Janet Moore, Vice-Chair of the PCDP, issued the following endorsement of Michelle Davis.

“I would like to enthusiastically endorse Michelle Davis for Chair of the Putnam County Democratic Party. She attends meetings and events regularly and regularly volunteers for committees and activities. She’s worked tirelessly during the last two campaign cycles to register voters and promote candidates. She’s shown initiative in developing both fund-raising and visibility events for the Party, she’s a regular volunteer at the office, and she’s taken an active role in promoting Democratic causes. She’s a real asset to the Party and I believe she would be a wonderful leader.

As we prepare for the next election cycle, I believe that it’s important for us to strengthen the Democratic Party, not only here in Putnam County, but across Tennessee and throughout the nation. We’ve seen the kind of damage that Republican leadership can cause from the union busting legislation in Wisconsin to the economic attacks on women and children proposed by Republicans in the House of Representatives. Now Paul Ryan, the Republican golden boy, is about to introduce the Party’s 2012 budget in which they propose gutting Medicaid and turning Medicare into a voucher program where seniors will once again be subject to the whims of the private insurance companies. The stakes have never been higher and we need Democratic leadership in Washington and in Tennessee to fight for the working man, the elderly, and the powerless in our society.

As the Vice-Chair of the Putnam County Democratic Party, I support the Democratic platform. I believe it’s important for us to find candidates to represent us who take pride in being Democrats and who promote the Democratic Party, Democratic ideals, and the Democratic leadership. I believe when public opinion turns against Democratic leaders, it is our responsibility to clarify the Democratic position and educate those who are misinformed.

At the same time, I believe that we are a diverse party and that our members may not agree on every issue. There are as many kinds of Democrats as there are Democrats because we are each individuals and we come to our values in different ways. As members of the Democratic Party, we commit to certain ideals and common goals, but there is room for disagreement. Open and respectful communication about the areas where we differ can only make us stronger. As a Party, we must welcome those who will fight with us shoulder to shoulder on the issues where we agree and respect those occasions where they choose not to fight.

And lastly, I believe it’s important that we regain control of our messaging. For far too long we, as a Party, have played defense, allowing the opposition to define us. We need to be clearer in stating who we are and who we are not. We are the Party that supports the founding fathers’ vision of a secular government, but that does not make us anti-religious. We are the Party that supports economic justice and workers’ rights, but that does not make us anti-business. We are the Party that supports environmental protection and working in harmony with nature, but that does not make us anti-development. And we are the Party that supports the role of government in our everyday lives and safety nets for those who have fallen on hard times, but that does not make us anti-personal responsibility. We are the party who believes in equal rights and equal responsibilities for all. We are as varied as America itself. We come from every race, religion and ethnic background, from every walk of life and from every socioeconomic level. We are just as patriotic and moral and concerned about our children as those who speak out against us. And we are working just as hard to make our country stronger and the world a better place.”