I got an unexpected letter in the mail on Saturday. It was from the Marion County Democratic Party; they were writing me as a precinct committee person. Of course when it came time to choose a candidate for the special election, they decided that I wasn't a committee person and refused to let me vote against Andre Carson. Now, apparently, I'm back in but who can be sure?
The letter seriously irritated me for it's sheer idiocy and threatening posture. County Party Chair Michael O'Conner's note to party insiders insists that Congressional candidates David Orentlicher and Carolene Mays can only hand out literature at the polls that asks people to vote against them. It also asks for poll workers to rat out any other lower level volunteer who hands out literature for any Democratic candidate other than Andre Carson and threatens an unspecified punishment. Keep in mind that O'Conner has maxed out his allowable contributions to the Carson campaign.
For those who don't know, "slating" is a process designed to make money for the party. Candidates pay a fee that varies depending on the race in question and generally runs in the thousands of dollars. After you've paid your non-refundable fee, party insiders pick which candidate the party is going to be on the "slate" at a slating convention. Slated candidates get the official backing of the party and get party resources, campaign materials, and from the sounds of this letter, a goon-squad to make sure no one strays from the script.
So much for democracy in action. Why in the hell do we even need a primary? Why don't we just allow candidates to pay the Party their money and allow the insiders to pick our candidates for us so those silly voters won't have to get involved at all! For the Marion County Democratic Party to threaten sanctions against those who participate in one of the most basic functions of democracy is beyond outrageous; it's treasonous.
Copy of the letter and my analysis at Bilerico-Indiana. Just for the record, my calls to the Marion County Democratic Party about this story were not returned.
Early this morning the casket of the late Congresswoman Julia Carson left her home and made the journey to the Indiana Statehouse, where it will sit under the rotunda until 10pm this evening. The Associated Press files this report:
A horse-drawn military caisson bore the body of Rep. Julia Carson today to the Statehouse where she began her political career, marking the start of public memorials for the six-term congresswoman.
A procession of friends and family and other mourners traveled on foot and in cars and limousines from her home on the near-north side of Indianapolis several miles to the Capitol, where it was met by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman
[...]
A military honor guard carried her casket up the north steps of the Statehouse to the rotunda, where her body was to lie in repose until tonight.
[...]
A memorial service was planned for this evening, with public visitation due to continue into the night. Her funeral was scheduled for Saturday at Eastern Star Church, one of the largest congregations in Indianapolis, with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery.
The Indianapolis Star has more on this morning's events.
Maureen Groppe provides us with an overview of the series of tributes for Congresswoman Julia Carson that have occurred over the last few days as her friends in the House honor her and her legacy with moments of silence and reverent recollection.
The week's work was opened Monday morning by the Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin, the House chaplain who dedicated his prayer to Carson.
"We mourn the passing of a dear colleague, strong witness of perseverance in suffering and advocate for the poor and the homeless," Coughlin said. "Her sweet manner always shown through her raspy voice and determination. Her smile born of sincerity and faith encouraged others when there was only a smidgen of hope."
Coughlin asked God to reward Carson's public service and made reference to civil rights icon Rosa Parks, for whom Carson obtained a Congressional Gold Medal.
"We know many (in heaven) will greet her with shouts of triumph and thanksgiving," Coughlin said. "You will invite her to take her place where Rosa Parks has reserved for her a seat."
First and foremost, this is a time of mourning. State flags are flying at half-staff and there are now officially plans for the late Rep. Julia Carson to lie in state in Indianapolis at the Statehouse. Her funeral is planned for Saturday, and there will no doubt he an outpouring of love for the congresswoman who represented that city.
That being said, the gears of the political machine have continued to grind along, so I thought I would pass along the latest political tidbits for those who are so inclined. Yes, there will be a special election in a few short months. The time and date will be set by Governor Daniels with consideration from both parties. The two candidates will be selected by caucus at some point before that. Whoever wins the election will still need to retain the seat in November at the normal time. Now, on to the two rumblings for the morning. (Both are of the GOP side, it should be mentioned. I believe there is something to be said for the silent respect being shown at the moment by those on the Democratic end of things.)
The first is that Eric Dickerson has apparently decided to keep himself out of the running for the GOP nomination. The second is from The Hill, which reports that the really, really broke National Republican Congressional Committee doesn't think they'll offer much support to their eventual candidate in the special election to fill the 7th district seat.
Another special election, however, is not exactly what the cash-strapped national party needs right now.
After spending more than a half-million dollars combined on special election wins in Ohio and Virginia last week, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is already faced with a potentially expensive special to replace former Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) in the Chicago suburbs in the coming months. And making a significant investment in Indianapolis, even though it is a relatively cheap media market, does not appear to be in the cards for a committee still in the red from the 2006 cycle.
Republicans and Democrats were hesitant to address publicly the political outlook so soon after the death of Carson, whose service was praised by both sides.
There are a collection of stories in this morning's Indianapolis Star that all remember the life and times of Julia Carson. There seem to be as many stories as there were days for the Congresswoman, and almost every constituent who ever came in contact with Carson seems to have one. No matter who is telling the tale or what they are talking about, though, the common thread is that Julia had a way of connecting with people that was rare in an age of lofty politicians and sanitized sound-bites, and for that she will be sorely missed.
Rob Schneider gives us a biographical piece on Julia Carson, for those who may not know her story.
"I wasn't born on Easy Street," Carson said in an interview in 2002. "But my mother was always willing to share."
She never forgot how hard her mother worked for little pay. When she was elected to the Indiana House, her first bill was to bring domestic workers under the minimum wage.
Another experience as a child also shaped her attitudes toward the poor and disadvantaged.
When she was 12, Carson had to go to the Wayne Township trustee's office to get food. "They looked at me something awful. I had tears in my eyes. I said, 'I need some food for my mom. She's very ill and can't work.' They gave me lard and cornmeal and told me not to bring 'my ass' there anymore."
Will Higgins explains that Julia Carson "stayed close to her roots" throughout her time in Indiana (and national) politics.
Although she obviously didn't know most of her constituents, when she was out and about, she'd stop, give people a moment and look them in the eye.
Said former pollster Brian Vargus, who teaches political science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis: "She'd walk up to somebody -- I've seen this at the polls -- and even if she didn't know them, she appeared to, and they responded as if they knew her. And this was not just political savvy; it was, for want of a better term, 'street smarts.'"
Carson grew up modestly and never strayed from her roots. She could have moved to a better neighborhood but never did. She stayed in her house at 25th Street and Park Avenue. She could have arranged to have her phone number unlisted but never did. She's still in the book.
And finally, columnist Matt Tully describes the deep, lasting bond that Carson formed with many of her constituents over the years, and the 'I Love Julia' signs that would come to represent that relationship.
Think about what they meant: They were a reminder that Carson's supporters didn't just vote for her.
They felt proud when they did so, as many saw Carson's unlikely career and rise from poverty as a message of hope.
Those supporters didn't just back Carson. They defended her with fierce loyalty.
They didn't just see Carson as their elected representative in Congress. They spoke of her as if she were a family member.
As the friends and family of Rep. Julia Carson mourn her passing and celebrate her life, numerous statements have been released by those who knew the Congresswoman and her fight for equality and justice. I'll update this throughout the weekend.
Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker:
There are no words eloquent or beautiful enough to describe Julia Carson and her legacy of service to this state and community.
Julia fought for those with no voice. She fought for those who had lost hope in the system. She fought for and never lost sight of what she believed in.
On this day, we remember her warm smile, her quick wit and her love of life, and we pay tribute to a woman who has become a political legend.
Gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger:
Laura and I join Hoosiers across our state as we mourn the loss of Congresswoman Julia Carson. Her death comes as a great loss to all of us. However, we will always remember her strength of spirit and love for helping others - qualities she inspired in everyone who knew her. She led a life of service which motivated each of us to reach higher, and our state will always honor her memory by building upon her legacy for generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Carson's family during this time as we all grieve this loss.
Governor Mitch Daniels:
We've lost a true original. Julia Carson was honest, and brave, and a lioness in causes she believed in. But she was also pure of heart, and hers was the heart of a servant. There was determination, and resolve, and genuine conviction in Julia, but never meanness.
And she was such fun. It was rare to leave her presence without a smile. And after the sadness fades a bit, we'll still have that. I know I'll think of her often, and always with a smile.
Gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson:
It is with great sadness that Don and I offer our most sincere condolences to Congresswoman Julia Carson's family, friends, and all Hoosiers upon her passing. Julia Carson exemplified so much of what our country represents. She rose from humble origins to become a national figure dedicated to the betterment of all Hoosiers. Yet, Julia never forgot the individuals who need our support the most. We will all miss her unique personality and moral compass. Most of all, we will miss her.
Previously, she served in the Indiana House of Representatives for two terms before being elected to the Indiana Senate, where she served until 1990. Carson then filled the post of Center Township trustee until she was elected in 1996.
A steadfast Democrat, Carson opposed President Bush's request for authority to wage war in 2002. In 1999, she won enactment of a measure that awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to civil rights figure Rosa Parks.
In 1991 and 1974, she was named by The Star as Woman of the Year.
Julia Carson served the city of Indianapolis with pride and class for decades, and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for her years of representation of those who all-too-often have their voices silenced in all levels of government.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends on this cold, snowy morning.
By all accounts, yesterday's candlelight vigil for the ailing Rep. Julia Carson was a heartwarming affair, despite the evening cold. The Indianapolis Star reports:
"I think it's just a testimony of a life devoted to hard work," U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., said of the show of support for the Democratic congresswoman.
Donnelly, Granger, whose district is in far-northern Indiana, said he was in Indianapolis on Friday when he heard about the vigil and decided to attend.
"She has given everything she has to this city," he said at the vigil.
Andy Jacobs Jr., who was Carson's predecessor in Congress; prominent ministers; and other friends, neighbors and acquaintances stood in the cold and prayed for her well-being.
For those of you in the Indianapolis area who would like an opportunity to offer support and prayers for the ailing Julia Carson, there will be a candlelight vigil tonight to honor her.
Many supporters from the community, including former Congressman Andy Jacobs, are planning to attend the vigil, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday outside Carson's home at 25th and North Park Avenue. Organizers of the event from Light of the World Church are asking anyone who wants to attend to bring candles to the home.
Today brings a new retrospective look at the life and career of Congresswoman Julia Carson, with Indianapolis Star columnist Dan Carpenter providing another round of stories on the service that Julia has provided her constituents throughout the years.
A confidant and admirer going back to their party organizing days together in the 1970s ("Democrats trying to win in Marion County without money"), Visher reflected on Monday that he saw the House bid as a large gamble on change.
"I was afraid I would discover the city was more racist than I wanted it to be. And I thought there might be bias against her as a woman."
[...]
As she did during her career in the state legislature and as Center Township trustee, the black liberal congresswoman has sought out allies from backgrounds far different from hers, and has gotten face to face with diametrically opposed Republicans as well. She's always learning from them, Visher says, and they're getting to know her so well that it becomes harder and harder to say no.
"A number of her colleagues (in the Congressional Black Caucus) can say or do anything, and they get 85 percent of the vote. They're safe. She is the first African-American woman to represent a majority white district. We've never made a great noise about it. When I pointed it out to her, she said, 'Huh.' When people ask, 'How did you get elected?,' she tells them, 'I got more votes.' "
“a pioneer. This is a legend we’re talking about, a great woman. Quite apart from her contributions to public service, just a great person.”
Sen. Richard Lugar
“Eight years ago, Julia Carson and I worked together on successful legislation to expand access to the then-underused and not-well-known Children’s Health Insurance Program,” this "exemplified her typical compassion for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable of our community..."
Sen. Evan Bayh
Hoosiers “can all give a prayer of thanks for her lifetime of devotion and leadership for our community and for showing what one woman with courage can accomplish.”
Rep. Dan Burton IN-5
“I have always enjoyed working with Julia to serve central Indiana, and I hold her in high regard. She is a kind, wonderful woman.”
Rep. Mark Souder IN-3
“Julia’s relatively quiet style was underestimated outside her congressional district, but she was a force in her own way. I’ve always found her to be kind, compassionate, and cooperative. Whenever I saw her around the Capitol, she was always friendly and warm.”
Rep. Mike Pence IN-6
"a worthy opponent and a fierce advocate for the interests of her district."... she was also an “example of Christian kindness even toward those with whom she disagreed. Julia Carson is always the same: a champion for her cause on the floor of the House and a friend on the stroll back to our offices after the debate was over,”
Indiana's lone female and lone African American member of Congress will announce today that she will not run for reelection.
Carson has been ill for years, and has been on leave from Congress since September due to a leg infection. This past Saturday, she made an announcement that shocked many people. From the Star:
Carson put an end this weekend to long-standing questions about her health when she issued a statement saying she has terminal lung cancer. She had taken a leave of absence from Congress in September because of a leg infection. She said she had battled cancer before and it had gone into remission, but that it had returned with "a terminal vengeance."
The Washington, D.C. office of Democratic U.S. Rep. Julia Carson, who announced over the weekend that she has terminal lung cancer, says she will not seek re-election next year.
"She does not plan to seek re-election in 2008," chief of staff Len Sistek said.
The 69-year-old Democrat has been away from Washington since she was admitted Sept. 21 to an Indianapolis hospital for about a week for what her office said was a deep infection near where a leg vein was removed in January 1997 when she underwent double heart bypass surgery.
Carson said in a statement to The Indianapolis Star published Sunday that she had planned to return to Washington after recuperation before a doctor diagnosed her with cancer.
More to come as the story develops.
I have updated the quote to include the latest from the Star report.
With so many kind wishes and supportive words for Congresswoman Julia Carson flowing out of Indianapolis yesterday, it's clear that any public discussion of what might happen should she not serve out her full term would be looked at as untimely at best. It's the topic no one wants to touch, but the Indianapolis Star chimes in this morning with a discussion of that very thing.
Should Carson vacate her seat before her term ends, Gov. Mitch Daniels would have to call a special election so voters could select a new representative. That process would take 60 days or more.
Although no one has wanted to offend Carson, 69, or the public by pushing openly, candidates are seeing the best chance since 1996, when Carson was first elected to Congress, for someone else to represent the 7th District. At least half a dozen potential candidates have been laying groundwork.
Her grandson, newly elected City-County Councilman Andre Carson, has won a key endorsement but has not said he would run. He did not return messages left at his home Sunday.
Marion County Treasurer Michael Rodman has said he would run for the seat in 2008, and others thought to be interested include state Reps. Carolene Mays and Greg Porter, longtime political operative Robin Winston, and former state Health Commissioner Woody Myers.
That's the word from Julia Carson's office this morning, which has prompted a flood of kind words from supporters around the state.
In her statement, Carson, 69, disclosed that she had battled cancer before and that it had gone into remission but was back with "a terminal vengeance."
She said she had planned to return to Washington before "the second shoe fell -- heavily."
Carson made no comment beyond the statement she issued to The Indianapolis Star.
The news left her supporters saddened and hoping that somehow she might pull through.
"The statement comes as a surprise to me," said Rozelle Boyd, a Democrat and longtime member of the City-County Council. "She is able to walk with giants without losing the common touch. That is what I think was so very important to her and to the people of the district."
The Star's Matt Tully has more on the amazing life story of the ailing Carson, and I would definitely suggest checking it out.
Of course, the next and most obvious question is whether Carson will be able to fill out the rest of her term. The prevailing wisdom had said up until this point that she would try to stay on the ballot until the last possible moment in order to clear the way for her grandson, Andre Carson. If her health troubles are truly as bad as some are saying, that may unfortunately not be a possibility. I could sit here and speculate endlessly, but I would imagine we will find out within the next week what the plans are for a post-Julia transition.
The latest edition of the Howey Political ReportHowey Politics Indiana confirms a rumor that has been bouncing around for a few weeks now. Well, at least confirms it as much as an anonymous source can confirm anything. From the article (subscription only):
Informed and reliable Democratic Party leaders are telling Howey Politics Indiana that U.S. Rep. Julia Carson is facing a grim future and that her current health crisis is likely to prevent her from ever returning to Washington.
The high-ranking source would talk to HPI only on condition of anonymity. The source said that Carson's life expectancy will probably be measured in "weeks" and not months or years.
I'm on my way out the door, but I'll have more on this later.
Update: In a surprising (yet not unexpected) move, former Congressman Andy Jacobs has released his public endorsement Rep. Julia Carson's grandson, Andre Carson, as the appropriate successor should the ailing congresswoman step down as expected. From the Star:
Former Rep. Andy Jacobs is backing Andre Carson to replace his grandmother should Rep. Julia Carson decide not to seek re-election next year.
"I have the same confidence in him that I have always had in our congresswoman," Jacobs said in a statement. "Andre has prepared himself for whenever the time comes, and it will be an honor and privilege for me to work for his nomination and election."
Jacobs helped Julia Carson, D-Indianapolis, win the seat to succeed him in 1996.
This falls in line with the leading theory that Carson's first choice for a replacement is Andre, who was just recently elected to the Indianapolis City-County Council.
Is this the first move toward Julia Carson's long-expected retirement? Smart money says yes, so stay tuned as this unfolds over the next few weeks.
State Rep. Jon Elrod, R-Indianapolis, is expected on Thursday to announce plans to run for Congress against U.S. Rep. Julia Carson.
Elrod, a 30-year-old attorney, has been seen as one of the Republican Party's rising stars locally since defeating state Rep. Ed Mahern for a Near-Southside Statehouse seat in 2006.
Elrod said he would announce his 2008 plans at a news conference at his home at noon Thursday. Asked whether he would challenge Carson, as many Republicans have urged him to in recent months, Elrod said, "I am definitely headed in that direction.''
So right out of the gate, we can pencil in a victory for Democrats in Elrod's current Indiana House district next year. That's the good news.
The other side of the coin is that we are still left waiting for news from current Rep. Julia Carson as to what her plans are. Elrod's announcement is significant only because he can start raising money now, which is something Carson has been unable to do so far this year. The seventh district should be safe territory next year so long as we have a candidate who gets into the race early enough to build a necessary infrastructure in the district. Let's hope that we have answers sooner rather than later.
Regarding Elrod as a candidate? Republicans love to point out that he won in a decidedly blue area in his last election, but the part that is often glossed over is the lackluster (read: nonexistent) campaign of the incumbent in that race until the very end. In other words, he's no giant killer, unless you consider killing a sleeping giant to be some sort of feat.
With Rep. Julia Carson's lingering health problems creating more questions than answers at this point, the focus has begun to shift toward the possible challengers that the eventual Democratic candidate could face.
First up to bat, as expected, will be State Rep. Jon Elrod, who has provided plenty of grist for the rumor mill in recent weeks with his vague allusions to a possible bid for the GOP nomination. From the Howey political report:
State Rep. Jon Elrod told WXNT's Abdul in the Morning that he will decide sometime this week whether he will challenge U.S. Rep. Julia Carson. "We have no idea who might be on the other side. There may be other Republican challengers. You weigh all those things and decide whether you still want to get in," Elrod, R-Indianapolis, said. "I've got a lot of decisions to make. I've got a lot of people to talk to in the next few days. We decided we had to set a date to stop all of the speculation and either get on the horse and ride or put it back in the stable."
As I've said before, I'm actually excited at the prospect of Elrod giving up his Indiana House seat to pursue a congressional bid. Perhaps foolishly, I am inclined to think that the Carson issues are going to resolve themselves in the next few months. Whether this happens behind closed doors or in the public domain, I can't help but imagine that the pressure to hold on to this district won't allow the uncertainty to go on much into the new year.
Elrod's seat would more than likely fall back into the hands of Democrats if he abandons it, and a united Democratic organization in Marion County will be looking to make up for their notable losses this year in 2008. For me, this means a win-win situation at the ballot box should Elrod launch a campaign later this week.
Rep. Julia Carson's office released a statement today in which the Congresswoman makes it clear that she will likely not be heading back to Washington until at least mid-December.
"If you are frustrated about this, imagine how I feel! In the meantime, I continue to work from home on the people's business. Unfortunately, healing sometimes takes longer than anticipated, but I'm working hard to be able to travel back to Washington by mid-December. My goal, of course, is to be back much, much sooner."
The 69-year-old Democrat has been away from Washington since she was admitted to an Indianapolis hospital Sept. 21 for about a week. She went to a rehabilitation center about Oct. 1. The statement said her leg required additional rehabilitation and that she was working from home.
Unlike some of the alarmist bloggers on the right, who are prone to wrapping the tin foil around their heads a tad bit too tight at times, I don't buy into the conspiracy theories that say there is some big smoke and mirrors routine going on here. It certainly is frustrating to receive such little concrete information from Carson's office, so I don't blame people for getting a little irked with the long delays between updates. At the same time, to pretend that oft-cited Carson Machine is working behind closed doors to somehow destroy democracy as we know it is a bit much.
All of that being said, I think that at this point it isn't a matter of if Rep. Carson will continue her announced bid for re-election, but rather when the announcement will come that she won't be seeking another term. Whether Carson's health will ever allow her to maintain a regular schedule in Washington again is certainly debatable, but there can be no doubt at this point that it wouldn't be in her best interests to pursue another Congressional campaign. The Congresswoman's long-term health should take precedent over everything else, and that means in no uncertain terms that she shouldn't subject herself to the rigors of the campaign trail next year.
Where does that leave us in the meantime? I've heard rumors of various Marion County personalities expressing interest in the seat, but nothing substantial enough to pass along. As I've said in the past, the sooner a definitive move is made, the better. This is especially true with State Rep. Jon Elrod (R) apparently gearing up for a run in the 7th.
Not that Elrod poses much of a threat in a Democrat-trending district, but to allow the guy to run without a significant Democratic challenger for very long would be ill-advised.
So once again, best wishes to Julia as she recovers from her leg infection, and if any of you have your ear to the ground in Indy and can hear anything over the din of that mayoral contest, let us know what the word on the street is.
The word on the street this afternoon is that Indiana Legislative Insight has a blurb in their most recent edition alluding to the fact that State Rep. Jon Elrod (R) may be considering a run against Rep. Julia Carson (or her eventual successor) in the 7th District. This has been floating around for a while, but the latest indicators all seem to be pointing the freshman State Rep. toward an entrance into the race.
Elrod won a contentious race against Democrat Ed Mahern in 2006, and would almost certainly be facing a tough contest next year as an obvious target for a Democrat pickup opportunity. He seems to be leaning toward avoiding that challenge in favor of trying to spin his razor-thin margin of victory last year into some sort of political momentum.
Uh, good luck.
Personally, I'm all for Elrod getting into this race, and you should be too. I (perhaps foolishly) think that the Julia Carson issues will resolve themselves in the next few months, and 7th District Democrats should head into next year with a strong infrastructure and a national environment that won't exactly be GOP-friendly. And with Elrod abandoning his seat in the 97th House District, we would almost certainly see a net gain for the House Democrats.
Does anyone else with their ear to the ground have some additional scuttlebutt?
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