I am glad to endorse Democrat Albert Griggs for the Ohio Senate — seeking to be the Democratic candidate in the Democratic Primary on March 17.

This Senate District Six has elected a Republican to the Ohio Senate for the last 35 years — reliably contributing to the big Republican 24-9 super majority. It is a huge geographic area consisting of about two-thirds of Montgomery County.

I am endorsing Albert, because I feel he would make a great senator. More than that, I believe that he is the Democrat with the background and message that gives him a good chance of flipping this Republican district.

Albert completed a successful career as a civilian leader in the U.S. Air Force where he was an expert in getting complicated systems and projects to work.

Griggs says that the dysfunction of our democracy is our biggest issue, and our biggest danger. We are headed for a wild future with robots and intelligent machines taking jobs, global warming and terrorism. The challenges of the future will require a strong and united government — one that arises from a united citizenry and a robust democracy. To produce this democracy will require leadership and a plan and I’m impressed that Albert is ready.

Albert believes that a grassroots “for-democracy” movement can build unity and fundamentally change the traditional partisan and party calculation in this district. He believes the public will respond to his vision. He is calling his plan, “The Campaign To Build A 21st Century Democracy.” This calls for empowering citizens with opportunities to fully participate in an “E-Democracy” — a on-line participatory democracy — he is initiating.

The goal is to bring citizens from all over the district to network together and to bring grassroots leadership to local jurisdictions.

Albert feels that that Republicans must be held accountable for radically altering Ohio’s tax system — cutting expected state payments to cities and schools in order to cut state income taxes for the very wealthy. In this latest tax cut, the one percent of Ohio income earners — average income over $1 million each year — will receive 20% of the tax cut.

This effort to give more tax breaks to those who least need the money has meant an increase in property tax, sales tax, and other local taxes for everyone else. Low income earners are now paying twice as much of their income in state taxes than high income earners.

Albert Griggs says:

“Our tax system is very unfair. It is a tax system that a government of the people would never have implemented.

“The central issue of our time is the brokenness of our system of representative democracy. The suppression of the vote has been very deliberate. The lack of transparency and accountability of the Ohio Assembly has been very deliberate. The central battle of our time is between those of us who welcome democracy and those who resist it at every turn.

“I like Martin Luther’s words, ‘Here I stand I can do no other.’ In this 2020 election, our opportunity is to challenge voters to take a stand — a “for-democracy” stand. This is the issue that can bring citizens together in unity. I believe the more that Democrats show an answer to the degradation of our democracy, the more we will gain the support that will flip this Republican district. The public is hungry for something real.”

“I have a plan and structure for building unity, a plan for empowering citizens and giving them a voice. I have a plan for how as senator I will be accountable.

I am glad to endorse Albert. He is sincerely motivated to serve and to use his life experiences to provide the leadership that will make a difference.

I appreciate Albert’s life story and his determination. Albert was born in Mississippi in a share-cropper family. He remembers not having adequate food or clothing. He grew up in Gary Indiana, in the same general neighborhood as the Jackson family and worked for eight years in the steel mills there. He served two years in the navy. He later served as a police officer in Los Angeles. Through a lot of determination he earned two graduate degrees and started on the ground floor as a civilian in the Air Force rising to the GS-15 rank. He oversaw billion dollar projects. He served one year as an Air Force Fellow working with our Democratic congressman, Tony Hall.

Al Griggs, I believe, is the Democrat who can flip this district.

• His maturity and experience will help deliver the message that what motivates Al is a desire to serve — not political ambition.
• His moderation will appeal to Republicans considering making the switch.
• His experience as a navy veteran and civilian leader in the Air Force will resonate with many veterans and Air Force employees.
• His conviction that unless we can make our democracy robust, our republic is headed for destruction will resonate with many voters who are making the same conclusions.
• His understanding of systems and the specific plans to build unity and to give voters a voice — his “Campaign To Build a 21st Century Democracy” — will attract support.
• His building an “E-Democracy” structure to empower voters will attract support.
• His advocacy of specific changes in the Ohio tax laws will attract support.
• His life story and his understanding through his own experience of the challenges of the poor and his advocacy for the underprivileged will attract support.

I am happy to endorse Albert Griggs to be the Democratic candidate for the Ohio Senate representing District Six.

See:  The Montgomery County Democratic Party Shows Blatant Favoritism In Democratic Primary Endorsements

The Montgomery County Democratic Party at its December 12 meeting voted on early endorsements for the Democratic Primary. This endorsement practice is so anti-democratic and so reeks of a system that is rigged that some Democratic Party county organizations prohibit this practice.

Willis Blackshear Jr. got the big prize — the endorsement for Dayton’s 39th Ohio House District. There were four other qualified Democrats who had taken out petitions (see the last article below). A majority of the 29 members of the Screening Committee party chose the 27 year old son of their friend — Willis Blackshear Sr., the County Recorder who died less than two years ago. The MCDP seems to have no fear of showing in its endorsement actions what appears as blatant favoritism.

The Blackshear endorsement is particularly appalling because whoever wins the March 17 Primary is a shoo-in for the general election. OHD-39 is gerrymandered to contain as many Democratic voters as possible. In 2016 and 2014, Fred Strahorn, now term-limited, won 100% of the votes in this district — the Republicans didn’t even bother to field a candidate. It is SAD that rather than organizing a fair contest that would meaningfully engage the 16,000 registered Dems in this district, a super-majority at the December 12 Central Committee meeting chose to control the Primary election and to give a big boost to the career of Mr. Blackshear Jr.

Mr. Blackshear Jr. may be wonderfully qualified. I don’t know. There was no explanation offered at the December 12 Central Committee meeting concerning any of the endorsements. I’d say if elected he will be competent, but I have no idea whether, or not, Blackshear has the fire in the belly that an effective Democratic representative needs. He has never addressed the Central Committee.  I think at one time he was introduced. I’ve never seen anything he has written.

My opinion is that if party insiders, as individuals, want to support a young and promising candidate, like Mr. Blackshear Jr, with personal donations and campaigning efforts, then, of course, that is fine. It is simply wrong, I feel, for the “party” to endorse in the Democratic Primary. It is wrong because such endorsement communicates an elitist / authoritarian attitude that is a turn-off to voters — especially young voters. It is wrong because it is not an effective method of finding the strongest candidates and best public servants. It makes no sense for Democrats to mimic the anti-democratic practices of the Republican Party. The Democratic Party must stand as an alternative to the Republicans and must be the party of authentic grassroots democracy and must do everything possible to give rank-and-file Democrats a voice.

Endorsement means that now the MCDP will use members’ dues money to prepare and mail literature to every county Democrat urging that they support the candidates endorsed by the “party.” The early endorsement evidently worked to drive two of the OHD-39 Dems from the ballot. Now, in addition to Mr. Blackshear, only Walter James Hickman Jr., and Jo’el Thomas-Jones have remained on the ballot for the OHD-39 nomination. These non-endorsed candidates will need to raise their own funds to be able to communicate with OHD-39 Democratic voters.

Who is the group called the “Democratic Party” that makes endorsements? It’s a majority of the 29 voting members of the insider group — the Screening Committee. It’s the old guard that shows up at the Central Committee holiday party. Only about one-third of the Central Committee members showed up to vote (81 members out of 244) at the December 12 meeting. This meeting was advertised as a holiday event in a letter sent to each member; the notice of the endorsement vote was tucked inside and not emphasized. No mention was made that this endorsement vote is the most important vote opportunity for Central Committee members in a two year period. Regardless that the party loves to send email notices to Central Committee members urging donations, the party made zero effort to send an email message to inform members the importance of this voting opportunity.

The Central Committee approved the recommendations of the Screening Committee by a vote of 61-20 — meeting the 2/3 super-majority requirement. If only twelve more Central Committee members had showed up to the meeting and had voted “No,” the endorsement recommendations would have been defeated. Since the 2018 Reorganization Meeting, thanks to the yeoman efforts of Tim and Allison Benford, over 125 new members have been added to the Central Committee. Very few, if any, of these new members attended this important endorsement meeting. It appears that these new Central Committee members were never informed about the key importance of this voting opportunity. I won’t know exactly who attended the meeting until I get the attendance report from Kurt Hatcher, the Executive Director. I put in my request on December 13.

At the meeting, I objected to the early endorsement practice — condemning it as unwise and unfair and not worthy of a party that calls itself “democratic.” This objection can be added to my history of objections to this practice. (See articles below.) I was glad to see Lucy McKosky, an officer in the local League of Women Voters organization, also rise to urge a “No” vote and, in the standing vote that occurred, I recognized other League members joining Lucy in the “No” vote. I am a member of the League because I believe in their pro-democracy efforts and I am glad that a small contingent of the League is active in the MCDP.

There is no official record of how members of the Central Committee voted, because, as Kurt Hatcher cheerfully explained to me, prior to the meeting, the MCDP Constitution forbids a roll-call vote for Central Committee endorsements.

Voters are sick of today’s politics. Trump is working to undermine and rig our entire system of democracy but he got elected, in part, by claiming, “The system is rigged.” As a loyal Democrat, who wants the best for our party, I’m aggrieved when it looks like my local Democratic Party organization is rigging the system. Two years ago, members of the MCDP endorsed their friend, Rev. Ward, over Rev. Fairchild — needlessly dividing the membership of the party. In 2008, the party endorsed their friend Roland Winburn over Victor Harris in a gerrymander strong Democratic Ohio House district. In the Primary, Democratic voters were deprived of an important discussion because Roland refused to debate Victor.

Primary endorsements have been a point of contention in the party for years. At the 2018 Reorganization Meeting, there were four proposed changes to the MCDP Constitution concerning votes for endorsements — that they be by roll call vote, etc. None of the four proposed changes received a majority vote.

Also receiving endorsements at the December 12 meeting were candidates for the U.S. Congress and the Ohio Senate. The Screening Committee chose Desiree Tims for OH-10, passing over another qualified Democrat, Eric Moyer. The Committee chose Mark Fogel for OSD-06, passing over another qualified candidate, Albert Griggs.

I’ve not yet spoken with Moyer, but Al Griggs sent me an email explaining that he is staying in the race because he believes that the Democratic rank-and-file voters “deserve a choice.” He says that the theme of his campaign will be “Repairing Our Democracy.”

• The Montgomery Democrats Decide to Suppress Democracy — Just Like the Republicans, December 14th, 2007
• Victor Harris: Surprised That Local Democratic Party Wanted To Suppress Primary Competition, February 25th, 2008
• Mark Owens Says Most Montgomery Dems Approve The Party’s Suppression Of Primary Participation, April 8th, 2009
• Proposal To Stop Democratic Primary Endorsements in Montgomery County Quashed At Reorganization Meeting, June 3rd, 2010
• Montgomery County Democratic Party Dominated By Appointed Gov. Workers And Elected Gov. Officials, September 16th, 2011
• At The Reorganization Meeting, A New Constitution Could Transform the MCDP’s “Political Boss” Structure, January 19th, 2014
• The Dayton Daily News Cut Fifty Words From The Heart Of My Article, January 31st, 2014
• Elected Precinct Leaders At The MCDP Reorganization Must Advance A Plan To Build Respect And Support For The Party, May 21st, 2018
• At The MCDP Reorganization Meeting, The Central Committee Votes To Make No Change In Endorsement Policies, June 7th, 2018
• Which Democrat Will Represent OHD-39? Should The MCDP Push An Endorsement Or Let Primary Voters Decide?, December 4th, 2019

At this point in the video, Joe is challenging the farmer to push-up and an IQ test.

Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Should Democrats be concerned — flabbergasted even — that Joe Biden looked an 83 year old farmer in the face and said “You’re a damn liar, man.” Has Trump made this type of accusative rudeness somehow acceptable?

The old farmer had halting speech and appeared to need a cane. He had already admitted that he didn’t have “the mental faculty” that he once had. He did his best to articulate an accusation concerning Biden and his son, Hunter, and said: “You (Biden) sent your son over there to get a job and work for a gas company regardless that he has no experience with gas — nothing — in order to get access to the president. You’re (Biden) selling access to the president just like he (Trump) was.”

This is when Biden decided it was OK to shout: “You’re A Damn Liar, man”

Whoa. Where was the lie?

There is no dispute that Hunter accepted a job with a Ukraine oil company regardless that he has no experience, no credentials, that might make his employer think he would be an asset worthy of a big salary. Hunter has admitted as much.

I guess that what got Biden so fired up was the accusation that Joe “sent” his son and this amounted to selling access to the power of the presidency — just like Trump offering access to the power of the presidency — as a bribe.

It must make Joe really angry when anyone accuses him of setting his son up in the job and sending his son to Ukraine. He knows that it wasn’t that way at all. He condoned, He permitted. But you are a damn liar if you say he sent his son there.

No. No. No. Joe has convinced himself, evidently, that churning up some anger was the best response. neither he nor his son in this matter has done anything wrong. So rather than being the teacher and the visionary that we need our next president to be, Joe played the victim and the scold. Before this incident I was leaning towards supporting Joe. Now I know that I can’t.

And Joe is defending his right to accuse someone of being a “damn liar”

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday defended his rebuke of a voter in Iowa, whom he labeled a “damn liar” for accusing him of “selling access” to the White House.

“The fact of the matter is, this guy stood up and he was, in fact, lying,” the Democratic presidential candidate told NPR on the campaign bus to Decorah after the heated exchange went viral. “I just pointed out, you’re a liar. It’s a fact. He lied, period.”

Transcript of Farmer / Biden Exchange

I am an 83 year old farmer and I am not a Republican, sort of unique that way.  I have two problems with you. First of all you are damn near as old as I am. You are too old. I don’t nearly have the mental faculty that I used to have. … We all know Trump is less than honorable messing around in Ukraine holding foreign aid. We know all about that. … You on the other hand sent your son over there to get a job and work for a gas company regardless that he has no experience with gas, nothing — in order to get access to the president. You’re selling access to the president just like he was.

You’re a damn liar, man. That’s not true and nobody has ever said that . (cross talk) I’m not sedentary. The reason I am running is because I’ve been around a long time and I know more than most people know and I can get things done. If you want to check my shape, let’s do push-ups here together, man. Let’s run, let’s do whatever it is you want to do. And, number two, nobody has said that my son has done anything wrong.

I didn’t say that you did anything wrong.

You said that I set up my son to work in an oil company. Isn’t that what you said? Get your words straight, Jack.

That’s what I hear on MSNBC.

You don’t hear that on MSNBC. I’m not going to get in an argument.

I don’t want to argue either.

Oh yes you do. Look, fat, look. Here’s the deal.

It looks like you don’t have any more backbone than Trump does. (Crowd erupts: boo, sit down) Alright, I’m not voting for you.

Well I knew you weren’t. You’re too old to vote for me. (Laughter)