To Whom it May Concern,
Charlie Merriman’s attempt to rehabilitate his foolish missteps in revealing his lack of principles on the Mark Johnson Show by denying he meant what he said is shameless. His gratuitous attacks on his opponent are equally obnoxious. His actions demonstrate both why no Democrat should vote for him and why no one else should either.
Mr. Merriman has admitted that he has no allegiance to the Democratic Party, and yet seeks the party’s nomination solely as a convenient step in his quest for public office. Clearly no person who wishes to advance the agenda of the Democratic Party can vote for such a person with any confidence.
When called on this hypocrisy Mr. Merriman attempts to claim that while indeed he is a “liberal” (whatever that may mean in his own mind) he feels that the office of Secretary of State should not be “partisan”. One might just as well complain that sea water should not be salty. We are governed by a system of partisan politics and the competition of ideas because it is in examining one another’s ideas and principles that we can best determine where our best advantage may lie. Party affiliation is one important indication of what a person stands for and to openly declare that such affiliation is being used only as an expedient is an equally, if not more, important indication of character.
Certainly Jim Condos is a Democrat and proud to be one. But in the end state officers are called on to serve all the people when they are elected and the Secretary of State is no different. To suggest that Jim Condos will favor party allegiance over the duties of his office is truly grasping at straws.
hile Merriman crows that being called on his hypocrisy has done him a “service”, the real favor is to the voters who now know that Mr. Merriman lacks the principles to be a reliable public servant. Even taking him at his word, the fact that Merriman now claims the election to the office should be “non-partisan” and that he made a mistake in running as a Democrat demonstrates he lacks the foresight and planning abilities to think through complex issues and is likely (if elected) to be no more than a weather vane in the face of even gentle winds that may buffet that office.
Sincerely,
Jake Perkinson
Chittenden County Democratic Chair
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Hi All:
Jake is a good lawyer and, as a good lawyer and partisan supporter of Jim’s, Jake is attempting to divert the discussion away from the real issue, which is this: is Jim Condos, as I assert, a partisan candidate for the office of Secretary of State and thus unqualified for the office?
I, too, am a good lawyer. So let me do what good lawyers do and impeach Jake’s credibility before responding to his specious claim.
Before asking whether Charlie is a Good Democrat, we need to ask the simpler question, is Jake even a democrat? The answer is no, Jake is not a democrat. A democrat supports the principle of majority rule. Jake does not support the principle of majority rule.
Jake sent out an email condemning me and endorsing Jim under his title as chair of the Chittenden County Democratic Committee without taking the issue to a party vote. That is undemocratic. I am confident the members of the Democratic Party join me in roundly condemning Jake’s behavior.
In addition, Jake violated the bylaws of the VDP by making an endorsement, purportedly on behalf of the party, without following the procedures for endorsing candidates. Finally, Jake never called me prior to sending out his email, nor has he called me yet (Taryn had both the decency and courage to return my call). Jake’s silence is in keeping with Jake’s studied policy of never returning any of my many calls to him as chair of the Chittenden Dems. No other County chair has behaved this way.
OK, so am I a Democrat? Yes, I am. If you doubt my honesty, ask your town clerk about me. She or he will tell you I value honesty above political aggrandizement.
With regard to Jake, if he wants to show a little courage and call me, he knows my telephone number. Unless he calls, though, I am not going to engage in extended banter with him. After all he’s not my competition.