If Kelly had just kept quiet, and voted his conscience at the 2004 election, I would not hold that
against him. However, I don't see how he can actively campaign for another party and still
call himself a Democrat. He isn't a Democrat any more.
I think we need to differentiate between the DFL Loyalty Oath, and the DFL Endorsement..
The Loyalty Oath says "I will not run against the candidate you choose at the caucus."
The strongest candidates typically won't take the oath. We should never ask them to do so.
It shouldn't be up to the handful of people at the caucuses to choose our next mayor, senator
or any other office.
At my precinct caucus, everyone who showed up became a delegate to the next level.
At the next level (District?) two thirds of the people who showed up got elected to the
next level.
The caucuses, while open, are not representative of our population.
They are dominated by organized interest groups, with a very high proportion
of public employee union members. I support the right of people to organize,
but union interests do not necessarily coincide with the interests of all citizens,
especially when it comes to negotiations for salary and benefits.
The unions are quite open about their desire to elect their own bosses, but I don't want
to be represented by someone who feels they owe their election, or their loyalty,
to the people that work for all of us.
I have never been a DFL "Activist", but I am a delegate to the upcoming city convention.
I have committed to support Ortega for mayor, but in Primaries and General Elections,
I will choose among the candidates that are running, regardless of whether they are endorsed.
I have voted against the DFL endorsee in the past, and I have done so because the DFL
consistently chooses weak, often insider candidates, passing up the stronger candidate
because he/she won't sign the Oath.
The DFL won't start winning elections until we start representing the interests of the
middle and lower middle class. This means good schools, services and health care
at an affordable price.
Bob Treumann, Como Area
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