The Texas Progressive Alliance, and multiple progressive Texas bloggers, have sponsored an open letter to Mr. Roger Owen (candidate for Congress, TX-1), regarding his recent rhetoric.

The letter is signed by many bloggers from the Texas polisphere, and is availible in a downloadable PDF, here.  Highlights of the letter, are below.

The letter begins,

Congratulations on your victory last Tuesday in the Democratic Primary race in Congressional District 1. All of us in the Texas Blogsphere look forward to a good campaign to unseat Rep. Louie Gohmert.

However, as we issue our congratulations to you, we must confess that we have concerns—about your candidacy, about some of your statements, and about some of your beliefs.

As progressives, we have numerous concerns about some of your recent remarks concerning gays and lesbians, especially some of the remarks you have directed at other Democratic candidates in your area. We are also very concerned about the fact that you have reportedly renounced your affiliation with at least one county Democratic Party in Congressional District 1 and engaged in name-calling with at least one Democrat Leader—all of which has been highly publicized in your district. In addition, it is alarming to us that national political press such as “The Hill” have, as a result of your unconventional actions, reduced your candidacy to that of “oddball” status. Please understand that, in writing you this letter, we are hoping that you will understand our position and consider making some modifications in the way in which you conduct your campaign so that we and other Democrats across the state, in your district, and nationally, will have no reservations about supporting your candidacy.

The letter, sponsored by Capitol Annex, gets straight to the point by letting Mr. Owen know that - as progressives, and (well most of us) as Democrats - we are not at all pleased with his recent rhetoric.

The letter continues:

The Democratic Party is the party of the “big tent.” Perhaps there are none who understand this more than those of us in the Blogsphere. Our party welcomes those who are pro-life, pro-choice, gay, straight, Christian, Jewish, athiest, and people of all other religions and races without reservation. What our party does not stand for is intolerance.

The Democratic party has never stood idly by and let intolerance pass - especially amongst its own members.  I am very surprised that such a letter has taken this long in coming, as I personally feel that Mr. Owen should have been called out, a long time ago.

We are concerned that, though your rhetoric may appeal to some of the conservative climate in your district, it is out of touch with both mainstream Democratic voters and the party in general.

In the hope that your candidacy may be successful and that it will not alienate any progressives or other Democrats, we must respectfully ask that you please reconsider your recent actions. While we do not support your beliefs, including those you have about gay Democrats and gay Democratic candidates, we respect your right to have those beliefs. However all Democrats— gay, straight, black, white and Latino—are working toward one goal: a better Party and a better Texas.

With those goals in mind, rhetoric and behavior such as yours does not have any place in the Party.

With these three paragraphs, we lay it on the line.  We do not believe Mr. Owen’s recent actions and statements are reflective of the Democratic party, or its members.

We close by stating:

We want very much to be able to support your candidacy in the strongest possible way. However, for those of us in the Blogsphere who truly support the ideals of the Party, that is difficult in the present climate.

We do not seek appologies to those you have offended, though that may be appropriate; we do not seek you to change your beliefs, as that is inappropriate. However, we do ask that you consider the thoughts expressed in this letter more carefully and consider a more tolerant and polite approach to your campaign and your fellow Democrats.

We wish you the best of luck this fall against Louie Gohmert. We are united in the belief that he must be defeated.

Sincerely,
Texas Progressive Democratic Webloggers

It is my sincere belief that, while Mr. Owen should have been called out long ago, he should not face complete upheaval and uproar around his actions.  He should, instead, face our gentle nudging and explanation that we find his actions inappropriate for a member of the party, and our urge to change his methods and rhetoric.

At this time, although I sincerely feel that Louie Gohmert  should be defeated this fall, I must express my belief that Mr. Owen may not be the best man for the position.  Provided Mr. Owen makes reperations (or at least changes) for his rhetoric, I will place my support behind his campaign.

The letter is signed by the following bloggers:

John Cobarruvias, Bay Area Houston Blog

Jim Dallas / Karl-Thomas Musselman / R. Kirk McPike, Burnt Orange Report

Perry Dorrell, Brains and Eggs

Matt Glazer, Just Another Blog

Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff

Vince Leibowitz, Capitol Annex

Kerry Lutz, 100 Monkeys Typing

Nathan Nance, Common Sense

Eric Scalf, MindSpeak

Anna, Annatopia

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