Two candidates for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Lamar Alexander spoke at a forum Saturday in Greeneville. One congressional candidate, Rob Russell, seated at far left, also spoke. The event was hosted by the Northeast Democratic Association (NEDA), and the Greene County Democratic Party.
The candidates participated in a two-hour question and answer session led by Marion Light, chairman of the NEDA. Go read.
The Greeneville Sun also reports:
At the end of the meeting, one man seated on the second row asked for time. The man turned out to be Leonard “Lenny” Ladner, a Democratic candidate who is also on the ballot for the Senate nomination.
Light declined to give Ladner time, not even 10 seconds, so Ladner began speaking anyway, in a loud, apparently agitated voice.
Ladner angrily asked Light why he, a candidate who spent $500 to travel to Greeneville, was not allowed to speak.
He then asked the candidates, “Why is it all your solutions” involve large amounts of spending and the growth of government?
He then asked Light “Why not let a working-class person speak?” Ladner is a long-haul truck driver.
Light answered, “I don’t want to,” without elaborating, causing Ladner to turn to the audience and say, “You all heard that.”
Ladner then walked out of the meeting. Several in the audience said Ladner later apolgized to candidate Tuke in the parking lot.After the meeting, Light told The Greeneville Sun that he decided not to include Ladner because polls showed him having little chance. Light also said others who had heard Ladner speak advised him against it.
Uh, this is the 1st District. Couldn’t it be said that all Democratic candidates have little chance?
(Sun Photo by Jim Feltman)
Thank you for getting the word out on how I was treated last Saturday in Greeneville, TN.
There is absolutely no difference between Tuke, Padgett and Eaton. All of them want to increase the size, cost, extend the reach and power of the government.
I will vote NO on any bill, no matter how cleverly it is disguised that will increase the size, cost, extend the reach or power of the government.
Thank you .
Lenny Ladner
Mr. Ladner,
I’m sorry you were excluded, and I don’t approve. However, I can’t take any credit for telling the story. I wasn’t at the meeting. I simply picked up Tom Yancey’s report in the Sun after the fact.
Yancey is the fellow you ought to thank.
A.
Both parties act the same way in their proceedings. If you are not one of the “anointed” insiders and “approved” to be a candidate then you don’t get the time of day. This attitude and modus operandi was borne out in spades with the treatment of Ron Paul. The name of the game is to control (own) ALL contenders. That’s the reason there are so many lies told by election commissions to discourage ordinary Americans from running for office. The “POWER BROKERS”, a bunch of faceless thugs run all the elections; that’s why a real American with sound ideas of reducing the size and cost of government never get anywhere. The contests are rigged. hdh