The following Letter to the Editor of the PB Post appeared in Thursday's paper. This entire belief, especially by an Officer of the Lake Worth Democratic Club, is the main reason why I resigned from the Club several years ago. Now I would resign because my politics has changed.Not only is Mr. Goodstein an Officer of a political club but he was the Campaign Treasurer for Democrat Rene Varela, Mayor of Lake Worth.
If you recall, Rene Varela lost his election the first time around for Commissioner District 4. A main factor in this defeat was that certain Officers and Directors in The Lake Worth Democratic Club did not support him and gave their money and allegiance to a Republican in that District. His so-called friends in this Dem Club, campaigned against him, their own Club member. I doubt if they have ever apologized to him for this egregious and despicable action.
There is no earthly reason why anyone who is an officer or a director of a political club would give their support to anyone other than someone in the same Party. There is a guarantee when they take that Oath that they will adhere to it and that the rest of us can trust them to make the correct choices. There are higher standards for officers and directors and rightly so. If you want to support someone out of the Party, then form another Club and called it something else because what you are doing is disloyal and not what the Club stands for.
On September 28, 2008, Mark Alan Siegel, Chair of the PB County Democratic Executive Committee wrote, "The loyalty oath prohibits, in addition to any opposition to Democratic nominees, the support of any non-Democrat against a Democrat in any election other than judicial races. This clearly covers non-partisan races. Support is more than in their heart or in the privacy of the voting booth; it involves overt action, including speech, on behalf of the non-Democrat. Specific facts matter. I am sympathetic about your club's internal stresses. All I can do is ask people to live under our rules and honor the oaths they freely took to hold the offices they sought."Mr. Siegel forgot what he wrote when he endorsed Charlie Crist, former Republican and now an N/A, over Democrat, Kendrick Meek.
THE LETTER:
Party loyalty oaths repugnant
Political party leaders seem to want to control elected leaders by demanding strict loyalty for their past support. But do we want leaders who kowtow to party apparatchiks rather than think for themselves? We elect people, and look to leaders, for their judgment. Any party leaders who expect strict obedience misunderstand their limited role. Most people don't know who they are, and they have not been elected to a damn thing.
The Palm Beach County Democratic Club had disagreements over the oath - because of elected officials who endorsed Charlie Crist - and suffered for it. I regard the loyalty oaths of both parties as repugnant. If you can't earn followers, it's no good to try to intimidate compliance. If you can't get the members to cooperate, it's time to think about your efforts. The oaths risk repelling people of good will from entering into the political process.
SAM GOODSTEIN
Lake Worth
Editor's note: Sam Goodstein is treasurer of the Lake Worth Democratic Club.
2 comments:
Hey Lynn, at least you saw the light and are now a Republican.
That's not quite it. I am a stickler for the rules as well as ethics. I am not a Republican. In fact, I find good and bad in both our major Parties. After Obama's speech the other night, I can't see where we will get out of this deficit. To freeze spending is not good enough. Cut the costs. Cut the waste. Stop the Fraud. What he has done to Social Security now is one of his worst decisions. He has made what has been an honorable annuity system since 1935 for people who have contributed their entire working lives, less sustainable.
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