March '07 Politically Speaking—Johnathan Abbinett Column

RECENTLY I'VE BEEN criticized, both unfairly and ironically, for being critical of politics in Nevada, but I've also received an overwhelming response in support of my cutting critiques. Like most of the country, Americans and Nevadans are fed up with "politics as usual" and "the usual politicians" they just can't seem to get anything positive and productive done! It seems too many in Congress have lost touch with the common people in their home districts and states. Clearly, the American people understand the issues of the day far better than our elected representatives—and we are very angry!

The Nevada Republican party is in total disarray according to inside sources. The Republican National Committee and their party leadership is corrupt to the core—and the party faithful are now seen as dwindling minority of radical, right-wing, homophobic, religious zealots, sexists, neo-con, nut-cases that don't even fairly represent most of the Republicans. After working for over forty years to gain power, on the promise that they would make a new contract with America and be compassionate in their administration of capitalism—they have betrayed America with their constantly cruel corporate mentality hell bent on feeding the investment portfolios of their party pals and financially raping the hard-working middle class and our working poor people. There has been nothing "compassionate" about this administration and a century of good will has been totally squandered and destroyed by Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfield, Gonzalez and Company.

But, I want to address the furor that has recently risen in the Nevada Democratic Party under the incompetent leadership of Nevada State Democratic Party Chairman Tom Collins, and Clark County Chair Liz Foley. Last April Collins made disparaging remarks about the gay community and clearly demonstrated his ignorance and homophobia when he publicly spoke at their caucus in front of nearly a hundred activists—everyone in the room was shocked that Collins actually thought that gays voluntarily choose their life-style and are social deviants unworthy of equal rights! He was then asked how he felt about the doctrine of separation of church and state in political matters, and his response was "that he follows the teachings of his church" shocked people even more.

Then, to nearly everyone's chagrin, Collins went on to say "the ERA movement and women have damn near destroyed the Democratic Party!" Unbelievably, in a matter of only a few minutes, Collins outed himself as a homophobe, religious zealot and sexist!

I witnessed these statements and shared in the shock with many others. Since his narrow election (by only 8 votes) to the NSDP State Chair position he has been nothing short of a bully and dictator. Collins ran on the promise that he would raise money, unite the party and get Democrats elected in '06—and the only thing he succeeded at was the fundraising! Collins failed to unite the party after the spirited primary campaign between Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson (who Collins openly supported in violation of the rules) and Nevada State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus who beat Gibson fair and square!
Collins failed miserably to rally enough support for Tessa Hafen's run against Jon Porter the Republican incumbent in Congressional District #3—losing by less than 4% when she was clearly a favorite Nevada daughter, former Harry Reid staffer and ran an extremely competent and effective campaign. Dina Titus lost her race as well to Jim Gibbons, in large part due to Collins failure to rally the party and get behind the "Team Titus" campaign. Both of these losses are seen, by many party insiders, as a crying shame that the NSDP Leadership is worse than lacking—it is simply incompetent!

Everyone knew that Jack Carter's late run for the Senate against John Ensign had little chance—but, Jack spent a great deal of time, money and resources in the Rurals and proved how important it is to reach out to all 17 Nevada Counties. Jill Derby ran a solid campaign in the largely Republican Congressional District #2 (Gibbons district that he relinquished by running for Governor) by reaching out to the Rural Counties and the very dense northern center in Washoe County. Both lost, but, we'll never know how much closer these two races would have been had Collins done his job even adequately.

Of course Collins tries to focus on the lower ticket races the Democrats won. But, in all fairness, Collins did little more than give them money—the candidates ran on their own merits and won handily, even without the much needed support from Collins. In his failing to unite the party, and his dictator style, he divided and damaged the odds.

Immediately after Collins election, Clark County Chair Liz Foley removed every single Central Committee member that did not support her and Collins, by purging them into political purgatory and denying them their positions, and voting privileges, on the NSDP State Central Committee—a gross abuse of power entrusted to her!

Then, Collins and Foley attempted to go after the voting rights of the Democratic Caucus Chairs and Presidents of Clubs by attempting to deny their legitimate positions, by executive fiat, on the State Central Committee as voting members. It was just one of the stupidest attempts to consolidate his personal power with a total disregard for others civil rights and liberties and the principals of democracy and the rule of law!

In Clark County, where 72% of Democrats reside in Nevada, Liz Foley attempted a similarly stupid stunt by trying to establish herself as the new monarch. Shortly after her election, she dismissed the good faith efforts of activists at a luncheon meeting where she rejected, out-of-hand, without even a fair hearing, all of their thousands of hours of volunteer work in organizing efforts over the past few years. She didn't even want to hear their ideas—what a terrible way to get off on the wrong foot with the very people that make up the party! Since then, it has been a sad, rapid, down-hill decline due to her inability to understand the nature of power and how to lead a volunteer organization.

Consequently, there is a war raging within the Nevada State Democratic Party between the party faithful, progressive activists and the entrenched good old boys and good old girls that care more about the elite holding power than the ability of the party to succeed in electing modern, progressive candidates and winning on advancing issues. At a time when Nevada will be in the national spotlight—we must re-unite the party soon!
Sadly, many rank and file Democrats are threatening to leave the party, or stop giving of their time and money to volunteer—in droves! All because Tom Collins and Liz Foley have stupidly started a fight they can not win! There is a revolution of reform being waged—and, ultimately, the masses of common, everyday people of the Nevada State Democratic Party will be victorious. All civil wars are always won by the people!

Recently, up in Douglas County, it was determined that so-called leaders had not even kept accurate meeting attendance records! When they recently held their county-wide elections, yep, you guessed it, they voted the bums out! Only one well respected and stalwart officer was re-elected. The democratic will of the people prevailed!

Saturday, March 31st, 2007 the NSDP will be having elections for all new State Officers and angry State Central Committee delegates are expected to vote in all new officers by voting the bums out. Tom Collins, after promising he would not run for re-election, flip-flopped, then, when all the controversy broke over his dictatorship, he flip-flopped back and decided to not run—that's a good thing! But, Collins still holds the high profile position of Chair of the 2008 Presidential Caucus and many now feel very strongly he should resign from that position—and as a Clark County Commissioner! I was the first to publicly call for his resignation and retirement from elected public and party service! We certainly do not need any more political scandals, especially within the Democratic Party in Nevada—and we can not tolerate a homophobe, religious zealot, sexist, bigot, bully dictator to represent anyone! "Not in my name" is the new mantra!

The next, and hopefully final, major battle will be in Clark County for the hearts and minds of the vast majority of Nevada Democrats. This fight could be avoided if only Liz Foley would have the common sense to resign, or at the very least, not run again for re-election. Of course, when it comes to personal power and what's best for the party—the politically incompetent care only about themselves and their selfish personal agendas.

So, a whole new leadership team needs to be found, and convinced to run, and reform the party—that's no easy task. These positions are not paid, and require a great deal of time to competently and responsibly perform. But, I'm confident that there are a number of potential candidates that are very talented, with the right combination of skill sets, and willing to take the time and make the time to do what's best for all Nevadans—it is so very important that every generation all do their part to defend the principals of democracy and revolt and reform when necessary. As they say, "Freedom is not free" and "Peace must be protected and preserved!"

If you are tired of being fed up and want to get involved in a positive, progressive, pro-active manner in taking back you party, then, go to www.nvdems.com to find some of the background information you will need to get started in doing your civic duty!

It's time for every registered Nevada Democrat to show up at meetings, stand up and speak out, so we can, together, clean the house, do the dirty laundry and take out the garbage! After all, it is simply just the right thing to do, especially when we have guests coming, and all the eyes of America will be on Nevada soon! Viva—La Revolution!