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Thursday, January 10, 2013

WA's Leading Democratic Traitor Gets Slapped by his Own Party.

Posted by on Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 10:04 AM

TURNCOAT VOTE: Dems  overwhelmingly censure Rod Tom, the suburban lawmaker who is handing state senate power to the GOP.
  • Collin Jergens
  • TURNCOAT VOTE: Dems overwhelmingly censure Rod Tom, the suburban lawmaker who is handing state senate power to the GOP.
By a leaden majority, members of the 48th District Democrats delivered an overwhelming condemnation last night to their state senator, Rodney Tom, who was elected as a Democrat in 2010 but then betrayed his party. Tom and fellow moderate Democrat Tim Sheldon (of Potlatch) decided to caucus with the opposing party, thereby handing senate power to Republicans when the legislature convenes next week and making himself the leader of a GOP majority.

An "angry" crowd badgered Tom with "hostile questions," says one of the people at the meeting, Collin Jergens, spokesman for the Democratic-leaning group FUSE. "Members were frustrated that Tom betrayed the principles on which he ran for office. They were angry that Tom put an anti-Obamacare Republican in charge of the health care committee and Pam Roach in charge of anything."

Taking a 30-8 vote, the group—which has twice helped Tom's election with volunteers and money—passed a resolution that begins by asking Tom to appoint the leadership elected by the Democratic caucus last fall. Failing that, the group denounces Tom for "thwarting Democratic values." By seeking Republican leadership to chair committees, as he's expected to do, Senator Tom is "rendering himself ineligible for our future endorsement and support under our bylaws," resolution says.

"The dissenters wanted to push back the vote to next month to learn more," Jergens reports, "but they were a small minority."

In the end, Senator Tom's megalomaniacal play for attention will win his minute in Olympia's spotlight, but that's it. He's losing voters, losing Democrats in the senate, losing Democrats in the house, and losing the Democratic governor. Just like we saw when he and Sheldon tried a budget coup last year, he still doesn't have a real majority. Last year, the Democratic budget passed anyway because Tom can't wrangle the governor or house. So he's going to lose this year, too.

 

Comments (21) RSS

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Hawke 1
One quibble. Tom & Sheldon are most definitely NOT moderates. They are right wing asswaffles who need more than censure. They need to be expelled from the democratic party.
Posted by Hawke http://facebook.com/thehawke on January 10, 2013 at 10:15 AM
BombasticMO 2
Agreed. If the Democratic Party can't cull it's weakest and/or most treacherous members, there's no room to move forward.
Posted by BombasticMO http://www.BombasticMo.com on January 10, 2013 at 10:35 AM
3
You don't expel anyone from a party. If they say they're a Democrat, they're a Democrat, and they can get elected as a Democrat. All the Dems can do is not give him any money when he runs again. Tom knows that.
Posted by sarah70 on January 10, 2013 at 10:51 AM
4
Tom and Sheldon should not be allowed to refer to themselves as Democrats because they are not. They are backstabbing traitors is what they are!
Posted by eric1972sea on January 10, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Original Andrew 5
Rodney Tom is an open liar and a self-aggrandizing psychopath. If he had an ounce of integrity he would resign in shame.
Posted by Original Andrew on January 10, 2013 at 11:02 AM
6
@Sarah70, better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool, rather than open it and remove all doubt. There's plenty that the Democratic Party can do about Tom. THEY CAN RUN SOMEBODY AGAINST HIM, YOU IGNORANT TWAT.
Posted by The stupid, it burns! on January 10, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Eastpike 7
Whoa, dude. We know you're frustrated, but, like, take it down a notch. Jeez.
Posted by Eastpike on January 10, 2013 at 11:38 AM
Olo 8
What's the over-under on the state GOP running Tom against DelBene in 2014?
Posted by Olo on January 10, 2013 at 11:48 AM
Supreme Ruler Of The Universe 9

Didn't the entire Democrat Party betray each and every American by raising the payroll tax by $1000 to $3000 for the poorest of households while promising to "tax the rich" and "keep taxes down for those making less than $250,000".

Didn't every Democrat break his promise on the issues that matters to 67% percent of the people...budget and taxes?
Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe http://www.you-read-it-here-first.com on January 10, 2013 at 12:20 PM
10
Wow, so "progressives" can pack a town hall meeting just like the Tea Party can. We see how well it worked for the Tea Party.
Posted by Mister G on January 10, 2013 at 12:37 PM
11
#9, you must just be stupid. PAYROLL TAXES WERE NOT RAISED. Just because you were stupid enough to waste the tax holiday you got for 2 years, doesn't mean taxes were raised. They were NEVER lowered. A tax holiday is NOT the same as reducing rates.
Posted by Smarter than you think on January 10, 2013 at 12:37 PM
dirac 12
@9 First of all it was a *holiday* on an already regressive tax. Second, yes, Democrats are hypocrites and liars (who want to subvert the social safety net by passing tax holidays, mind you) but it sure doesn't make the moronic alternative you advocate one bit better.
Posted by dirac on January 10, 2013 at 1:14 PM
Supreme Ruler Of The Universe 13

#11, #12

So since the Bush Tax cuts were a temporary roll back, you are saying that Democrats would have preferred to let them all expire and make the absolute number of tax dollars on even the lowest income households increase?
Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe http://www.you-read-it-here-first.com on January 10, 2013 at 1:33 PM
dirac 14
You can't have it both ways. You can't claim that 47% don't pay taxes then turn around and make arguments that we've increased taxes on people that don't pay taxes.

When the PTH was announced, it was clear they would let it expire, thus giving you your fucking talking point (I argue this was by design).

The Bush tax rates were a reduction in marginal rates! They have been around for almost 11 years and have always had a sunset provision. Now a great deal of them are PERMANENT thanks to fucking Democrats.

But...what part of "hypocrites" don't you understand?

I would've liked them to all expire. Along with the top marginal rates go to pre-Reagan levels. Also raise the cap on SS.

You know, all the things that neither party wants to touch.
Posted by dirac on January 10, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Supreme Ruler Of The Universe 15
#14

So, you admit that this was all about raising taxes on the productive people without cutting all the subsidies for the top feeders?
Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe http://www.you-read-it-here-first.com on January 10, 2013 at 1:47 PM
16
I don't know WA laws. Is a recall possible? Anybody know?
Posted by Rocky Mountain Ben on January 10, 2013 at 1:56 PM
dirac 17
Hey, guy, I'm not a Democrat. I don't need to admit anything because I am not defending them. Republicans AND Democrats want to reduce the deficit in a depression. We can safely conclude that nobody there cares for the working class.

If anyone cared about the working class or the economy, they'd realize the best way to boost the economy is to increase aggregate demand, which is: a) government spending much greater than is happening now. It is by far the biggest multiplier effect in depressed economy and b) yes, reduced taxes on income DURING downcycle to be increased during periods of growth!

So, please don't take that as an endorsement of the TeaPublican "every tax is bad forever" nonsense you're pilfering.
Posted by dirac on January 10, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Supreme Ruler Of The Universe 18
#17

Who is labeling whom?

I merely suggested that what I have been saying all along in SLOG is true...that this was never about "taxes on the rich".

It's clear that the rich don't ever pay these taxes anyway! Geithener proved it and Romney proved it. The later was in what...a 35 percent bracket and paid 17%! So what difference does a higher tax rate mean to the top feeders!

In fact, they get more out of the system then they put in in subsidies, so of course they want the middle class paying as much as possible into tax revenue. The Democrat is the servant of the the aristocrat -- who wants to own a lot of outdated things and be paid through taxes. Think Nottingham.

Obama served these aristocrats at the expense of the middle class.
Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe http://www.you-read-it-here-first.com on January 10, 2013 at 2:20 PM
19
@10--That wasn't a town hall meeting, and it was not particularly "packed" with anyone--it was a regular meeting of the 48th District Democratic Party organization. One might expect them to take a dim view of Tom's actions.
Posted by fruitbat on January 10, 2013 at 3:39 PM
20
No doubt that further erosion of the political process will occur during this election cycle. No doubt that Sheldon has the support of most of the voting public in his district, I'm not sure the switch hitter can make that claim. They can fight the Democratic Party leadership all they want . In the meantime, Americans are more productive than ever but it's at the expense of Labor. Corporate profits are up 22% accross the board but no one seems to be able to get a job. Wake up people, the banks, insurance companies and right wing politicians are screwing everyone in the name of limited government. Limited government should not mean bad government. These two politicians are still obligated to work for the betterment of all citizens. Corporations are not people.
Posted by jeefray on January 10, 2013 at 4:53 PM
21
No doubt that further erosion of the political process will occur during this election cycle. No doubt that Sheldon has the support of most of the voting public in his district, I'm not sure the switch hitter can make that claim. They can fight the Democratic Party leadership all they want . In the meantime, Americans are more productive than ever but it's at the expense of Labor. Corporate profits are up 22% accross the board but no one seems to be able to get a job. Wake up people, the banks, insurance companies and right wing politicians are screwing everyone in the name of limited government. Limited government should not mean bad government. These two politicians are still obligated to work for the betterment of all citizens. Corporations are not people. We need healthcare, a safety net and reasonable taxation. We don't need strict rule makers that don't negotiate and take no prisoners.
Posted by jeefray on January 10, 2013 at 4:59 PM

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