Bridgeport resident David Walker, former U.S. Comptroller General, announced on Monday an exploratory committee for lieutenant governor saying he’s a Republican “committed to being an independent minded, inclusive and results oriented person along the lines of Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush.” During his announcement in Hartford Walker stressed how he can apply his financial experience to ending one of the highest tax burdens in the country. He has a website www.walkerforct.com.
Walker, a CPA, is treasurer of the political action committee Citizens Working For A Better Bridgeport that raised money and supported candidates in the September Democratic primary and November general election for school board and City Council seats.
Walker moved to Bridgeport in 2010, purchasing a home in Black Rock from former Congressman Christopher Shays. Appointed by President Bill Clinton, Walker served as Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office from 1998 to 2008. His service as the federal government’s chief auditor spanned Democratic and Republican administrations. He was also an appointee of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Filing an exploratory committee provides Walker an opportunity to raise money, gauge party support and move around the state discussing the state’s fiscal picture.
Walker attended 2010 GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Foley’s September announcement in Bridgeport forming an exploratory committee for governor. State Senator John McKinney, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, State Senator Toni Boucher and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti are also positioning for the GOP nomination for governor. Walker says several of the Republican GOP candidates pose viable alternatives to Democratic Governor Dan Malloy.
Walker has stated he’s not interested in a ceremonial position. He says he’s hopeful of a partnership with a successful candidate for governor who will put his financial background to work in reshaping state government. State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor last year and has a leg up raising money under Connecticut’s Citizens Election Program of publicly financed races. Under the program candidates raise small donations from $5 to $100 in an effort to trigger a public grant.
Most Republican party regulars anticipate an August primary for governor. If that’s the case Walker and Bacchiochi could see additional company at the Republican convention in May. Even if Walker manages to hook up with the horse of his choice on the same line there’s no guarantee both will win the primary based on the recent history of gubernatorial primaries. In primaries candidates for governor and lieutenant governor technically run on their own accord. Primary winners run as a joint ticket in the general election. In 2010 Lisa Wilson-Foley, the Republican endorsed candidate for lieutenant governor, was defeated by Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton who was thrown together with Tom Foley in the general election.
Text from Walker’s Monday announcement follows:
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come to this press briefing. This is a significant day for me and my family–and as a result–my wife Mary is here with me.
Mary and I have been married for over 42 years and we live in Bridgeport, CT.
While I am a nationally known expert on federal fiscal responsibility and government transformation issues–during the past two years–I have made a special effort to study the financial, competitiveness and other challenges facing Connecticut and Bridgeport.
I was surprised and saddened by what I found:
First–Connecticut has one of the highest tax burdens in the country.
It also has the highest liabilities and unfunded promises per taxpayer of any state in the nation–it ranks in the bottom 10 states for competitiveness–it also has very poor economic performance–and persistent, above average unemployment.
Connecticut is also “a land of disparities.”
In addition, several of Connecticut’s cities continue to struggle.
For example, Bridgeport has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation and, at the same time, almost four times the amount of liabilities and unfunded promises per person as Stockton, CA,–and Stockton is in bankruptcy!
Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for a wake-up call–a call to action–and a major course correction in Connecticut!
The points that I have just outlined are facts, not opinion.
And I am tired of career politicians trying to distort the facts and deceive the people.
Most recently, the Malloy Administration has said that Connecticut’s debt is down by 15 percent during his tenure. That is false.
Actual debt is up!
While unfunded pension and retiree health obligations are down, over two-thirds of the reduction is in the form of changes in assumptions that may or may not prove valid over time.
In addition, Connecticut has the highest liabilities and unfunded promises per taxpayer of any state in the union!
And despite what some may assert, Connecticut does not have a balanced budget based on honest accounting, reasonable assumptions, and prudent business practices.
Clearly, one of the state’s highest priorities should be to gain control over spending, balance the budget and take steps to improve the state’s overall financial condition.
While Connecticut is a beautiful state with great people, a proud history and significant potential, it is rapidly approaching a tipping point and its future is at risk.
In my view, if the state does not change course in the near future, we are likely to see a continued flight of businesses and wealthier residents that will only serve to aggravate many of the state’s current financial and competitiveness challenges.
Given the state’s poor financial condition and competitive position, Connecticut’s leaders must start telling the whole truth about where we stand and the need for major transformational reforms.
They also need to take much more aggressive steps to improve the state’s financial condition and competitive posture in order to create a better future for the state and its residents.
This will require achieving a number of major changes that can only come from the top of state government and by people who have the experience, ability, credibility, courage and commitment to do what it takes to turn our state around.
As I mentioned previously, we also know that several major cities in Connecticut, including Bridgeport where we live, also face serious financial and competitiveness challenges that require action by both the state and the respective localities.
I see these as both major challenges and opportunities. In addition, I believe that if we can achieve a turnaround in Connecticut, it will be heard around the nation. It may also serve to spur much-needed and long overdue action in our nation’s capital.
Given my proven government transformation related experience and my reputation as a results-oriented problem solver–including almost a decade serving as Comptroller General of the United States–a number of people have encouraged me to run for elected office.
After considerable thought, I have decided to form an Exploratory Committee for state office.
While I believe that I am well qualified for several state offices, my primary interest is in the position of Lt. Governor. Achieving the Lt. Governor position would enable me to be a strong partner with our next Governor to transform state government and make a “Connecticut comeback” a reality.
The LG position involves both executive and legislative branch leadership responsibilities and I have a proven record of providing effective leadership and achieving real results in both of these branches at the federal level.
For example, as CEO of the GAO I led a transformation effort that made that agency 13 percent smaller in head count, and over 50 percent more productive, while also tripling outcome-based results and generating a return on investment of 110:1 for U.S. taxpayers.
In filing for this Exploratory Committee I was required to note my political affiliation. From 1997-2013 I was a political independent.
During this period I became one of the nation’s leading independent voices on fiscal responsibility and government transformation issues. I was a Republican for 21 years prior to becoming an independent. Therefore, I filed as a Republican.
Irrespective if my registration status, I have always been an independent minded, principle-based and results oriented person. I am a professional who brings people together to solve problems and promote progress.
I remain committed to being an independent minded, inclusive and results oriented person along the lines of Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush. I received Presidential appointments with unanimous Senate confirmation from both of these Presidents in the past.
I have a proven track record of being able to attract support across party lines and from political independents. For example, as CEO of the Comeback America Initiative, a National Co-Founder of No Labels and a co-leader of No Labels in Connecticut, I have been able to help develop nonpartisan solutions that can gain bipartisan support. I am confident that I can do the same for the people of Connecticut.
Some people have asked me, why am I exploring a run in Connecticut at this time? It’s because Mary and I have grown to love Connecticut and Bridgeport and we care about the future of our city and state. We have decided that we would rather fight to try and turnaround the state and its troubled cities rather than leave.
I expect to make a final decision on whether to formally declare my candidacy for state office by the end of March. In the interim, I will tour the state with my Comeback Connecticut Campaign message.
During my exploratory period, I will also begin to take steps to qualify for public financing. I believe in the ability of a properly structured public financing system to encourage good people to run, to improve the democratic process, and to reduce the influence of special interests in the political process. To help facilitate this, I have created a campaign web site that can be found at www.WalkerforCT.com. Unlike most campaign web sites, this one is focused on substance and solutions.
In summary, the facts are clear and compelling.
Connecticut ranks at or near the bottom in connection with a broad range of state financial and competitiveness indicators. For Connecticut voters who believe that the Constitution state can and must do better, it is time for real change and a major course correction.
This will require a clear and referendum style campaign agenda and candidates that have the ability and credibility to make a comeback in Connecticut a reality. I am offering myself as one possible member of a team that can get this job done. It’s up to the people of Connecticut to decide.
I can promise the people of Connecticut that if I am fortunate to be elected Connecticut’s next Lt. Governor, I will commit my ability and operate with integrity to generate real results and help turn this state around.
I want to thank Jerry Labriola, Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party,for being here today–as well as Bryan Cafferelli, my Exploratory Committee Manager, Mike Knight, my Exploratory Committee Treasurer, and Jacob Hawkins, my Exploratory Committee Web Designer and Administrator, for joining me today as well. Jacob came all the way from Atlanta for today’s announcement.
Connecticut Post
Former federal official seeking state office
Ken Dixon
Published 12:17 pm, Monday, January 13, 2014
HARTFORD — David Walker of Bridgeport was welcomed back to the state Republican Party on Monday, as the fiscal watchdog and former comptroller general of the United States announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor.
Walker said he has the qualifications to run for governor, but believes he is entering this year’s election cycle too late to seek the top spot. Still, he intends to campaign on the major issues facing the state, including high property taxes and a public employee pension system that threatens to cripple the state budget.
Speaking outside the north entrance of the Capitol before a small crowd of supporters, Walker, a 62-year-old former Ronald Reagan Democrat who most recently ran the now-closed Comeback American Initiative, said he had a major role in helping last year’s reform candidates who won seats on the Bridgeport Board of Education.
“While I’m a nationally known expert for fiscal responsibility and government transformation on the federal level, during the past two years I’ve spent a significant amount of time taking a look at the state of Connecticut, the city of Bridgeport and other cities in this state,” Walker said, flanked by his wife Mary and Jerry Labriola, the GOP state chairman.
“I have been surprised and saddened by what I’ve found,” he said. “First, Connecticut has among the highest tax burdens in the United States. It has the highest liabilities and unfunded promises per taxpayer of any state in the nation and it ranks in the bottom 10 of all 50 states for most every major competitive categories. It has poor economic performance and persistent above-average unemployment.”
Labriola, in brief remarks to reporters, said it was good to have Walker back in the GOP, which has had several good candidates emerge for both the party’s governor and lieutenant governor nominations.
Walker described himself as a former “Dixiecrat,” a conservative, southern Democrat when he lived in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s. After decades as a registered Republican, Walker said he left the party to work outside the political system. But the framework of electoral politics in Connecticut, he said, necessitates a return to a major party.
kdixon@ctpost.com; 860-549-4670; twitter.com/KenDixonCT; facebook.com/kendixonct.hearst; blog.ctnews.com/dixon
“Walker described himself as a former “Dixiecrat,” a conservative, southern Democrat when he lived in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s. After decades as a registered Republican, Walker said he left the party to work outside the political system.”
David Walker, tells us about you being a “Dixiecrat,” which was started as a racist organization and it has never changed (please looked it up for yourself).
Ron, please stop with the race card, it’s boring, somewhat ignorant and in your perception of David Walker completely wrong.
I suppose I could call you racist, for it seems in your limited view that is all you see, color. It is time to move on, old man. Ron, the times have changed and you might like it.
Black Rockin, please take the time and Google “Dixiecrat.” This is what he said about himself, “Walker described himself as a former “Dixiecrat,” a conservative, southern Democrat when he lived in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s.” Look it up yourself, that’s NOT Ron Mackey, that’s David Walker.
Ron,
You use the race card way too much. Anyone who knows me well would attest I am not biased and do not discriminate. If you were at the announcement you would know I defined myself as a Reagan Democrat. As you may recall, Reagan was a labor leader and a Democrat before he became a Republican.
I’m not going to have time to post for awhile given today’s announcement.
Dave
“Walker described himself as a former “Dixiecrat,” a conservative, southern Democrat when he lived in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s.”
Tell us about what a “Dixiecrat” is and its history, you seem very proud of being a “Dixiecrat.” US Senator Strom Thurmond, its hero, opposed the civil rights legislation of 1964 and 1965 to end segregation and enforce the voting rights of African American citizens during the timeframe you were involved with the “Dixiecrats.”
I believe David Walker is the “Real Deal” and he is acting in the best interest of the citizens of Bridgeport (his hometown). We are fortunate to have this very intelligent man who also possesses the rare quality of common sense (a trait severely lacking in most people running for political office). He is a breath of fresh air in Bridgeport, Connecticut and the USA. Yes, he is a bean counter (He knows his numbers forwards, backwards and sideways), however he believes in the potential for Bridgeport and I know he would make an exceptional (honest) Lieutenant Governor for the state of CT.
Before anyone voices their comments, please know no one paid me to write this. I sincerely believe in this guy.
Ron Mackey, clearly David Walker did not help himself by referring to himself as a Dixiecrat. You are correct, Dixiecrats did represent an ugly faction of the Democratic party from the late 1940s to the 1990s. I do not believe Mr. Walker is a racist, but I do not know him. Why he would even use that term here in Connecticut is silly.
So many residents. So many perceptions. Fascinating. Let’s move on from the race thing, yawn, yawn, yawn, yawn yawn yawn, yawn yawn yawn. It is 2014. Let’s not keep it alive by paying it homage, shall we? Let’s just let it die the death it should have always died. Let us not be the problem we want to be rid of. Race baiting gives it life.
Steven Auerbach, I also do know David Walker and I have never said he was a racist but he made the decision to let the voters and the media know about his involvement with the “Dixiecrats.” Former US Senator Trent Lott made this statement about the hero of the “Dixiecrats.” “When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over the years, either.” Trent Lott was the Republican Leader of the Senate, one of the highest-ranking positions in American politics and he was forced to step down from his leadership position for his comment. The Trent Lott case illustrates two political mistakes. The fact Lott made these appalling comments in the first place, and the fact the Washington Press didn’t bother to report them until they were forced to by the Internet.
And I repeat: Let’s rise above this. Race-baiting gives it life. For the love of God–enough.
*** Since Walker’s arrival to Bpt around “2010” he’s hit the pavement running. His interest in city politics, taxes, crime and overall city government and education was noticed right away! Also his willingness to help anyone in city government who would listen was apparent right from the beginning. He appears to be sincere in wanting to help turn things around for the better in Bpt and seems to be much more qualified than some of the bimbos the city has now on its payroll. It’s time to check out the “individual man” himself rather than just “party bash” him for running as a Republican! *** DON’T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER! ***
“While I’m a nationally known expert for fiscal responsibility and government transformation on the federal level, during the past two years I’ve spent a significant amount of time taking a look at the state of Connecticut, the city of Bridgeport and other cities in this state,”
I am glad a self-coined “expert” is in our little ol’ city. Don’t forget us when you move up north now, y’all.
One thing that is amazing about Bridgeporters is Bridgeporters either like you or they don’t. Bpt’ers see right through the bs and they either trust you or not. I don’t think it’s even a conscious thing, the community will either embrace you or reject you like a bad liver. People weren’t feelin’ Vallas and they ain’t feelin’ Finch. They were aight with Ramos. And I ain’t sayin’ one did more or less, all I’m saying is B’porters either feel you or they don’t. With Walker, Bpt’ers are watching but are kind of in between. But he’ll need to bring it down a notch.
So Bridgeport has rejected white people but were okay with Cape Verdean Ramos?
That would reflect the makeup of the ethnic breakdown of our city, which proves my point we need a minority mayor who can reach the people of the city and they can trust.
People weren’t feelin’ Salcedo either, your point is kind of simplistic. I am not saying just because someone can relate to the people makes them good for the city. Some stuff Finch does may be good but people just aren’t feelin’ him so being liked doesn’t always mean you are good for the city, it just means you are popular. What walker needs to figure out is how to be liked and that is why I said he needs to bring it down a notch.
By affiliating with the Republicans he’s going to have a very difficult time winning the urban vote, especially running on a (albeit much needed) fiscal responsibility platform. That, coupled with whatever inept joker comes out of the Republican primary for governor, certainly puts him in a precarious position.
I’d entertain his ideas about how to address the wealth disparity, especially in Fairfield County. However, the Lt. Governor doesn’t have final say to set policies and I won’t vote for any of these Republican clowns coming into the race.
Plus, as a union man, I find some of the stances he has taken as anti-worker and fear he would attempt to implement tactics like those used in Wisconsin to weaken the rights to collective bargain for municipal workers.
Lastly, if “living” (owning property) in Bridgeport is going to be the context to connect with the inner cities for the vote, I would prefer he also shares his position and proposals on some of the social issues and inequalities that really matter to Bridgeport. I’d need to know he understands the needs of the city and its residents. Just my two cents.
Jan. 13, 2014 was the most important day in the political life of David Walker in running for elective office. Walker announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor.
Walker said he has the qualifications to run for governor, but believes he is entering this year’s election cycle too late to seek the top spot.
The Connecticut Post article states Walker described himself as a former “Dixiecrat,” a conservative, southern Democrat when he lived in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s. Why is Walker bragging about being a “Dixiecrat” in 2014 in Connecticut? David Walker is very careful in anything he talks about.
This is a portion of what I found about “Dixiecrat.” The States’ Rights Democratic Party opposed racial integration and wanted to retain Jim Crow laws and white supremacy in the face of possible federal intervention. Members were called Dixiecrats. (The term Dixiecrat is a portmanteau of Dixie, referring to the Southern United States, and Democrat.) Now this is what Walker is so proud to tell us and he’s bragging about being a “Dixiecrat.” Connecticut does not need anyone like David Walker running for any elective office in this state. Remember Walker voluntarily made the statement when he described himself as a former “Dixiecrat.”
Perhaps his interpretation of the term is different than your Googled version. I presume he meant he was a southern Democrat … not a racist, P.O.S., hillbilly bob backwoods, one-tooth-having, banjo-playing redneck! He has all his teeth! lmfao
Hallelujah! Different perceptions for different people. What a concept.
Brick, I don’t know you but please don’t insult me. Please look up “Dixiecrat” and then tell us all what you find. If Walker’s version, I presume he meant he was a southern Democrat … not a racist P.O.S. hillbilly bob backwoods, one-tooth-having, banjo-playing redneck! He has all his teeth! lmfao, why didn’t he say that? It might be funny to you but this is real serious.
Thanks to you Mr. Mackey, racism is alive and well on OIB.
MOVE ON for G-d’s sake. Enough.
hope I can sell my house, it is David Walker who proudly said he was “Dixiecrat” who believe in racism and he kept it alive and well on OIB by telling the entire state. You need to talk to David Walker and ask him about his comment.
Then he should be right up your ally, Ron. Wasn’t it you who wanted all-black teachers in all-black schools for all-black kids? Or was that some other Ron? The States’ Rights Democratic Party (usually called the Dixiecrats) was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948.
BOE SPY, that’s right The States’ Rights Democratic Party (usually called the Dixiecrats) was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948 after the Dixiecrats nominated Strom Thurmond and Mississippi governor Fielding Wright as their candidates for President and Vice-President. A few weeks later at their Oklahoma City headquarters, the party unanimously adopted the following platform:
1. We stand for the segregation of the races and the racial integrity of each race; the constitutional right to choose one’s associates; to accept private employment without governmental interference, and to earn one’s living in any lawful way. We oppose the elimination of segregation, the repeal of miscegenation statutes, and the control of private employment by Federal bureaucrats called for by the misnamed civil rights program. We favor home-rule, local self-government and a minimum interference with individual rights.
2. We oppose and condemn the action of the Democratic Convention in sponsoring a civil rights program calling for the elimination of segregation, social equality by Federal fiat, regulations of private employment practices, voting, and local law enforcement.
3. We affirm that the effective enforcement of such a program would be utterly destructive of the social, economic and political life of the Southern people, and of other localities in which there may be differences in race, creed or national origin in appreciable numbers.
Yes, The States’ Rights Democratic Party was gone but not their beliefs and the Dixiecrats. Perhaps you can tell us when did the Dixiecrats change? And why would David Walker make his statement about the Dixiecrats, what was the message in that?
It’s not racial, Ron. You are perceiving it that way. Thems are the facts.
This is good. I am glad we are tied up in discussing if DW is a racist and how he feels about gun control. We passed the gun control laws and two kids still got shot somewhere last night. It is good because these are the most pressing issues of our time. We should also bring in gay marriage and minimum wage. We spend pages talking about minimum wage. ~10% of the population is unemployed and 4.7% of the population makes minimum wage. Yet 80% of the population is talking about minimum wage. Hey, at least they are working. I could be worse off. Now, we want to weight down DW with nonsense issues that affect very few and will not make much difference to society as a whole. Meanwhile back at the farm, the state of CT is spending 115% of what it makes and our debt obligation will consume our entire state GNP for years to come. Taxes are rising, jobs are falling and no one wants to do anything about it. But don’t worry about that. Cut off your nose to spite your face. DW has ideas to deal with our budget and seems eager to tackle the problem. We do not have any better ideas or any ideas at all. We should find out how he feels about no-kill animal shelters. Then we can ‘no vote’ him for being a racist, gun-toting, anti-gay-rights, dog-killing, minimum-wage-paying SOB. He is probably just a pragmatic doomsayer anyway. After all, it is not like this is the housing bubble. It will just be the government going out of business.
BOE SPY, who called David Walker a racist because I said he was not a racist?
Ron Mackey, you also kept saying above that DW “said that he was Dixiecrat” when actually the quote used in the article was “former Dixiecrat.” You seem to have neglected to include the adjective “former” in your several entries. Did you miss reading “former?” Does its use as a qualifier mean anything to you in the context of today? By the way, which candidate among the many who may be in the gubernatorial running at this time is likely to have better financial know-how and professional credentials to tackle the problems we know are present? Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee, yes, that’s right, former. The Connecticut Post article states Walker described himself as a former “Dixiecrat,” a conservative, southern Democrat when he lived in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s. Why is Walker bragging about being a “Dixiecrat” in 2014 in Connecticut? David Walker is very careful in anything he talks about. JML, why did Walker feel it was so important to say he was a “FORMER Dixiecrat?” Are you saying you have no problem with him saying that?
I don’t care if DW is a Martian. The comment he won’t be able to carry the minority vote presumes the minorities have no economic sense. although the current political crop, local, state and federal of CT may justify that opinion. His task would be difficult at best being in the number-two spot. His opportunity will be very limited since most Govs consider the LG as show dressing.
Finally with the U6 at 14% in CT and the Republicans not willing to extend the emergency unemployment benefits, his party will not win Statewide.
Charlie–It is not that these people ‘have no economic sense.’ The problem is the difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and where people feel they stand on the income scale. People vote for who is going to do something ‘good’ for them despite the long-term effects of these choices. People who feel they are rich or middle class want lower taxes. This means less spending. This means cuts to programs. The people who use these programs are not that concerned with budgets, debt and taxes since these things have little or no impact on them. They are more concerned with keeping the money rolling in and how much.
Lately, the media and politicians have gone through a great deal of trouble to polarize the population into the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’ Even in the blog you see many people who live in BPT consider themselves ‘have nots’ irrespective of their income or personal wealth. Find out what percent you are here:
www .whatsmypercent.com
So they unwittingly vote to increase their own taxes. This makes them poorer and reinforces the feeling they need to continue to support the party they believe is going to help the ‘little guy.’ Even though THEY are not, or were not, the ‘little guy.’ They believe the government needs to increase taxes on the rich. Rich is defined as everyone who makes more than I do. This is not the definition of rich the government uses. Folks think taxes should be increased for ‘all those expensive houses in BPT’ not realizing an ‘expensive house’ is any house worth more than $175K.
*** Come now OIB bloggers, those who have been reading and blogging on OIB for some time now surely recognize the usual bloggers who either like or just tend to use the race “trump” card whenever they don’t like or agree with certain issues that might pertain to white or minority stories, etc., no? *** EBONY and IVORY ***
Ron Mackey–when are you going to stop turning every topic into a racist issue? It’s annoying as hell. You’ve worn it out; let it go.
Godiva2011, ask David Walker what he found so great in being a “Dixiecrat” before he got out and why he thought it was so important to tell us. Read American history.
Ron, can you allow for the possibility David Walker has evolved in the almost half-century since the 1960s? Most of us have.
Perhaps he wasn’t “bragging about being a “Dixiecrat” in 2014 in Connecticut.” Maybe he was just disclosing his previous political leanings before he was accused of concealing them.
Sheepthrills, Walker said 1960s and ’70s. You make a interesting point but Walker didn’t disavow anything, once again remember David Walker is very careful when he speaks, he is also a smart man and he didn’t make any mistake when he described himself as a former “Dixiecrat,” a conservative, southern Democrat when he lived in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s, he was proud and he was bragging.
I’ve met him a few times and he seems to be a decent well-meaning man. Perhaps, Ron, it would be worth your having a conversation with him to discuss your specific concerns or verify your suspicions. I understand your distrust, but it could be just a tempest in a teapot.
Sheepthrills, I have no doubt he seems to be a decent well-meaning man, I’ve never met him and I have no desire of having a conversation with him to discuss any specific concerns or to verify my suspicions but I thank you for your concern.
Ron Mackey says “he was proud and he was bragging.” That did not come from the article I read. That comes from Ron’s point of view, from his life experiences and from his ability to imagine and stereotype, perhaps.
And that is why he has avoided dialogue on this blog beyond the point where he makes his point and then ignores the questions that may remain. No problem. Ron does not want dialogue, it appears.
And in these days where weakly supported accusations or comments without basis can become instant facts for others, perhaps full disclosure of affiliations personally seemed the best course for Walker. I have not talked to him about that subject to this point. But “guilt by association” for affiliation as a youth with no further information is a reach for me in commentary. The subject that has consumed Walker’s life, government accountability and the financial practices and processes providing the same, are what we address. He has the ability. Bridgeport and Connecticut can use candidates from any party with those credentials. If Ron stays stuck in a time warp, his comments will be considered with that in mind. Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee, I was a firefighter in the Air Force from 1965 to 1969 stationed in North Carolina and I got a good education about Dixiecrats. When Martin Luther King got killed there were riots in the city there. All of this was in the middle of the civil rights movement and we got to see and feel the hate of the Dixiecrats because they made it known they were Dixiecrats because they were proud.
Damn … you’re old!
Brick, I was an 18-year-old teenager who volunteered to serve his country, now tell me what did you do with your young self?
Ron’s so old his birth certificate’s in roman numerals! hahaha
John Marshall Lee, how much hate have you faced in your life, how many groups, organization and state and city laws have you faced to deny you your rights and to people who look like you?
My older brothers were routinely beaten by Black Panthers when we lived in Detroit and spit on by hippies when they came back from ‘Nam. Does that count? Should I seek revenge or discredit someone today who was a hippie or a Black Panther back then? How should I feel today about a group that would have someone with an X in their name as a lead guy, a picture of Malcolm X on the wall, or use the flower power symbol? Would you call them racist groups?
BOE SPY, you said, “Should I seek revenge or discredit someone today who was a hippie or a Black Panther back then?” Hey, that’s up to you on how you act and how you should feel. Tell me, what city and state do the Black Panthers run or have any control, in fact what laws have the Black Panthers force on whites and deny their rights?
Bobby Rush is the U.S. Representative from Illinois who was a member of the Black Panther during the 1960s and ’70s. Rush stated the philosophy behind his membership in the Black Panthers saying, “Black people have been on the defensive for all these years. The trend now is not to wait to be attacked. We advocate offensive violence against the power structure.” In 1974 Rush left the Panthers, who were already in decline. “We started glorifying thuggery and drugs,” he told people. Rush, a deeply religious born-again Christian, went on to say “I don’t repudiate any of my involvement in the Panther party–it was part of my maturing.” Rush attended McCormick Seminary and received a master’s degree in theology.
Now tell me some of the good things the Dixiecrats have done.
Dave Walker is one of the nation’s leading fiscal responsibility and government transformation experts. He has over 40 years of professional and leadership experience in government, as well as the private and non-profit sectors, including serving almost 10 years as U.S. Comptroller General and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). He has successfully led and transformed organizations in all three sectors of the economy, including three federal government agencies and a global consulting service line. Dave has received Presidential appointments from three presidents of both major parties (i.e., Reagan, Bush (41) and Clinton), and was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate all three times. He has won numerous leadership, professional and public service awards both domestically and internationally. He is a problem solver who has proven appeal that crosses party lines and bridges ideological divides. As a result, he can help to bring people together to create a better future for the Constitution state and its citizens. You can read for yourself here:
www .walkerforct.com/bio.html
BOE SPY, and your point is? That doesn’t show he would good in elected politics. BOE SPY, why did he say he was a FORMER Dixiecrat? What point was he making, now that’s not hard?
Your guy was a former Black Panther when he did all his ‘good’ acts. You should also notice at no point does he say what he was doing was wrong or he is sorry. The only reason he quit the Panthers was the focus of the group changed from “Black people have been on the defensive for all these years. The trend now is not to wait to be attacked. We advocate offensive violence against the power structure” to “We started glorifying thuggery and drugs.” You could infer from this if the focus of the group never changed he would still be advocating offensive violence against the power structure.
As far as denying rights goes, we could not go outside, my dad had to leave his job and Detroit. Our lives were threatened. The funny thing is my dad was a civil rights worker for JFK. We were all aware of the civil rights workers who got murdered in Mississippi. The two groups were not that different. You could say different sides of the same coin. I am not sure how beating up a 10 and 14 YO was offensive violence against the power structure but I was not a Black Panther.
You asked me to tell you some of the good things Dixiecrats have done. DW has done many good things for the country that had a positive effect on all people, white and black alike. Since the Dixiecrats is a defunct political party I could only tell you about former Dixiecrats. Unless you wanted to know about good things they did in 1964. Bobby Rush did not do any of his ‘good acts’ until 1993. Before that he went AWOL from the army, referred to police as ‘pigs,’ went to prison for having a pistol, rifle, shotgun, pistol ammunition, training manuals on explosives, booby traps, an assortment of communist literature, and a small amount of marijuana. He did so many bad things the good he did pales in comparison. He did say ‘Barack Obama went to Harvard and became an educated fool.’
BOE SPY, the core belief of “Dixiecrats” is they hated black people and hated everything about civil rights. Now this is the organization David Walker said he is a FORMER member, what did Walker think was so good about being a member?
No Ron, the definition of Dixiecrat differs depending on where you look but nowhere does it say they hated black people. The Wikipedia (Wikipedia is renowned for being the most sketchy source of info) definition has the most racist slant while the Encyclopedia Britannica says some Dixiecrats simply ‘opposed federal regulations they considered to interfere with states’ rights.’ This would mean they did not necessarily oppose civil rights they just did not want the feds TELLING them how to do it. The feds tend to come up with ‘one size fits all’ approaches to problems that do not work in an efficient, affordable manner in every state. You couldn’t believe every member of every group subscribes to every tenet the group supports. Not every member of the Democratic party wholeheartedly supports gay marriage, gun control, abortion, wealth redistribution, etc. Most people latch onto one idea and are indifferent to or do not strongly oppose all the others.
Regardless, we would seem to be at an impasse. You are simple not going to vote for DW even though you probably would have voted for Bobby Rush. I would have a hard time seeing the difference if the only thing you looked at was past group affiliations. However, DW has a work history that shows his past effectiveness that can be indicative of future accomplishments that Bobby did not. Bobby also has an extensive criminal history (never mind crimes he was not caught for) and his educational background does not apply to public office.
I am sure DW will not miss your vote. One vote rarely makes a difference in an election. I believe if DW wins, that would be good. Our city, state and federal financial problems are very worrisome to me. The other guy may be just as good. I do not know because I do not know who the ‘other guy’ is.
BOE SPY, try as you may to put a good face on David Walker being a FORMER “Dixiecrat,” it doesn’t pass the smell test. Why would a person so smart and with his work history want to tell us about his association with the “Dixiecrats?” I only brought up U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush because he had to explain his reasons for being a member of the Black Panthers to voters each time he ran for office, in fact he defeated Obama in 2000 for the U.S. Rep. seat Rush had and that was Obama’s only defeat. Walker has told the voters NOTHING.
You said, “Encyclopedia Britannica says some Dixiecrats simply ‘opposed federal regulations they considered to interfere with states’ rights.’ This would mean they did not necessarily oppose civil rights they just did not want the feds TELLING them how to do it.” Well if you look a little deeper you will find Dixiecrats OPPOSE any and all laws that involved blacks that protected blacks rights as citizens of the United States that are in the the U.S. Constitution. You had southern governors standing in the doorway of schools blocking black children going to school because federal law protected blacks’ rights to attend public schools. Now I ask you, where are the words of Walker to condemn the actions of Dixiecrats? Tell me something Dixiecrats have done to help blacks.
Yeah, the governor in the school door was George Corley Wallace Jr. He served two nonconsecutive terms and two consecutive terms as a Democrat and four runs for U.S. president (three as a Democrat and one on the American Independent Party ticket). He was never a Dixiecrat. He is just an example of what the Democrats have done to help black people.
Since all the opposition to civil rights in the south came mostly from Democrats a little from Dixicrats and none from Republicans, I am surprised you do not show your disgust with how little Democrats have done for blacks by becoming a Republican. You can also ask yourself, if the Democrats are really doing so much to help blacks then why do the blacks seem to be doing so poorly? I.e. a disproportionate number (blacks are 13.6% of the population) of blacks are poor (27.4% of poor people are black), in prison (39.4% of people in prison are black), poorly educated (~7.1% of all high school graduates are black), own a home (~6.28% of all owner-occupied homes are owned by blacks). You would expect all the numbers to be 13.6%. (Note: the ~ symbol means I had to do some math to get that number so it may not be super accurate.)
Maybe it is all an elaborate ruse. Convince people you are going to help them, then engineer the programs (like welfare, 39.8% of the people on welfare are black) so the end result is detrimental. It will appear as if you are trying to help and just failing, miserable. Look at the city government. The more they help us the worse off we seem to be. It starts to appear we would be better off if they did nothing at all.
I wonder if blacks, in 1948 under the Dixicrats, were better off than they are today? I.e. wealthier, better educated, more likely to own their own home, employed, etc. I could not find any census data from 1948 Alabama to do this research.
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”–Martin Luther King Jr.
Ron, is it easier to hold onto your unquenchable anger than to pose your questions to the one person who could actually answer them? Your opinion might not necessarily be different, but it wouldn’t appear unreasonable on its face.
BOE SPY, Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Their enrollment was followed by the Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Orval Faubus, the Governor of Arkansas. Dixiecrat was a state of mind for southerners, they didn’t want anybody from the federal government telling them how they should treat their blacks.
Anders Walker. “The Ghost of Jim Crow: How Southern Moderates Used Brown v. Board of Education to Stall Civil Rights.”
Preserving Segregation and White-Washing Racism
The standard story of the battle to implement Brown v. Board of Education (1954) in the South is one of drama and courage, protest and violence. Played out on television screens across the nation and in the national media, the conventional account pits peaceful civil rights demonstrators against repressive southern police and reactionary, racist, white vigilantes. Southern governors and political leaders engage in massive resistance and take dramatic actions to block even token integration. These were “Dixiecrats.”
The term dixiecrat is different from the political party Dixiecrat. You could refer to anyone as a Dixiecrat or one single act a person may do as dixicratish. Orval Faubus was in fact a Democrat. Ran as a Democrat, endorsed by the Democrats, a member of the Democratic party.
It would seem the Democrats do racist things, fail to help anyone and when they get caught they say ‘all those people became Republicans.’
freeplanetickettonorthkorea.tumblr.com/dixiecrat-myth
BOE SPY, the principal reason for the formation of the Dixiecrat party in 1948 was the opposition of dissident Democrats to President Truman’s policy on Civil Rights. Truman supported Civil Rights and organized desegregation of the Armed Forces, they then became Republicans.