An open letter to former Governor Julian Carroll:November 18, 2005

Dear Mr. Carroll,
I appreciate the things that you have done in the past to help Powell County. I'm sure that we benefitted as much or more from your term in office as we have benefitted from every Democratic governor we've had. I also appreciate the fact that you seem committed to keep a firm eye on and a sharp word for the Republicans currently skirking around Frankfort, from your vista at the Fountain Plaza. Some of your remarks, however, cannot go by without notice. You offended about a third of the room within five minutes of beginning to speak to the the Powell County Democratic Action Group last night. Apparently you are very much a Dixiecrat at heart, and you assume that Powell County Democrats are right there with you. You forget that Powell County contains an awful lot of liberal voters, and this group contains a lot of them. “I’m against abortion. I’ve been against abortion all my life. My faith demands it of me.” “I’m not for same-sex marriages. Who’s gonna have the kids?” The irrelevance of that last bit is just astounding. I don't have a problem with Democrats like you who believe that way. I do have a major problem, however with elected officials who buck their own party to vote for what is Written instead of voting for what is right. The separation of church and state in this country is all that separates us from the maniacal Muslims in the Middle East who hate us so much. I also have a major problem with anyone addressing members of my party in a stump speech, claiming to be a Democrat, and then beginning by distancing himself with the main body of the party. If you have a problem with our party's platform, then we respect your right to address that issue, but not by assuming that we are all on your side, and not by catering to the Republicans in drag, and especially not by making excuses for taking away one group's civil rights. When we should be telling our less enlightened party members why protecting the civil rights of everyone in this country is so important, you're spouting out Republican rhetoric that helps to justify hatred. There are people out here who believe in a woman's right to choose. This is our party. There are those of us who think it is wrong to tell two people who are in love that they can't get married, and enjoy the special rights that married couple enjoy. This is our party. There are a few of who nearly walked out, but stayed to see if you began making sense. We were disappointed. More than a few of us think the Committee of 29 is just a way of making sure the Democratic Party remains a relic in this state, whose direction is determined by political bosses rather than by the will of the people, because this is our party. If you are so good at getting commitments from potential candidates not to run if not endorsed, why can't you get commitments to scale back spending, and not to run dirty. You could get it in writing so that the party itself can publish a censure should a candidate go back on this commitment. That would be a much better way, a much more democratic way, to keep from exhausting our coffers and smearing our candidates, instead of taking the decision away from working people. After all, THIS IS OUR PARTY! Are you sure that it's really yours?

Sincerely,
Brinton Epperson