Friday, September 21, 2007

Democrats Nudging Carson With Myers

Frugal Hoosiers is floating the rumor that former Indiana state health commissioner Dr. Woodrow A. Myers is considering a 2008 Democratic primary challenge to the ailing incumbent, U.S. Rep. Julia Carson. The blog writes:

After the 2006 election many speculated that Congresswoman Julia Carson would announce her retirement prompting a free for all in the 7th district, which is chock full of people who think they're headed for Congress. Instead of retiring, the Congresswoman announced she plans to run for another term. Rumor has it at least one person is tired of waiting for her to step aside.

Dr. Woodrow Myers is apparently gearing up for an announcement to run against Julia Carson in the democratic primary. Myers was state health commissioner under Governor Frank O'Bannon and is currently the Chief Medical Officer for Wellpoint. He received his medical degree from Harvard and an MBA from Stanford so his IQ is presumably in the triple digits, a significant step up for the 7th district. No word on whether or not he looks to the stars to guide his medical decision making.

Myers has had a very successful career in the private sector and has recently moved back to Indianapolis according to one Democratic source. It appears a potential Myers candidacy is quietly being pushed by some high level Democrats to give Carson a nudge to retire rather than seek another term in office. It is also meant to send a message to any potential candidates that the party intends to ensure that Indiana's 7th District will continue to be represented by an African-American in the event Carson retires.

Dr. Myers once caused an uproar in New York when he was appointed that city's health commissioner by former New York Mayor David Dinkins in 1990. His appointment drew criticism from Dinkins' gay supporters. The New York Times reported at the time, "The controversy centered on Dr. Myers's support, as the Indiana Health Commissioner, for the confidential recording of the names of people infected with the AIDS virus, to trace their sex partners, and his backing of a quarantine for AIDS carriers who knowingly spread the virus." Dinkin was later defeated by Republican Rudy Guiliani, who enjoyed strong support within New York's gay community throughout his tenure as mayor there.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where in the world do you get this stuff, Gary?

Woody Myers is a complete joke. Moreso than Julia, even. He is not a registered voter here.

You hit paydirt on one portion of this post: there is a movement, among some very powerful Democrats in DC, to push Julia to retire. The same thing was done tow years ago, on a lesser scale, and it almost worked.

She'll run again, and if she lives long enough, she'll win.

But this will be the last time.

And no, Andre, it won't be you.

Anonymous said...

Congressmen and women are always elected; NEVER APPOINTED. If Julia retires midterm there will be a special election. This would be worth the price of admission. The Democrats will have an all out shoot out and the Repubs. would actually have a chance in a special election if the Dems. are divided.

Anonymous said...

Julia will announce shortly after the November election that she is not running again. Andre will not be her replacement. I love Julia but it is time to retire. I know who I am supporting for her replacement but it would be unseemly to say until she has been given the dignity that she deserves and announces her retirement.

Anonymous said...

Julia will announce shortly after the November election that she is not running again. Andre will not be her replacement. I love Julia but it is time to retire. I know who I am supporting for her replacement but it would be unseemly to say until she has been given the dignity that she deserves and announces her retirement.

Wilson, about time you admitthat Julia is an old nag that deserves to be put out to pasture and live her days grazing on fresh turf.
She said it herself, "it ain't her first rodeo"

Anonymous said...

You have got to be kiding me! wilson allen 46201 is commenting as Anonymous 9:23. HYPOCRITE!

Wilson46201 said...

As Gary Welsh can attest from I.P. records, I have posted nothing here.

Expecting to find informed comment about the inner workings of the Democratic Party on Frugal Hoosiers or AdvanceIndiana is like expecting to find intelligent discussions of the operas of Jules Massenet on those two blogs...

Gary R. Welsh said...

No, that is not Wilson posting anonymously. But you will find where he had posted anonymously elsewhere on this blog.

Wilson46201 said...

Never, Gary, never!

Well, once ... a year ago, I posted anonymously and sarcastically pointing out how easy any fool can post whatever slime and slander without having to take responsibility. AdvanceIndiana quickly "outted" me to show my perfidy although I had made it pointedly obvious who was commenting. Strangely, Gary zealously protects the identities of the most scurrilous fabricators and GOP extremists...