As a Democratic committeeperson from Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, I am outraged that party
bosses like Gov. Rendell and State Rep. Daylin Leach have disenfranchised millions of Keystone State Democrats a year before
the 2006 primary by endorsing Bob Casey Jr. to run as the party candidate for the U.S. Senate and clear the way for a run
against incumbent Republican Rick Santorum in the fall.
We heard complaints from party leaders in 2000 and in 2004 that the GOP engaged in undemocratic and illegal
practices to disenfranchise potential Democratic voters, and now we're doing the same thing. As a Democratic official, I support
an open primary. Let the people decide! And as an openly gay man who supports a woman's right to choose, I am offended that
the party is blaming gays and women for its most recent defeat. We lost because the party hacks lack backbone and convictions.
Rendell needs to know that character does matter in politics and in life and that it is, in part, determined
by what you're willing to die (or lose) for and by how you treat your friends. George Bush and Rick Santorum never would have
treated their supporters like this if they had lost!
Paul M. Stillman, Upper Merion
Speaking out of turn
Please let me add my voice to that of Upper Merion Democratic Committee member Paul M. Stillman ("Hold open
primary," Letters, March 29) in expressing my outrage that the state Democratic Party has selected Bob Casey Jr. as the party
candidate for U.S. Senate.
It isn't that Bob Casey Jr. is a Republican in Democratic clothing, opposing abortion rights and gun control
in any form. It's the idea that he was chosen as the candidate for me long before the 2006 primary. If "win at all costs"
is the strategy here, what is the point when the candidate chosen does not reflect the values of party members?
As much as I dislike Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) for his destructive policies, I dislike being disenfranchised
by my own party more. Shame on Ed Rendell!
Janet Lentz, Democratic Committeewoman, Fifth Ward, Conshohocken
Letter to the editor, Philly.com, Mar 31, 2005
