Food for thought on Rep. Chuck Sims, Part II. -- A recent letter from Rep. Sims on his thoughts about the Party.

The following are excerpts with comments about a letter Rep. Chuck Sims wrote to the Chatham Democrats in January 2004:

Sims' response to the ChathamDems article was candid and thoughtful, and he took great pains to address the issue of loyalty it raised: "I understand your concern with loyalty. Look at our voting records and see what they are before you start casting too many stones. [That] is all I ask. If you want, please check my record and see where I have been on the party votes. You may be surprised." Sims added that with respect to financial support for candidates, "I have given to my fellow Democrats in the House and Senate."

Sims went on to offer thoughts on the state of the Democratic Party in Georgia. "The truth is we haven't had much going on in the state office in a long time. Our state party is in a mess, and we have no grass roots organization. We are pandering to too many special interest groups and not enough on the real matters of the state: jobs, increased manufacturing, health care, education. We spent three months on feelings and flags the past two years. We need to get out of the liberal end of democratic politics and move more toward moderation."

Sims also pointed out a dynamic that is of particular interest to Chatham County Democrats -- the potential rift between urban consituents (think Savannah) and rural voters (think the rest of south Georgia): "... the 'dirty dozen' you have named are all rural, living in predominantly conservative districts. What has the party done to help them in those districts with the liberal issues of urban areas? They have been loyal Democrats with very few exceptions. Our districts are very conservative, with very conservative constituents on many different issues, to include gay issues, abortion, and moral ethics. These constituent views may not be our own, but in fact we must consider them and honor them if we wish to remain in office. If we were to leave [the legislature], it is my opinion that these districts would be replaced by Republicans, and a lot of others would follow."

Note: ChathamDems is grateful for Rep. Sims' response and his reflections on the current state and direction of the Democratic Party. We appreciation the clarification he has provided. The challenge he has posed -- how to energize a Party that includes a diverse range of values -- is one that every Democrat should contemplate. As we work through that puzzle together, we hope that Democrats everywhere will advance solutions that stop short of publicly supporting Republican candidates. We will take Rep. Sims' thoughtful words to heart, and we thank him for his role in retaining a Democratic seat in a district that leans increasingly toward the other column.