Party Matters

Liz and I spent last Saturday representing the Pamlico County Democratic Party at the 2012 State Convention of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

My fellow Oklahoman, Will Rogers, once observed, "I am not a member of an organized political party - I'm a Democrat." Nothing I heard or saw on Saturday contradicted Will's observation. Thank goodness. No marching in lock step.

But we always enjoy going to state party conventions. It is such a pleasure to meet other democrats from elsewhere in the state, share observations and concerns, and to learn once again that we are not alone in our concerns.

Then, of course, there are the speeches. The best speech we heard was by Ohio State Senator Nina Turner. Nina Turner, in case you missed it, is the Ohio legislator who introduced a bill to protect men's sexual health, modeled on legislation purporting to protect the sexual health of women. The bill, before men could receive a prescription for Viagra, would require that physicians take specific actions before prescribing such drugs, including giving a cardiac stress test and making a referral to a sex therapist for confirmation that “the patient’s symptoms are not solely attributable to one or more psychological conditions.”

In her speech Saturday, Senator Turner observed that some elected officials "have lost their ever-lovin' minds." Had she grown up in our part of the country, she might have added: "bless their hearts."

Were there partisan activities going on?

Is the Pope Catholic?

Good time had by all.