September 23rd Town Hall Controversy

On Septembr 23rd, a GOP Town Hall was held. It was put together by Ward 22 volunteers. The purpose of which was to get all the GOP Gubernatorial candidates together to answer a series of questions, direct answers to direct questions. The questions were based on what would they do if they were elected governor and they covered a wide range of subjects: economy, crime, and education to name a few.

To effect that purpose, candidates were asked to sign an agreement that they would stick to the format and NOT attack other candidates or directly engage in back and forth with those candidates. The reason for this was two fold: time constraints at the venue and to allow all the candidates to give direct answers to questions within the allotted time.

Six of the candidates agreed and they signed a pledge to abide by the rules. One candidate declined, Karen Bedonie. (This is verifiable on her Facebook pages and those of her campaign manager, Crystal Meiwes.) 

There were multiple requests for Ms Bedonie's attendance. All were refused. It was stated by Ms Meiwes that there were prior engagements and her calendar could not be cleared. Okay... that's fine. However, what is not fine is that Ms Meiwes implied that  multiple requests were a problem. And, she also implied that since she rejected the request to attend there was some underhanded skulduggery happening with posts by Ms Bedonie's supporters, such as posts being moderated, removed & more. I get the distinct impression she is implying that the posting problem is due to racism against Ms Bedonie because she is Navajo. 

As much as I like and admire Karen Bedonie, as much as I support her, I have to make a stand against these remarks, these insinuations. They are wrong and should never have been made. They are beneath the character of Ms Bedonie and, as such, should be against the character of those who represent her.

I personally know the moderators of the New Mexico Rising group and there isn't a racist or bigoted one among them. Ms Meiwes insinuations are unworthy of her and of Ms Bedonie. Because of these insinuations, I personally believe that Ms Bedonie needs a better campaign manager, one more worthy of her. Ms Meiwes is not doing Ms Bedonie any favors, especially with crap like this. The Karen Bedonie I know, respect, and love is an honest, hardworking woman with a deep and abiding faith in God. Her honesty and passion for people and her family are what draw her supporters, not her race, not the fact that she's a Navajo woman. I find these insinuations beyond disgusting. 

The 2nd part of the controversy was Ms Bedonie's unequivocal refusal to sign the candidates' pledge. 

I have no idea to which "political games" she is referring, but I can assure you that there were no "political games" being played by a group of volunteers who wanted people to hear and see all the candidates together, in one spot, at one time. To me, this sounds like more of Ms Meiwes putting some kind of venom in Ms Bedonie's ear. The volunteers were acting right. I do not understand Ms Bedonie's refusal. My Representative is working for we the people in the East Mountains. I'm not sure I can say that about others. As far as I am concerned, this attack on the volunteers and on my Representative, Stefani Lord, are unwarranted. 

Before the event, when the flyer was first published on Facebook, I asked Rep Lord and the Ward 22 Chair, Gary Person, why Ms Bedonie wasn't included. They told me that she declined due to prior commitments. Knowing them, I accepted that at face value. So, imagine my surprise when I attended the event on the 23rd and Ms Bedonie walked into the room, asking to participate. The moderator and host of the event, NM State Rep Lord, asked security to remove her for several reasons, not the least of which was a vote taken by the Ward 22 volunteers to remove disruptive people. Ms Bedonie's presence there was seen to be for disruptive purposes. That being said, when people argued for her to be allowed to speak, she was given a chair and allowed to participate. When asked if she signed the candidate's pledge, which she had not, she was still allowed to participate with the knowledge that the microphone would be turned off if she violated the pledge and/or ran over the allotted time. The mike was turned off on her, 1 time, due to going longer than the allotted time. There was a time keeper. 

As far as I am concerned, this entire fiasco could have been avoided and it was only a controversy due to the actions of the Bedonie campaign and the resulting actions & comments of her supporters.