Michelle V. Agins/the New York Times
Leah Daughtry: Leah Daughtry wears many hats – or is it robes? The DNC Chief of Staff also leads services at Brooklyn's Pentecostal House of the Lord Church, which struggles "against all forms of oppression and exploitation which often is manifested as racism, sexism and classism."
The Church has always been central to Dartmouth educated Daughtry's life, especially because her father presides over the congregation. Dartmouth educated Daughtry feels the spirit so much, she says, that she's been known to speak in tongues. She also positions herself closer to the Evangelicals than the Baptists: "As a Pentecostal African-American, I have more in common theologically with white evangelicals than with black Baptists".
Daughtry's testimony will prove crucial to Hitchcock's case, for she allegedly told him the decision to fire him came in the days following Yandura's letter. Washington Blade's Lou wrote on May 4, 2006:
[Hitchcock] said DNC officials Tom McMahon and Leah Daughtry said at the time they informed him of his dismissal on May 2 that the decision to let him go "was not in the works for several weeks" but had been made within the past few days.Hitchcock said the firing came after McMahon and Daughtry asked him to resign and he refused.
In addition to her role as Chief of Staff and minister, Daughtry also serves at the CEO for this summer's national convention. Chairman Howard Dean celebrated her appointment thus:
We are thrilled to have [Daughtry] leading our 2008 Democratic Convention team. Her strong guidance, skilled leadership and counsel have been invaluable to me during my tenure as DNC Chair and to the Democratic Party as a whole.
Not from what Donald Hitchcock says…
Damien LaVera: DNC Spokesperson Damien LaVera has a long history with Howard Dean: he donated $550 to the politician's failed presidential campaign.
Jewel Hazel: DNC's human resources director Jewel Hazel will help shed light on the Committee's hiring – and firing – practices. Side note: "Jewel Hazel" is an awesome name.
LaToia Jones: Chicago native LaToia Jones currently heads up the College Democrats of America. Jones became increasingly political active during her years at Georgia State University, where she studied political science and African American Studies. The young activist travels around the United States spreading the party's 50-state strategy and registering college kids to vote. When she's not shuttling back and forth, Jones also advocates for AIDS, social security and affirmative action.We're not sure what role Jones plays in the discrimination suit, but our sources say she plays a "specific" role, whatever that means.
Parag Mehta: Openly gay Parag Mehta works as director of training for the DNC. The Texas native cut his teeth working for the late Governor Ann Richards. Mehta's also a Virgo and has twelve DNC Party Builder friends.
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Is Dean going to have sex with those cows?
Cuz, if he ain't me and my pal Mike Huckabee might want to give 'em a good spit fuck.
It is sad that people like Lucas can do whatever they want to other people and be unprofessional and underhanded while doing it with no consequences.
Nice story … but it all just seems politics as usual to me. This is the way the Big Boys (and Girls) play. I'm missing the deeper significance of the story.
The "significance of the story" is that the DNC is running away from the gay marriage issue and should be held accountable for it by this key constituency.
A written expression of this sentiment, by the love interest of a party staffer, led to the staffer's dismissal.
"Nice story", indeed…
It doesn't seem clear that Hitchcock was fired because of the letter. I don't think that it's any mystery that lots of gay people are intent on gay marriage even to the exclusion of other political issues. Not all people believe that gay "marriage" as such is the most intelligent solution to the issues relevant to partnership or family. Conservatives like Sullivan have done a great job of convincing people that gays should be best off in bougeoise heteronormative guise.That outside of that issue nothing matters as far a gay rights. WE queers need to wise up and realise that we have been misslead into believing that THAT is necessarily a substantive issue, and that we need to develope a much more responsible and rich gay platfom. I seriously doubt that a letter from Hitchcocks partner , buy itself would have any affect on a firing decision. That seems silly.
Two thoughts here…well, maybe 3…1) Much Ado About Nothing; 2) The Gay Press/Blogs have done the best job at "going green" – there isn't anything they won't recycle – because day, after day, the same page from a long ago canceled soap-opera keeps coming back…and 3) several of my fellow bloggers need a serious, medically supervised reality check – who told them that their politicall party affilation would make all their dreams come true. Those people need to call "Dr. Phil" and not "Dr. Dean"
Sorry – I had a 4th thought about this article. When did "Bitch Boy" from the Blade get the promotion to start writing the "heavy" stuff? While he may have moved on – he still entertains us with that dry, comic wit!
Patty – I guess I'm seeing a lot of in-fighting here, but I'm not convinced that it's really over issues of conscience. It's striking me as personality conflicts that people are wrapping in the cloak of bigger issues.
I don't know any of these people, and I live close to 5000 miles from DC. I obviously don't know the inside story … but based on political groups I've been involved with in the past this seems like the same old story that's repeated ad nauseam in every organization.
What does "AMP" stand for?
About Claire,
Yes, she has OMP (i.e. family money) but is the world better or worse for Claire ?? Probably better, like cats and Cher..you love them or hate them. At the end of the day we have more money. Let's get along. I believe that she is like many others by not having the savey and advice about complex state tax issues. She is not a tax scammer. She will need to cough up to our detriment. Leave her alone.