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Edited on Sun Apr-25-10 04:21 PM by John N Morgan
First I'm running for FL-H-82. I am unopposed in the primary, and if I don't qualify with either 1200 voter signatures or $1781.82, this election will be over in June. I dropped in on the Martin County Democrats to discuss an issue that had been on my mind for a while. You see, I can understand them not producing a single dollar for the race, but how is it they have managed to NOT produce a single petition signature? To me, as an active Democrat, you owe your candidates a signature. I can assure you the discussion was tense. But the treasurer mentioned that Monday (4/19) there was a Democratic Executive Committee meeting and I should show up. So, I did.
When I walked in the chair smiled and said "I'll introduce you from the audience", I replied, "I expect floor time." He said, "Two minutes, and not three."
As I sat there I scratched out some notes on the points I wanted to cover about how we had lost Chris Craft due to non-support; using that to segue into the fact that the Martin County Dems has not produced a single signature. Generally, the idea was to kick some butt and get a reaction. There was the chair of the "Club for Change" sitting next to me and she was a little interested in why I wasn't a happy candidate. With what I'm about to do the DEC may well throw me off the balcony or get behind me. but I am not accepting middle-ground.
So, I was introduced, and from the time I stood from my chair and made my way to the front, I realized in the 25(ish) people that were there I was looking into the face of probably 1000 years of cynicism. I never referred to my notes. I decided to unleash a Democratic Party rant. And to the best of my recollection this is it. It was delivered at the vocal level just under a scream and at some points louder.
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The Banned Speech
Hi, I'm John Morgan, the DEMOCRATIC candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 82. I'm an unapologetic democrat and I'm tired of the moralizing that used as a distraction away from the cronyism masking incompetence and greed.
I think I'm going share with you my motivation for running for office. Last year on a Sunday morning in Kansas, a right wing Christian fundamentalist walked into a church and shot dead George Tiller. A highly skilled gynecologist that had been marked for assassination by the pro-life groups for decades. Last year, one of their minions carried out the task.
ENOUGH!
They will not shoot people to get their way and not be opposed. I will not let our party step back.
We are Democrats, will will not be intimidated.
We will not shrink to the corners.
We WILL walk with our heads high.
We WILL speak clearly.
And, we will turn this red district blue.
(applause, startled me)
My opponent is a fundamentalist and I will not be represented by a fundamentalist.
A person that cannot separate his job in God's house from his job in the People's house has no business in governance in this modern diverse society.
(applause, startled me again)
He has not found a piece of anti-abortion legislation that he hasn't fallen in love with and if you Google “William Snyder” and “criminal gang” you'll see that Mr Snyder has no problem “dog whisting” racism to his base in his “crime laws”.
Maybe our progress in race relations is measured in inches compared to the miles we need to go, but I am not willing to give up any of that progress.
Now before you think all I have is negative let me tell you my positive positions for our District and the State: we need to be focusing on foreclosure, unemployment, education and energy. I have position papers on my web site and I've already been in discussions with knowledgeable people on how to the legislation addressing the foreclosure crisis should look and that is on my web site as well. I'm all about transparency.
I am John Morgan and I am the Democratic candidate for the Florida House of representatives, district 82.
Thank you.
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The problem in Martin County Florida is not the Republicans, it's the entrenched "Blanche Lincoln" Democrats that control access to the membership.
Now comes Wednesday and the Democratic Party Gala. Again, "Oh, we'll introduce you from the floor and you can work the tables". I had already forwarded my prepared speech, which was nothing like what I had given Monday to the local papers with a note that if they block me from the front there better not be any tables strong enough for me to stand on. I will make my speech. I went absolutely expecting to be thrown out.
I was met by the coordinator, a "southern belle" that could speak of such topics so she pointed me to her husband that was supposed to lay down the law. First, I stated that I want four minutes and he said two (this is actually ok, when you own the stage it's yours for a reasonable time)
"You will not mention fundamentalism nor racism. You will not mention abortion, nor George Tiller, nor murder." I replied, "I get to keep the Donkey, Democratic thing, right?"
I took the floor and in an obvious motion set the microphone down and started in ... I'm a vet, I don't need a microphone.
The membership loves me and the executives wouldn't mind if I sank into glades without a trace.
Just to let you know what's going on.
(cross posted at my site...see the signature line)
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