Carson Takes Swipe At Democratic Opponents

At a campaign event intended to rally supporters for his campaign, Democratic candidate Andre Carson took a broad swipe at both his Republican and Democratic opponents. A video tape of today's event, which you can view by clicking here, shows Carson responding to criticism about his slating at a recent caucus of Democratic committeepersons of the 7th congressional district to run in the special election to replace his grandmother, the late Rep. Julia Carson (D). A number of Democrats have complained that the caucus vote was rigged by party leaders to ensure Carson's election, a point another elected Democratic officeholder made to me again just last night. Carson said his Democratic and Republican opponents criticized his supporters for saying Democratic precinct committeepersons "aren't smart enough", are "blind followers" who "vote without thinking about who we're voting for," "that we're ignorant," "that we're not Ivy League", "that we're not where they are, but they expect us to support them." Some of these comments appear directly aimed at State Rep. David Orentlicher (D-Indianapolis), who is both a lawyer and a doctor, and the Democrats who support him. Orentlicher is a graduate of Harvard Medical School.

Carson went on to talk about leadership. He said the best model for leadership is the "servant" model of leadership. "We need leaders who aren't bought and paid for," he declared. "We need leaders who will make sure we have universal health care," he declared. "We need the kind of accessible leadership that we've seen from Congressman Jacobs and Congressman (sic) Carson," he continued. "We need the kind of leadership that will be bold in helping get our troops back to this country." "We spend billions every week to help build their roads and their schools? What about our roads and schools?" At a point in his speech when he began speaking about how his campaign needed money and a recent fundraiser in D.C. for his benefit, the video recording appears to have been edited to cut out comments Carson made before concluding his speech.

Carson was introduced at the event by former Rep. Andy Jacobs (D-Indianapolis), who was the firt major Democrat to endorse Carson's bid, just like he did when his grandmother, Julia, sought the 7th District seat upon Jacobs retirement from Congress. In introducing the younger Carson, Jacobs noted the similarities between him and Carson. "I was 33 when I was first elected to Congress, he's 33." "I had two post-secondary degrees, he has two post-secondary degrees." "I was a former police officer, he is a former police officer." "But the biggest thing we have in common is that I was an Andy, and he's an Andre." Jacobs omitted the obvious thing the two have in common. Jacobs rode into office based on the connections of his well-known political father, Andy Jacobs, Sr., former Marion County Prosecutor. Carson, of course, is attempting to ride into office on the connections of his late grandmother, U.S. Rep. Julia Carson.

UPDATE: The Carson supporter who posted the YouTube clip of Carson's speech before party faithful, Wilson Allen, has since pulled the clip. Perhaps the Carson campaign didn't like the image this speech portrayed of their candidate.