Sharon Moses and Chris Bell disappoint the democratic grassroots
To many it seemed like bigotry and betrayal. That is how many described what occurred at the last Meyerland Area Democrats Club (MADC) meeting on Monday November 16th, 2015.
According to MADC, “Our meeting was electric and very emotional!,” said Art Pronin, MADC President. “100 members showed. Most of the membership attended.” Pronin likely knew there would be some friction in the meeting. “I spoke to her [Sharon Moses] again in private prior to the meeting and asked her about gay marriage.” Pronin said. “She said gays shouldn’t be allowed to be married and it was a sin for who those who are.” He said that while she said she would support some sort of non-discrimination ordinance, she would not include the transgender community.
An attendee who preferred to be anonymous said that when pressed on LGBT issues, Sharon Moses said some “ugly things.” Jolanda Jones, a lawyer, Houston activist, and recently elected HISD District 4 trustee, was in attendance. It was said that she pressed Sharon Moses on LGBT issues from a legal point of view. Jones pressed her on the HERO bathroom misinformation. According to the attendee, Sharon Moses falsely said HERO left women vulnerable to men entering the bathroom. When Jolanda Jones asked her views on gay marriage, Moses invoked the Bible. Jolanda Jones walked out of the meeting in frustration with Moses’ answers.
Gay marriage is the law of the land. Period. Above and beyond that, one can have whatever insane prejudices they decide not to extricate from their being. That is their right. No Democrat running for office should be elected if said prejudices are externalized. Would we support someone who articulated prejudice over blacks, Latinos, Asians, women, and all the permutations thereof?
In what must have been another dagger in the back of MADC, as Sylvester Turner was being endorsed by the club, Bill King tweeted Chris Bell’s act of betrayal, Bell came out in support of Tea Party favorite Bill King. The Tea Party in Kingwood worked ferociously and efficiently to over perform in Kingwood for Bill King. I was told by one of the Tea Party leaders that the goal was to ensure a second place finish for King. He knew they were unlikely to come in first but knew they could win the runoff. He said the goal was to use the low voter turnout in December to ensure Bill King became mayor. Chris Bell is assisting the election of a man beholding to the Kingwood Tea Party.
Houston is a Democratic City. However it has allowed the Right Wing Religious Complex and the Tea Party to strategically dismember just enough of it to win. From a sect of Black ministers who preyed on their own communities to vote against their own interest based on a lie, to ‘come lately’ Democrats garnering support. Does anyone believe the Right Wing Religious Complex will partner with the black preachers to get support for programs that enhance their communities? Of course not. I covered this on my KPFT 90.1 FM Politics Done Right show a couple of weeks ago.
Want to know why most Democrats stay home? What are they voting for? They find that many who run have the same proclivities for the very things they are against. What is the difference between Sharon Moses and Jack Christie? Republican Lite and Republican? As one knows, aspartame can be worse than sugar.
How can someone campaign as a true Progressive like Democrat Chris Bell did, someone that I actually had as one of my three options for mayoral candidates, and then endorse the Republican swept in by the Tea Party? For those not very politically savvy it leaves one exasperated, fed up, and not voting.
To my friends in the Kingwood Tea Party, I am indeed impressed with your passion and so far your outcomes. You have my respect. You stayed united in a Democratic city and so far you are doing well.
To my Democratic brothers and sisters that have chosen not to live up to the letter and spirit of our platform, you are in fact responsible for our constant disappointment in outcomes. To my Democratic brothers and sisters that are a constant in pushing real liberal and progressive values and outcomes, it is time we all step up and force the hands of the posers. As well, it is time to get into the electoral game and take the party.
I called Sharon Moses and spoke to someone at the home who said she would call me back. I never got a call back.