America. Tom DeLay is a public criminal in our view. Both are trying to lead us into a fascist, fundamentalist Christian theocratic state with a diminishment of our Bill of Rights. And Dean is leading us in the grassroots development of a populist Party belief system with an progressive agenda of rights which you call, as your Republican friends do also, “entitlements”. He is empowering us at the grassroots of the Party to craft a belief system around rights to which citizens who have built by the sweat of their brow are indeed entitled as members of the richest and most powerful society on the planet, for all of history.

The right to vote in fair elections. The right to restrain our government from squandering our wealth, national reputation and young lives on an ill-conceived and immoral war. The right to require corporations and the wealthy to once again pay their fair share of taxes to provide what you call entitlements. Like, healthcare for all of us. Excellent, free public education through college or technical school. The right to remedial services to help rebuild broken communities and lives in our inner cities. And the right to a living wage and fair collective bargaining for working Americans.

Republican denial of these rights evoke justified anger and aggressive rhetoric. Howard Dean understands what you apparently fail to comprehend. The Republicans have declared both a cultural and economic war on our people. Soft rhetoric is appeasement and capitulation to their agenda. They started this war to dismantle the American social compact. Frankly, we in the progressive populist movement do not buy the concept of “turning the other cheek”. When we do so, their tear it off. Howard Dean is leading a Party of resistance and rebellion to restore the American dream. We tried yours and Clinton’s ‘triangulation’ strategy and what did we get? His near impeachment and their declaration of war against us and all we hold dear, my dear colleague. Now is it our turn and we commissioned Dean to say it like it is, in plain language, not weasel or waffle as is so often the comportment of Democrats inside the beltway and in the halls of Congress. Fight on, Howard. The majority of your Party is with you because you are with us. Even Republicans agree that when war is declared on you, the survival response is not to lay down your arms. To take a clue from the movie NETWORK, “we are madder ‘n hell and aren’t going to take it any more”.

Stan Merriman is the co-founder, with David Van Os, of the Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party and is now the Chair Emeritus.

It's quite simple. Howard Dean now represents the closest approximation there is to the repressed majority opinion in this country. Democrats have a patriotic duty to get tough. If people like Berg don't like it, they can shut up and sit down, or join the ruling minority.

From New Hampshire Union Leader about last night's speech by Wes Clark:


He stood behind Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean, who has been criticized by fellow party members for making comments that were perceived as inflammatory.

“I’m proud of Howard Dean. I’m proud of our party,” Clark said. “I’m proud of the fact that we are Americans speaking out.”

Sorry - Let's try that quote again:


I'm proud of Howard Dean. I'm proud of our party, Clark said. I'm proud of the fact that we are Americans speaking out.

As a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee Finance Committee - I can assure Mr. Merriman that the Texas Democratic Party will be delighted to receive his "monthly financial support" and feel certain that HCDP will also be looking forward to his regular financial assistance.

Joy, do your homework; I am a sustaining member of both the HCDP as well as the Texas Democratic Party. Your shitty little attempt to "nail" me is curious and demeans you. Why don't you weigh in with a thoughtful opinion about Berg's trashing of the party and the majority's choice to lead us...........Howard Dean?

Oh, and by the way, Berg sustains neither the HCDP or the TDP. merriman

Thank you Stan!

Joy,

You said, ".....I can assure Mr. Merriman that the Texas Democratic Party will be delighted to receive his "monthly financial support" and feel certain that HCDP will also be looking forward to his regular financial assistance."

Are you writing to David Berg or Stan with that comment? Stan seems to think that you are being shitty by intimating that he hasn't paid his party dues when we all know he has. I would prefer to think that you were inviting Mr. Berg to join the democratic ranks in more than name only before he slams the popular head of the DNC.

I have e-mailed Doctor Dean and told him he has my wholehearted support and to continue to tell the truth about the direction this fascist administration is taking our country. I wonder why the right wing of the Democratic party doesn't see the handwriting on the wall but prefers to roll over like cowering cockroaches hit by a whiff of Raid.

Since when does it take a contribution to earn the right to speak up?

I would think and hope those that volunteer and give to the party in other ways also have a right to speak about Party matters. (Haven't I typed this before?)

We are the Party that is supposed to be opening doors for those with the least. It would be awful if people that want to volunteer because they have no cash to give were to show up only to find people arguing about who's check registers show more contributions to the Party.

No one should have to defend oneself about contributions! Let's get back to reality folks!

Whether the comment was for Stan or Berg, Berg can make whatever comments he wants--whether we agree with him or not. It's his right.

If I am interpreting Martha's post correctly, the BIG problem is that while those that speak for the local Party are ignored by the media, they readily pick up on this other guy who got notice from a media that has been exploiting those speaking against Dean.

Needless to say, it shouldn't be about how much money one gives. Everyone has a right to speak, "no matter how wrong they are." That's why the Democratic Party is so diverse--especially in opinions! That's what makes us "the big tent."

Would it be possible to set up some sort of response procedure to comments such as David Berg's?

Either a written response such as the one that Stan wrote to the Houston Chronicle, a television spot on a local station (probably tough to get one I realize), or to publish some kind of press release affirming the fact that the Democratic Party supports Howard Dean. At least something official from the Democratic Party, whether at the state or local level.

Just a suggestion. It would at least show unity among the party, but I do not know much about how the party operates when it comes to statements like the type I mentioned.