Dear Source:
I find it odd that the local Democrats are looking for unity when, from the start, there has been little of any.
As a life-long registered Democrat, the party leadership has been self-serving to say the least. How?
Well, one would have expected the Governor to publicly endorse the winners of the Democratic primary in September. Instead, he has been mute, with rumors abound that he is silently supporting the Mapp/Liburd team. And he's supposed to be the titular head of the Democratic Party.
To her credit, Congresswoman Christensen has been supporting all of the local democrats since the primary, while not too many in the party have endorsed her reelection bid.
What the party lacks is a cohesive platform. Everyone seems to be jockeying for a job or a favor. All of a sudden, some of the leadership has awakened from the pre-election amnesia they were afflicted with.
The eight Democratic senators that won on November 7 did not win because they were party affiliated, instead because they were elected because the public felt that they were the best choices. In some cases, they benefited from the rather calm and focused demeanor that was the 26th Legislature. You have to give "jack his jacket"; Senate President Lorraine L. Berry handled her role as the leader (twice) with deftness and political aplomb.
Ask people close of the inner workings of the party and they will tell you, off of the record, that some of the leadership is self-serving. Remember when the first majority formed in the 26th Legislature, Lorraine Berry chastised the leadership for not being true to the party. As a matter of fact, she even pointed out that the Governor had vetoed legislation developed by the majority of the Democratic base in the Senate.
So party unity, now, after the horses have left the barn is little to late shall be the cry. Call all of the emergency meetings that you want, each Democrat-elect is a free agent, with the spoils going to those willing to wheel and deal. Sad, but politically true.
It should not be ignored that the other parties are guilty of some of the same thing, after all, not one Republican was in the race for Senate and not one challenged the incumbent delegate either.
The truth of the matter is that the selection of candidates in the USVI is based mostly on popularity than ideology. Until we, the electorate, decides what is most important and REQUIRE our elected officials to stand for something instead of falling for anything, we are just as disjointed and lackadaisical as those that we choose to put into office.
Terence A. Thomas
St. Thomas
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
