Gregg County: Democratic forum turns into shouting match (2/22/06)

[derby378]

:wtf:

A candidates forum at the Gregg County Democratic headquarters became a shouting match and ended with one candidate renouncing his affiliation with the Gregg County Executive Democratic Committee.

The meeting, organized by Gregg County Democratic United, erupted after former group president Donna Rosenblum criticized Congressional candidate Roger Owen for saying that state House candidate Patrick Franklin is "hurting the Democratic Party."

Owen made that comment Monday about Franklin, who is openly gay.

"That was so wrong, Roger, that you would attack another Democratic candidate," Rosenblum said.

http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/02222006Democrat_candidates.html

This is really, really bad. Owen's running for Congress, but if he can't get along with other Democrats, how is that going to help his chances at the ballot box?

[VelmaD]

1. Sounds like Owen need a little re-edumacating...

with a tire iron to the head.

[johncoby2]

2. Many candidates hurt the party. Some are irrevelant(sp?)

Lets not just point fingers at one candidate now. How many candidates do you know that one day said "I think I will run" and then turn to the clubs and parties to support without researching and getting support and money lined up BEFORE embarking on the journey?

Look, if you jump in without talking to others who are in office or others who will give you an HONEST assessment of your capabilities and abilities to win, then yes, you could hurt the party.

God Bless Dean for saying that no election should be without an opponent, but we have limited resources and should focus or recruit candidates that we would support with time and money. Both are in short supply.

[VelmaD]

3. Yes, some candidates hurt the party, but...

there's a difference between hurting the party because you're an unqualified candidate and being told you're hurting the party BECAUSE YOU'RE GAY.

[johncoby2]

4. Looking at the guys website makes me cringe regardless of preference.

Who recruited this guy?

[VelmaD]

5. Which guy?

Owen or Franklin?

And if you've got a link to that website, please share it.

on edit: I just hit both of their websites. Owen's is scary. Eep. People who go on about protecting christian values give me hives.
http://roger-owen-for-congress.4t.com/

Franklin's needs more color...too much gray for my taste. :)
http://franklinfortexas.com/

[johncoby2]

6. website for franklin

http://www.franklinfortexas.com/

[VelmaD]

8. Go to Owen's site...

if Franklin's made you cringe...Owen's will make you lose your breakfast.

[NoPasaran]

11. Owen's website

It looks like he had his kids do the artwork---those pictures belong on a freidge, not on the internet.

[crispini]

7. Hmm, interesting

Here's Patrick Franklin's blog:

http://franklinfortexas.blogspot.com/

His website:
http://www.franklinfortexas.com/

Here's his post on the affair:
http://franklinfortexas.blogspot.com/2006/02/anti-gay-democrat-self-destructs.html

Here's the newspaper article with the quote:
http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/02212005_stonewall.html

Stonewall Democrats hosted two U.S. Congressional District 1 Democratic hopefuls — Hallsville business owner Roger Owen and Lufkin attorney Duane Shaw.

Owen, however, told the Longview News-Journal in an earlier phone conversation that gay rights issues and Franklin's campaign could pose risks for other area Democrats.

"This is East Texas. (Franklin is) hurting the party," Owen said. "I feel for the gays, but this is East Texas. It's not New York. It's not Fort Lauderdale."

Owen also said in an interview that it's not his job to psycho-analyze them, adding that whoever wins the state District 7 Republican nomination between Tommy Merritt and Mark Williams is "going to spank (Franklin) dearly with that issue" (of gay rights) during the November general election.

Here's a KOS diary on the affair:
http://ceee.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/22/1268/37339

Here's Roger Owen's website:
http://roger-owen-for-congress.4t.com/

[johncoby2]

9. egads!!!! who the hell designed that website?

Gosh, just by the websites, they embarrass us!

Geez. Google website designers or something.

[VelmaD]

10. Franklin's design can be fixed...

It's not good but I've seen much much worse.

Owen needs to be fixed as a human being.

[merci_me]

12. Maybe my mind is scrambled but

if I'm reading this correctly, Owen and Franklin are running for two DIFFERENT positions right, one congress one state?

Does Owens have a primary race? Sorry, but I couldn't make heads or tails out of his website.

Who is the Repuke who holds the congressional seat now and could he possibly be THAT bad? I know we need the numbers in congress, but it looks like if it's "God's will" Owen can just leave it in His hands and everyone can just sit back and see what happens. Maybe Pat Robertson will call for locust to invade the district.

Looking at his website, it will be interesting to see how it's charged.....political expense, religious contribution or strictly a pool business expense.

[derby378]

13. Owen is running for the US House, Franklin for TX Legislature

My memory on Texas law governing write-in candidates is a bit fuzzy. Can Franklin declare himself as a primary opponent against Owen for that Congress seat this late in the game, or is he just stuck?

[crispini]

14. Franklin's got a better shot running for Tx Lege than he does for

Federal office. That US House district is HUGE and very rural. If I were Franklin I'd stick with running for the Texas House. Much more manageable. It looks like Texas House district 7 is mostly Longview. (pdf here: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/pdf/districts/7.pdf )

[derby378]

15. True - I just hate the thought...

...that the Democratic Congresman from that district may have to wear a sign saying WARNING: Does not play well with other Democrats. Do not feed or annoy.

[crispini]

18. Owen will not get elected, so no worries.

Sounds to me like, unfortunately, just another Democratic wingnut running for office.

[derby378]

20. Uh, crispini, I hate to tell you this...

...but it sounds like the wingnuts have spoken. Owen won the nomination anyway.

http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/06pridem.htm#2

[crispini]

21. I meant the general.

In that territory, he'll never win the general.

[johncoby2]

17. I suggest he runs for school board, or association board first

My gosh. This isnt a F*&^ing game.

[crispini]

19. What about the other dude who's running for FEDERAL office

for the first time? Why do people do this? :shrug:

[johncoby2]

16. Oh please dont encourage him!