National Gay Republican Group Questions Karen Wedlin Stewart’s Experience
A fundraising email signed by Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon, raised the volume on claims that Karen Weldin Stewart is not qualified to be Delaware’s Insurance Comissioner by making a very specific claim about Stewart’s current employment.
In the email the gay Republican group highlights the recent WHYY polling which shows John Brady leading Karen Weldin Stewart 44% to 42% and goes on to inform recipients about other race details inclusing the disclosure that Karen Weldin Steward is currently working as a security guard at Lowes.
A few more details about this race:
1. John has been twice elected to a county wide office—Register of Deeds in Sussex County. He has a long record of public service and accomplishment
2. John’s opponent is a perennial candidate who upset the establishment Democrat favorite in the primary. Currently working as a security guard at Lowes, Karen Weldin Steward doesn’t have the kind of experience Delaware voters will be looking for in their insurance commissioner. Plus, her campaign has very little money.
3. Even though Delaware is a Blue State, voters there have a history living up to its motto of “liberty and independence” by electing Republicans to statewide office. Three of the six statewide officer holders are Republican.
John Brady can win this race, but he needs your help. We have a unique opportunity to make history.
According to its web site, Log Cabin Republicans is the nation’s only organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom, and equality for gay and lesbian Americans with state and local chapters nationwide, full-time staff in California and Washington, DC, a federal political action committee, and state political action committees.
The group endorsed John McCain for President and Sammons has recently endorsed Sarah Palin on behalf of gay Republicans, stating, “Alaska Governor Sarah Palin can help Sen. McCain win this election by appealing to independent and young voters. She’s a mainstream Republican who will unite the Party and serve John McCain well as Vice President. Gov. Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and lesbian voters.”
Tags: 2008 Election, Insurance Commissioner, Karen Weldin Stewart, Republicans
jason
do you have a link to that email? I’d love to read it.
oops, didn’t realize that was a quote from the email. never mind.
how is security guard at Lowes different from Joe the Plumber?
Joe the Plumber is at work in his area of expertise.
Said security guard is not. Gotta wonder.
Whether you agree with their political affiliations or not, I think they raise valid questions about Karen Welidn-Stewart’s true work experience. Brady has been writing Delaware insurance law in the legislature for years, and we have no way of knowing for certain what Karen has done. I would have reservations about voting Karen into the office of Insurance Commissioner when her experience in that particular field is a bit hazy.
Alas, it would be a pity if Delaware elected another useless tool, like they did Beau Biden, simply because of her party affiliation.
I am not sure how much I would trust this email, since they did not even get her name right.
You also have to remember that the Log Cabin republicans endorsed W in 2000 and 2004 because he promised them that he would welcome gays and lesbians into the GOP and government. Then he goes and pushes for a Federal marriage amendment to ban same-sex marriage. The LCRs are a bunch of fools. Like many of the gay GOPers in DC, they hide behind their conservatism (they have many “anonymous” donors), condemn “promiscuity” and then hit the bathhouses and cruise P Street Beach looking for sex.
They remind me of the kapos in the concentration camps during WWII. They would sell out their mother (much like the do the gay community) if it meant they could get ahead or make a buck.
I’m with UI here — I went over to the LCR website and there isn’t even a chapter in DE.
But while I was looking over the LCR website, I had to keep reminding myself that this was NOT a production of The Onion.
I am trying to decide whether Jason is just reporting this email, or whether Jason is approvingly reporting this email, or whether he is discrediting the LCR by quoting their opinions of Palin as mainstream.
But Jason’s history of disliking KWS leads me to believe he is honestly reporting this as news, reporting a partisan allegation in a Republican email as truth. I wonder whether he now believes Obama is a muslim educated in a Madrassah. For that allegation was in a Republican email too.
I denounce this post. It is a Republican smear and, without facts backing it up, I think Jason has lowered himself to those spreading lies about Obama in emails.
And as for John Brady being out and open about being gay, he’s only out when he’s making an appearance at Delaware Pride every September. Otherwise, he either deflects the question or dances around it. You will never see him declaring that he is gay (and he is) in any DE newspaper. I don’t think the folks in Bridgeville, Greenwood or Seaford would have voted for him if they knew.
Basically, I don’t trust anything that has LCR’s name attached to it.
DD, what’s wrong with innuendo to determine who one votes for? 😉
It’s the Republican way, Nemski. I am just surprised to see it here.
Here’s my problem with the LCR email. I received it as well and didn’t print it for several reasons. First, John Brady is not “out” in the general sense of the word. I won’t go any further into this, but LCR, in my opinion, betrayed John by printing that.
Second, LCR initiated a smear against KWS by mentioning her alleged employment. Remember, a smear can still be true. But a smear is taking an INCONSEQUENTIAL, niggling item from someone’s current or past history and attempting to use it in a way to paint him or her in a negative light. That’s what LCR has done to KWS. Could she be working at Lowe’s? Sure, but who the fuck cares?
So, LCR loses on both counts. They’ve treated both candidates disrespectfully and should go back to simply endorsing gay-bashing conservative Republicans. Or maybe they should get the hell out of the log cabin because it’s not 1830 anymore.
Never. NEVER. NEVER did I think I would agree Mike Matthews over Jason about what should or should not be posted. The world is ending. Cats are sleeping with dogs. Pigs are flying. The humanity!
Oh they knew. But like some of us, we don’t think sexuality is the issue–but competency is. And not grandstanding your sexual preference to newspapers, parades, and forums? I believe that’s privacy…and personal comfort of PDA, orientation discussions, and down right off-topic of the posts he’s held. The man is the most competent applicant for the job, and people here would squabble over “he’s not out enough”.
Everyone in their own time, their own way–it’s sexuality folks–a part of our physicality. Many people are uncomfortable discussing their bowel movements, sexual organs, and ear wax to others,(Matthews excluded), let alone their doctor, why would you denounce a guy who really doesn’t need a career or campaign hijacked by a facet of his life that he deems more private then some? We need a great insurance commissioner. Great being the operative, and mandate here–not , female, Hispanic, disabled,
right handed, green-eyed, Lutheran, native, O+,gay modifier, that so many feel the need to highlight. And if he’s any of those he’s already proven he serves. What am I going to do with you liberals? Jason–you can carpool w/ me. RSmitty–we have room right?
Like I implied, you fucksticks are likely to trash Brady solely because he’s a Republican. How predictable, and pathetic.
“First, John Brady is not “out” in the general sense of the word. I won’t go any further into this, but LCR, in my opinion, betrayed John by printing that.”
Wrong, Matthews, he just doesn’t wear his sexual orientation like a badge. Anyone who’s been paying attention would have known that Brady has been “out” for a long time. Just look at his record of donations to gay causes. It has been widely known, and accepted in law enforcement circles for years. Perhaps some of you hypocrites aren’t as open and accepting as you would have us believe. Spin it all you like, but you pussies come across like a confederacy of closeted bigots. Over the past few months, you have denigrated two very capable women, and now you’re hiding behind petty politics to not support one of the brightest and motivated men in Delaware politics because he’s gay. Or is it because he’s a Republican?
Total bullshit, and you know it.
What do you expect – they’re Log Cabin REPUBLICANS. I mean, how conflicted can you get?
Miscreant,
What the FUCK are you talking about? Take a fucking pill, sleep it off, and come back in the morning.
Ouch. DD’s #9 is a punch in the nuts. (So I guess we are not an echo chamber after all. Phew. That’s a relief. )
I was on the fence, but the claim is so outlandish that if it is a baseless smear I figured it would provide KWS with a big fat softball to slam over the fence. If it is true, I think people who say she is not qualified just got their feelings validated.
At last we are out of the realm of opinion. She either works at Lowes or doesn’t.
If I am wrong to have posted it so be it. I’ve been wrong before and will be wrong again.
Can’t handle the truth, Mike? You need to grow some hair, boy.
Who cares where she works? At least she has a job.
No, it’s just that you totally misrepresented everything in my post. Your powers are weakening, my friend! If I feel like it, I guess I’ll explain myself better a little later. But it’s not my fault you’re either intentionally or unintentionally obtuse.
“Your powers are weakening, my friend!”
I never laid claim to having any “powers”, but I do have a sense of humor.
Jason, I am sorry, but that is how this post felt to me. A kick in the nuts. But hey, let no one say we are an echo chamber. 😉
It’s all good.
Nut kicking, the new DL sport. 🙂
“Nut kicking, the new DL sport.”
Look, don’t kick Dominique.
Mike Matthews and MJ,
You should check the facts before making yourselves look like fools. Brady has been out of the closet for a long time.
Exhibit A: An article from the Delaware State News in 2000 (that’s 8 years ago, for those of you keeping score). It’s not ace reporter Drew Volturo, but it’s also not the NJ, which should count for something here.
****
Mr. Brady said he came to the realization he was gay during his mid-20s. Now 41, he strongly agrees that his personal lifestyle should not play a factor in “who is right for the job.”
He said he knew rumors were circulating about his lifestyle choice and that it might become an issue.
“I was the first person to file for the Register in Chancery position, and the rumor was that these other candidates found out that I was gay and were going to make sure I didn’t win,” he said.
****
The full article by Joe Carmean is available at http://www.newszap.com/articles/2000/08/23/news/export332.txt.
I found it using this great new computer program called “Google.” It’s a “search engine” that gathers information from the “World Wide Web.” Try it sometime, it’s neat! 😉
Jason – It would enhance your credibility if you could spell the candidates’ names right. It’s Weldin Stewart, not Wedlin Stewart (in the headline) or Weldin Steward (in your post). But don’t feel bad, it took Ron Williams a few tries to get it right, too.
Brady has been out for a long time.
From the Delaware State News in 2000 (that’s 8 years ago):
Mr. Brady said he came to the realization he was gay during his mid-20s. Now 41, he strongly agrees that his personal lifestyle should not play a factor in “who is right for the job.”
He said he knew rumors were circulating about his lifestyle choice and that it might become an issue.
“I was the first person to file for the Register in Chancery position, and the rumor was that these other candidates found out that I was gay and were going to make sure I didn’t win,” he said.
http://www.newszap.com/articles/2000/08/23/news/export332.txt
“And as for John Brady being out and open about being gay, he’s only out when he’s making an appearance at Delaware Pride every September. Otherwise, he either deflects the question or dances around it. You will never see him declaring that he is gay (and he is) in any DE newspaper. I don’t think the folks in Bridgeville, Greenwood or Seaford would have voted for him if they knew.
Basically, I don’t trust anything that has LCR’s name attached to it.”
When I met him at the Apple Scrapple Festival, he stated flat out that he was an openly gay candidate. Then again, he might have seen my Libertarian Party sticker on my shirt and figured it was OK to say so.
Until this thread, I never knew Brady was gay, and really I could care less. It makes no difference. He is still a no regulation Republican.
The only political aspect to his sexual orientation is that some of the right wing base may not be so supportive, given their history of … you know…thinking that homosexuality was somehow evil.
DelDem,
Obviously you haven’t met Brady, because you’re dead wrong in your misrepresentation of Brady on the regulation issue.
How is someone who has written laws that govern the operations of insurance companies in Delaware a “no-regulation Republican?” It’s been his business to regulate insurance companies for several years. Brady has made a point of the fact that he has refused to accept donations from insurance companies, even though the law allows it. It certainly doesn’t sound to me like he will be a “no-regulation” Insurance Commissioner.
Cats may well be fucking dogs, because I think jason was right to post this.
Granted completely that my perspective and party identification are far removed from DD, and I understand his feelings as well.
But an external effort (cassandra is correct; not only is there no LCR chapter in DE there has never been an attempt to organize one) in which the attempt is made to torpedo a candidate not because of her views, or because of any legitimate personal failings (like trying to get a state trooper fired, or something), but because she actually has a non-political, non-lawyer job and works for a living?
Give me a break here. I know nothing else about Brady or KWS (I admit I haven’t been following that race closely), but the fact that some out-of-state jerks attempted to diss her for–God help us–being an ordinary working citizen presumptive enough to run for office … that’s news.
She’s not simply running for office. She’s running for Insurance Commissioner, an office for which the informed voter should require proof of substantive experience (e.g., a resume) because it is a complex job that requires substantive experience. I agree with the above that whether or not she is presently working at Home Depot is irrelevant. It’s more relevant to know where she’s been rather than where she is right now.
Mike, if John is not”out” in the “general sense of the word,” then he’s closeted. And if he’s in the closet, why did he tell 3000 people at this year’s Delaware Pride that he was out and proud and wanted to be their Insurance Commissioner (I was standing 5 feet from him when he made this announcement). He grovels for gay dollars and votes and then denies he’s gay to the general public. That’s just typical LCR bullshit.
Jerry and Steve are right in that whether KWS is working for Lowes is not especially relevant. What seems to be the persistent issue here is that there continues (and through two election cycles, no less) persistent questions re: the details and the truth of KWS’ resume.
If the people who pay the most attention to these races still have all of these questions, there is something that needs to be addressed here, I think.
Back in 2000, Brady said he was gay in an interview with the Delaware State News. That’s hardly denying his sexuality in public. Learn to use Google, people.
(I’ve tried twice to post the link to the article, written by ex-DSNer Joe Carmean, but my comments have been blocked as spam. But it’s there.)
Jason: It’s Weldin Stewart, not Wedlin Stewart or Weldin Steward. But don’t worry, it took Ron Williams a while to get it right, too. You’re in good company. 😉
MJ,
He walks a fine line, and he is honest about who he is. Cut the guy some slack.
Unfortunately, the State News doesn’t get read much down here in LSD. We rely on our local papers (Cape Gazette, etc.) for a lot of our news.
Jerry, you’re either out or your not. You cannot have it both ways (although I remember a MD congressman from the Eastern Shore who tried to before he got arrested for soliciting an underaged male hooker back int he 80’s).
That’s correct, MJ. That Congressman you referenced was clearly not. It’s also a situation that has absolutely nothing to do with Brady or his character.
MJ: You wrote, regarding Brady: “He grovels for gay dollars and votes and then denies he’s gay to the general public.”
That’s clearly false. And maybe it’s a sign that you need to turn to other sources than the Cape Gazette for your news.
By the way, the State News has the overwhelming majority of its circulation in Kent and Sussex counties. To say that it’s not well-read in southern Delaware is rubbish.
Skip all the innuendo and side issues, John Brady is very qualified to hold this position.
On the letter – KWS has been running on an experience platform telling voters about all the positions she has handled, all the claims/accounts she has managed and about how she started and ran some sort of an international insurer’s union. If this is true, if she has such valuable insurance and government experience why is she making sure no one steals circular saw blades instead of working in insurance or government?
On how gay John Brady is – come on folks – Brady is queer as a 3 dollar bill and everyone in the republican party knows it. We don’t particularly care because he does not bring his private life into his politics. Conservatives and gays don’t melt at the sight of one another, sorry to disturb any stereotypes you may hold.
Gay or straight? Who cares but the right wing theocratic bigots that rule the repub party and the conservative religious establishment?
Choosing to be and remain a repub, however, is a reflection of very poor judgement.
I know this is an election year, but everyone is entitled to their own political philosophies. You have to respect a guy like John Brady who has fought an uphill battle to come as far as he has. More importantly, you have to respect how much he has done to help people in Sussex (Democrat and Republican alike) via some generous pro-bono work. If John was running on character alone, he would win hands down.
Fortunately, he also has real time experience working in the legislature drafting Insurance law for Delaware, which makes him qualified to be Insurance Commissioner. KWS…unfortunately we just don’t know because she won’t post her resume on her campaign website.
Those of you who interviewed Karen Weldin Stewart… did you ask what she is doing now? Didn’t you already cover her experience?
Have you already asked John for his interview? Based on this thread it would be the hottest post in a long time. Better for all that he gets on here first, before going before the News Journal…..Can any of you pull it off tomorrow?
And before everyone gets bent too far out of shape, the only thing that matters:
is who will push insurance companies to give us consumers the better deal…the cheapest rates, the most comprehensive coverage, and protect us from being dropped….
After that, nothing else really matters.
Didn’t know Brady was gay. And I’m doubly surprised the LCR’s haven’t even tried to set up shop in DE – you’d think New Castle County, with all our socially-progressive banking jobs and polite politics, would be an ideal spot for them.
Anyway, I generally assume anyone who endorses Sarah Palin is consciously in favor of her compulsive lying. And that means I won’t believe a word they say until someone else proves it – if they told me the sky was blue, I’d look up to make sure. Destroy the party of lies first, and if that leads to the success of any lesser evils, flush them out later.
“Who cares but the right wing theocratic bigots that rule the repub party and the conservative religious establishment?”
IDK….this website seems to have given it a fair bit of speculation….
“Destroy the party of lies first, and if that leads to the success of any lesser evils, flush them out later.”
We need to establish one party rule and then we can deal with the LESSER evils?
nospam, if Brady doesn’t grovel for gay dollars, then why did he ask for LCR and the Victory Fund to hold a fundraiser for him this past summer down here in Rehoboth Beach? I wa invited to it (I didn’t go as I’m a member of Stonewall Democrats). Brady is trying to have it both ways, which disqualifies him in my view.
Actually, I think that all three people running for Insurance Commissioner aren’t qualified to hold the job.
Writing Delaware insurance law in the legislature for several years is definitely a qualifier for the position of Insurance Commissioner. It’s hard to take that one away.
No MJ–2 aren’t qualified, the 3rd is a Republican.
BREAKING NEWS:
Delaware Talk Radio’s Maria Evans called Weldin-Stewart to invite her on the show. During the course of the conversation she asked her if she worked at Lowes. After dancing around the issue for a while, Stewart said she was on leave from her government job, and that she did not work at Lowes.
Evans speculated that it may have been a case of mistaken identity because the picture she uses on her web site is probably ten years old.
Mystery solved.
Back to the original post, LCR states: 3. Even though Delaware is a Blue State, voters there have a history living up to its motto of “liberty and independence” by electing Republicans to statewide office. Three of the six statewide officer holders are Republican.
There are six offices, Gov, Lt. Gov, Insurance Commissioner, Atty General, Treasurer, and Auditor of Accounts. By my count, that comes to only one of the six statewide officer holders being Republican.
Why do LCRs have such trouble counting to one?
Maria and Randy are leaning towards the Lowes lead may not be accurate, but they haven’t totally decreed it inaccurate. Apparently, KWS didn’t come right out and say she didn’t work there (from what I heard). They are talking about how to confirm this is true or not, since Lowes has no obligation to give information.
How about some adventurous soul go back and ask LCR how they found the info.
“Maria and Randy are leaning towards the Lowes lead may not be accurate, but they haven’t totally decreed it inaccurate.”
That could stem from Weldin-Stewart’s reluctance to answer the question for approximately 5 minutes , and at first telling Evans to “call Lowe’s”, which would be fruitless because they wouldn’t likely release any personnel information. For her sake, I hope she isn’t lying.
Hey gang–here’s an idea–there aren’t that many Lowe’s in Delaware–why don’t we fan out and ask for Karen in Security? Remember, we see Joe at Home Depot–it can’t be that hard.
Good idea, Joanne.
Hey everyone, go to a Lowes and steal stuff. Be really obvious so that you will be sure to get caught. Then introduce yourself to all of the security people. Be sure to report back.
Bail requests should be directed to Joanne Christian…
If you steal stuff and get caught and then say “I work for Harris McDowell” and they let you off, you’re at the right store!
LOL, Dis.
Good old fictions hold true here. feh.
GOP is desparate. Believe it.
I denounce this post. It is a Republican smear and, without facts backing it up, I think Jason has lowered himself to those spreading lies about Obama in emails.
*
awesome. a voice of reason.
I denounced his denouncing. So there.
You’ll all be happy to know that John Brady apparently reads this blog (or someone told him about this thread). He just called me and left his cell phone number for me. Hmmm……. Think I may have touched a nerve?
“Hey gang–here’s an idea–there aren’t that many Lowe’s in Delaware–why don’t we fan out and ask for Karen in Security? Remember, we see Joe at Home Depot–it can’t be that hard.”
She may be operating under an alias. 😀
I am the campaign manager for John Brady. I feel it is important to clarify a few points.
John Brady never asked Log Cabin Republican to send an email to spead that Karen Weldin-Stewart works at Lowes. The email was to discuss the campaign, not to attack anyone. That isn’t the kind of person John is.
The Log Cabin Republicans wrote that email in support of one of their members, the content of the message was not approved by John Brady.
The Delaware Chapter on LCR is in formation, but has not reached the level of members to qualify as a full chapter.
Additionally, John Brady has never denied his sexual orientation and it has been public knowledge for many years. The reason why it is not specifically mentioned during his campaigning is that his sexual orientation does not play a role in his running for office. He would not have done anything different as Register in Chancery or Recorder of Deeds, no matter what sexual orientation he has. As Insurance Commisioner, John Brady will work for ALL Delawareans.
If you have any questions about John Brady, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email to suzanne@bigguyforde.com. I am sure John Brady will be more then happy to answer any questions you all may have. I know that he feels that this would be the right thing to do, in order to clarify any misconceptions there may be about him.
Great clarification. Brady is a stand up guy, and always was. Now, if we could only get that kind of candor, or anything at all, from the Weldin-Stewart campaign.
Suzanne makes the same point I was making: John Brady does not like to bring unnecessary attention to issues that DO NOT MATTER in this race. The LCR did just that by issuing this email AND by initiating an unnecessary smear against KWS.
So Suzanne, you’re now a republican?
MJ, please understand the issue is not Republican vs. Democrat or gay vs. straight; its that KWS has no experience and her vaguely worded affirmations of a resume are false (i.e., ‘virtual’ CEO of 23 multi-million dollar insurance companies over a 9 year period).
If you just want to show brand loyalty, go hang out at one of the GOP flag-waiving patriotic sites.
MJ – can you get past the “R” label, or do stereotypes get you all hung up and unable to get to know the person?
Disbelief – I’m a registered Democrat and have been since I first registered to vote in 1976.
Smitty – I’ve met Brady, heard him speak and do not support him nor like his policies or personality. As I said earlier, this is a rare time where all 3 candidates are unqualified to serve if elected.
this is a rare time where all 3 candidates are unqualified to serve if elected.
And an expansion of this is probably worth a blog post. Just sayin’.
I can’t think of a candidate more qualified than Brady out of the field of all candidates in the last 5 Insurance Commissioner elections. Even Denn didn’t have the background Brady has, and Denn hit a freakin’ grand-slam for Delaware insurance consumers. Somehow, I suspect MJ has another issue bugging him/her.
MJ – Crap. I crossed-up what I am picking up on from another commenter (“anonone”) with what you are doing here with Brady. My mistake. Apologies!
On Brady, though, what you are saying seems far more personal than it does professional critique. What’s the deal? What really makes you think he is not qualified for what that office would require?
It would be interesting to hear MJ expand on that thought, nonetheless. There are a fair number of us who are really having a hard time getting to any clarity about these candidates in this race.
I’ll post something later this evening on my views on the IC race.
MJ,
You’re full of shit. I’m a Democrat and Brady is VERY CLEARLY qualified to hold this position.
Which is why I (and I am guessing Dis) asked for shining more light on MJ’s opinion of John, to which it appears MJ is willing to do. To me (and I guess Dis), this all sounds far more personal than professional.
Like a big ‘ole gay bitchfest, Smitty!
Mike. Ahh, this takes me back to a comment thread about ice cream (and ice cream making).
Where’s Benjamin when you need him?
😛
“Ole gay bitchfest?” Ruby slippers at 30 paces. Then a vogue-off. 🙂
MJ – does someone have to be a republican to support one? personally, I don’t believe that voting straight party line is the right way to go in a state like Delaware. As a democrat I would like to vote for democrats whenever I can, but after hearing KWS at the JCC debate and a few other debates, there is NO WAY I can support her.
I think it is very narrow minded to ask Suzanne if she is a republican now, just because she works for and supports John Brady. he is the right guy for the job, he has the experience and know-how and the bi-partisan support needed to get things done.
My support for one candidate does not remove my support for a candidate from another party in another race. After all, the gubernatorial race is different from the LT Gov and the IC. A vote for Markell and Denn does not exclude a vote for Brady nor does it mean someone has to change parties. If you have been to John’s website lately, You will know that I support him fully even though I am a democrat and even say so in one of his radio commercials. That said, Markell still gets my vote for Governor.