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The Chairman of the Washington State Democrats sent out an email saying two top Senators, Rodney Tom and Tim Sheldon, are no longer considered Democrats.

Top Democrat state senators are 'not invited to our party'

February 7, 2013 @ 5:29 pm (Updated: 6:09 am - 2/8/13 )

It's not often Democrats turn on each other, but they have in Washington state.

"Senators Tom and Sheldon have betrayed the Democratic Party. They were elected as Democrats. Senator Tom even accepted $25,000 from the Party in 2010," Dwight Pelz, chair of the state Democrats, writes in an email blast."

In an astonishing power grab, Tom and Shelton teamed up with Senate Republicans and gave them control of the State Senate.

Rodney Tom has been paid off for his treachery. He was given the position of Senate Majority Leader, the most powerful position in the Senate. This just shows how he'll place his own political ambitions over the people he's supposed to represent.

Call out Tom and Sheldon for the traitors that they are. Join us and co-sign our letter telling Rodney Tom and Tim Sheldon that they are no longer part of the Democratic Party.

We've already seen what Rodney Tom's Senate will do now that they have a taste of power. Senate Republicans have voted for extreme bills attacking choice, workers' comp, the state's family leave act, minimum wage, and more.

This power grab has real consequences on people's lives. As your Democratic Party, we are ready to take action.

On February 2nd, Party leaders passed a resolution formally censuring Tom and Sheldon. The resolution also denied them any support in the future.

This means no Party support, no money, no access to the data that is so important to their re-elections, and no right to call themselves Democrats.

Senator Tom is the Majority leader from Bellevue. Senator Sheldon, from Potlatch, has been elected to serve in the state legislature nine times.

Both are astonished the state Democratic party chair is calling them out, and implying they should be more partisan and divisive.

They call Pelz's accusations "small-minded" and "petty" in an email response to me.

"The state party charged us with not reflecting 'Democratic values and being 'disloyal' to the party. Why? Because in December we openly recognized the fact that neither Democrats nor Republicans in the state Senate possessed the 25 votes needed to effectively govern," the senators write.

We understand that it is the role of political parties to put politics before all else, but as elected officials and leaders, we have a higher responsibility. We have to get things done.

As the two Democratic members of the Senate's new Majority Coalition Caucus, we find this accusation of "disloyalty" to be small-minded, petty and factually untrue. We have never betrayed our core beliefs, and regardless of what some self-important potentates in Olympia and Seattle pronounce, we are still proud Democrats.

We have served our respective legislative districts for many years now. The people in our local communities know us and know that we are committed to representing them. We work for them, not a political party.

If you look at the choices made by voters in our districts, we are right in line on social issues, taxes, the need for education reform and a responsible budget. The messages our constituents have sent are very clear: Fund and improve our education system, balance the budget without new taxes, and get our families back to work.

Exactly what part of encouraging job creation, creating a quality, well-funded education system and producing a sustainable, balanced budget is a betrayal of Democratic values?

When political partisanship flies in the face of what the majority of our constituents want, we side with the people, not the party...As far as our loyalty is concerned, we are loyal to the principles we have always held and to the constituents who have sent us to Olympia.

"We are not switching sides. We always have, and always will, be on the side of the people we represent, and side with them over any political party," Senators Tom and Sheldon conclude.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (36)


  • Add A Comment

  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Treachery?!
    February 8, 2013 9:53 am
    Did they invite foriegn forces to invade our state? Did they release sensitive or classified info to other governments? Did they betray every citizen in this country to a despot? No. They put their money where their mouth is and moved Olympia to a position where work can get done instead of gridlocked. Kudos to two brave politians.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Saltchucker
    February 10, 2013 2:44 pm
    Yes, kudos to TWO RWNJ's who won't be in the Dems way next election. Oh BTW when the State Senate Republicans are/have voted for extreme bills as attacking choice, attacking workers' comp, attacking the state's family leave act, attacking minimum wage, and more, -this is work that is best left undone.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Well there goes my theory
    February 8, 2013 10:26 am
    That Tom and Sheldon are Democrat plants chartered with infiltrating the Republican Party and destroying it from within.

    Or maybe that's just what they WANT us to think!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike Hunt wrote...
    Kudo's to both of them
    February 9, 2013 10:31 am
    We need more fiscally responsible people like them in this state that are more concerned about representing the people than staying in their exclusive tent
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    So much for that big tent...
    February 9, 2013 11:12 am
    If you don't march in lockstep you are banished. (both parties are like this, of course, but the dems falsely claim they welcome a broad range of folks).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dsbab wrote...
    Same Zebra
    February 9, 2013 3:17 pm
    different stripes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Think there was a typo
    February 10, 2013 5:02 am
    They meant to say "not invited to caucus with the Socialists Party democrats in Washington." (Notice they stay away from TEA part Republicans too)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Rangerhawk
    February 10, 2013 9:42 am
    -Don't I wish.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Keith Ciancio wrote...
    Traitors? Really?
    February 14, 2013 10:36 am
    Apparently, Pelz is an idiot. Accusing them of treachery? Traitors commit treachery by way of treason, a high crime under the US Constitution Article III, Section 3: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court." Treason is punishable by death. Pelz would suggest through his accusation of treason (by the use of the terms "traitor" and "treachery") that they should be killed. What a hateful idiot. How about this, Senators Sheldon and Tom actually listen to what their constituents tell them instead of what their party tells them. While some of you are in love with the idea of a politically divided Washington, the rest of us want to live here where people can seek the middle and work together toward a common good. Having served in Desert Storm, two tours in Bosnia, and two tours in Iraq, I have seen the death and destruction political divisiveness causes. That is not the world I want to live in, but if many of these party fanatics in this state had their way, we'd have a civil war of our own. I commend both Senators for choosing their loyalty to all Washingtonians, especially in their districts, ahead of party politics. Believe it or not, I am a Republican that will be voting for Democrat Senator Tim Sheldon because he represents me, too, the same as my Democrat neighbor across the street. Maybe there is hope yet for our form of government... Keith C. Ciancio Sergeant First Class, US Army Retired
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • iceworker08 wrote...
    Mr Tom, Mr Sheldon
    March 6, 2013 9:44 am
    You have been Bought and Payed for so do as you are told. This is what is wrong with our countries politics. It doesn't matter what is right or wrong with these people. It is just what is good for their party. Democrat or republican doesn't matter anymore. They do nothing but harm to our City, County, State and Federal government. There are thousands of people out there that can do better jobs at leading us but those people can't get the millions that it requires to run for a simple office.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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