It's Unanimous. The Ousting Of State Senator Rosalind Kurita Is Wrong

Sharon Cobb Blog ^ | Sept 15, 2008 | Sharon Cobb

[texas booster]

When I first posted a link to the Tennessean about the ousting of State Senator Rosaland Kurita, I really couldn't believe what I was reading.

Then I read what LeftWingCracker out of Memphis had to say about it, and I thought that he expressed the problem with ousting Kurita eloquently. Then came Goldnl, at SilienceIsntGolden, who wrote a piece titled "The Tennessee Democratic Party 1828-2010, who was just as eloquent and went into even more details about this decidedly undemocratic action by the democratic party.

Then came Sean Braisted, who brought a different perspective with his hit piece on Alma Sanford, a long time activist in the Democratic Party and leader in Davidson Democrats as well as various womens' groups. Alma was adamant about supporting pro choice candidates. So what did she do when she heard about Kurita being ousted? She said she was going to resign from the Democratic Party. Okay. That made sense. But Alma, never being short on words, went on to say she's going to vote for McCain! Okay. Add her to the list of women who will cut off their noses to spite their faces and vote for a man and woman who want to overturn everything women have worked for in government.

Sure, Alma Sanford supporting McCain/Palin who want to overturn Roe. Now I would have understood if she had said she was going to vote for Nader or McKinney, but she didn't. She said McCain. So now, we not only have long time leaders pissed off at the Democratic Party, but they are also throwing their support to McCain.

Earlier in the week, Newscoma wrote a wonderful piece about the TN. Democratic Party ignoring voters outside of Nashville, and she also opined eloquently about the ousting of Kurita.

So let me be clear where I stand on this issue.

When Kurita voted to put Ron Ramsey and the Republicans in charge of the State Senate, I was furious. I believe I called her a turncoat at the time. I still disagree with that vote.

That said, I'm even more infuriated that my party would overturn a legitimate election as a vendetta for Kurita casting a legitimate, though unpopular vote.

When the republicans tried to overturn Ophelia Ford's election, we were indignant. How dare they try to overturn the will of the people?

Today, most Democrats in Tennessee, and certainly all of the progressive bloggers in Tennessee, are united in asking the same question about Kurita.

What the Democratic Party of Tennessee did to Kurita was very undemocratic.

[texas booster]

When Rosalind Kurita voted for a Republican as the State Senate leader, Democrat leaders were furious.

State leaders then overturned a primary election and awarded the general election ballot to the loser of the primary election over Kurita, to punish her for stepping out from the party line.

This blogger, who obviously considers herself a Democrat (but progressive), shares her opinion of this turn of events.

[skr]

So much for the Will of the People.