I've been working for Democrats since 1972 when I went door to door for McGovern. I was an Ensign in the Navy at the time, and I learned first-hand what it's like to be on the receiving end of right-wing hate.
Since 1972, I've worked hard and raised money for nearly every major Democratic candidate for state and federal office here in North Carolina. In the past ten years alone, my wife and I have given approximately $80,000 to Democratic candidates. We hold an average of seven fundraisers in our home every year, and have generated more than $500,000 in contributions during that same ten year period.
Last week, the Democratic Party establishment, including ex-Governor Jim Hunt, Governor Mike Easley, and the leadership at the DSCC panicked in the face of a gay businessman (Jim Neal) running at the top of the ticket. Within a few days of Neal's coming out, they recruited a state Senator named Kay Hagan to run in the primary. Less than three weeks earlier, Hagan had announced unequivocally that she would not run. She specifically said she could serve the people of North Carolina better by working in the NC General Assembly for her district.
I've gotten to know Jim Neal a bit since he came out on my blog and I know him to be the kind of progressive many of would just about kill to have representing us. Hagan, on the other hand, was one of three NC Senators ranked along with all the NC Senate Republicans as "business friendly" by the right-wing pro-business lobby here in North Carolina.
I know this kind of shit happens all the time and that politics is a dirty game. I know that plenty of people will say they support Hagan and that an out-gay man can't win in North Carolina. They used to say that about women and about blacks.
The Democratic Party is throwing Jim Neal under the bus and it pisses me off. That's why I'm officially now saying "fuck you" to the Democratic Party and its entire federal and state leadership. I'll still vote for progressive Democrats. But I and my $580,000 in contributions are gone with the wind.
I'm not gay. And I've never actually focused very much on gay issues. But I am now a gay-rights activist - civil rights activist - and I am mad as hell.
UPDATES:
- Several people have asked for information about Jim Neal. You can find it here at his excellent website.
- In North Carolina, an independent can vote in either primary. I'll be voting in the Democratic primary. If you live in a state without open primaries, I recommend you stay in the Democratic Party. I wouldn't have become unaffiliated if I could not still vote in the Dem primary.
- Contribute to Jim Neal here.
- I am not against primaries. I am protesting how the Democratic party is operating in relation to progressive issues in general, and this race in particular. For those who want to know more about Kay Hagan, you can find that information here.