The Democratic National Convention is currently holding their three-day Summer Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Georgia is one of the DNC’s target states during this year’s midterm elections. The DNC Committeewoman from Alabama, Janet May, is in attendance. May is also the host of Alabama Issues, a liberal talk radio show.
During a full committee discussion on the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, May spoke up and stated that the racial unrest caused by the shooting of Michael Brown could be a rallying cry for Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts.
After pointing out to the committee that Ferguson’s population is over 60% African-American, May asked if the committee could “see the picture”. She then stated, “If we can’t take that scenario and roll it into a message for our party, we just need to pack it up and go home. Because we have been grasping for a message.”
May believes this is especially true for a DNC target state like Georgia.
ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead made the following remarks in response to May’s statements:
“I am appalled to hear the comments made by Janet May. Only the Democrats would use a tragedy like what is going on in Ferguson to further their success. If this is the woman Democrats in Alabama chose to represent them, it is no wonder the Alabama Democratic Party is falling apart.
“Janet May’s plan may be the real reason Birmingham Mayor William Bell has announced that he wants to head to Ferguson. He said he was asked to visit the town in an effort to bring understanding to the issue. Citizens should voice their opposition to Bell’s plans to go to Missouri to help them solve their problems. There is no shortage of problems right here in Birmingham for him to solve. Mayor Bell should not neglect his own city to further the DNC’s political plan in Missouri.
“Janet May is an embarrassment to the State of Alabama and should be an embarrassment to the Democratic Party. She should immediately apologize for her remarks. Her total disregard for the gravity of the situation mirrors that of President Obama, who is too concerned with his golf game to handle this national crisis.
“May’s comment is reminiscent of the recent visit to Alabama by Al Sharpton, who said he was coming to Alabama to fight voter suppression. Sharpton knows there is no voter suppression in Alabama. He is just trying to divide the races in hopes that he can drive up the Democrat turnout in November. Just part of the overall Democrat strategy as evidenced by actions by May, Bell and Sharpton.
“The American people have been gripped by reports from Ferguson for weeks. We should all be praying for peace, not immediately launching new political strategies. The community of Ferguson deserves our respect.”