Reform Party activist David Shrier is trying to get enough signatures to run in the 182 House Legislative District which includes parts of Center City, Fairmount, Grays Ferry and Washington Square West. The anger over Gay Rights leader Brian Sims throwing Babette Josephs under the bus, as she puts it, might guarantee Shrier 8% of the vote which is what Gene Miller the Green candidate got when he successfully fought against the Chinatown casino. The Reform Party's National Convention is coming to Philadelphia and will be a source of volunteers for Shrier, http://reformpartyevents.com/
There is still time for the Peace Community, and those who don't like what happened, to find a candidate and gather signatures to run under the Green Party banner and be far less sharp-tongued, and preserve the image of a Philadelphia protester usually being progressive.

David Shrier was once extremely sharp,
http://articles.philly.com/1999-11-04/news/25493839_1_candidates-money-drives-votes-don-t-matter
Cerebral Palsy slowed him down to the point that it is surprising that he is running. He seems to have money to spend. His Petition Party leaflet announces “FREE Food, Beer and Soda – No Contribution July 22 1:pm Second Floor * Dave Shrier MUST have his ballot petitions signed AGAIN on a NEW form, even if your've already signed the old form”.

Babette Josephs has been a tireless advocate for children. Brian Sims accusing her of voting against mandatory registration of sex offenders is very unfair. It is so embellished that no one yet found the 2006 bill he is talking about, see PHILEBRITY,
http://www.philebrity.com/2012/04/18/babette-josephsbrian-sims-battle-heats-up-with-molester-mailer/

The February 2007 The JOSEPHS REPORT page 4 Getting Tough on Sex Offenders states Babette Joshephs' position on the two 2006 bills that had just passed the previous year. “Two new laws I supported protects the public against convicted sex offenders

The first expands information on the state's Megan's Law web site to help parents and communities identify sexual abusers. The added information includes . . .” continues on page 4 at the following link,
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:hpd_ulFEcoYJ:www.pahouse.com/PR/182%2520January%2520NL%25200207.pdf+babette+josephs+Jeanette+Blize+sex+offenders+registry+2006&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgKbUUJE-qs24nqXU5BKzeTd_8cB_J6XB51jS5ZiRBxey-Yon-PqGtLUELTuQK7e4ymsCyh138P4E1oZPBGK5VFNnswf-i04bKXx3WBGcFUkG2CHm9NUQoyK8BBxxt936SRFp9E&sig=AHIEtbQDsvG4aZoE8pNSWg1jMRuj8KEQEA

Babette had earlier argued that crimes committed by children against other children should not be included on the sex offenders list. My guess is that what Sims is referring to involves the legislator letting the judge decide whether an act by a young child should be on the list.

People who usually vote Democrat, but are thinking of staying home this time, might change their mind, if in the voting booth for a local matter (Too bad the soda sugar tax isn't on the ballot). Had the two party system been functioning in the 182 district Brian Sims would have been warned not to throw too much dirt, the way Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak were frequently warned. The smear by Brian Sims, if not challenged, would mean noticeably dirtier politics in the future. During the Joe McCarthy era a false accusation of being soft on communism got people kicked out of office. Do we have to repeat history over again, but with soft on sex crime being the accusation? I think it is important for progressives and people who don't like dirty cut throat politics to get together and run somebody under the Green Party banner and vigorously gather signatures like the Reform Party seems to be planning to do. If they have reason to believe they can gather enough signatures to get on the ballot, why can't the peace movement and people who believe in decent politics do the same. Someone in the 182 district please volunteer.

For more discussion see, Will the Reform Party change the image of the protest vote in Philadelphia?
http://www.youngphillypolitics.com /will_reform_party_change_image_protest_vote_philadelphia

By Richard Kane