A contribution is an endorsement.

So what are we to make of the statement by Taylor’s campaign manager that Taylor is not endorsing any other candidates? Has Taylor thrown Adams under the bus?

No, no no. The question is why would a busload of ‘democrats’ be supporting a candidate who is anti-choice and anti-gay marriage? It appears, as always, for some of these ‘democrats’ they were uninformed and didn’t do their homework or that money talks and they’ll support anyone with a pulse if they are on the side of the Council Party, the DDA and the usual suspects. What a shock.

If he answered yes when asked do you support marriage equality, what clarification is needed? If he answered no, then this “clarification” is actually a change of position. If his support for marriage equality is indeed unequivocal, then it is hard to understand how the original answer needed further comment.

Voters who support marriage equality (as well as other LGBT issues) and a woman’s right to chose should be troubled by this candidates need to “clarify” his previously stated position on these issues.

1. what distinguished him from the incumbent
2. transit
3. infrastructure
4. Ward 1 blight
5. his views on development in Ward 1
6. his views on a woman’s right to choose
7. his views on marriage equality

I asked the latter two questions because of, in part, the Dem forum and the fact that the marriage equality question came up and Adams did not answer it.

Don said he does not support a woman’s right to choose and does not support marriage equality (gay marriage). When I asked him if he is a Democrat, he said yes.

I then asked Adams about his endorsers, because none were listed on his site. He ticked off an impressive list: Hieftje (who’s going door-to-door with Adams), Taylor, Sandi Smith, Conan Smith, MTA and Rebekah Warren. When I asked whether he might be exaggerating since nothing was posted to his site, he offered to take my phone number and have Chris phone me directly.

The next day I began calling people to make sure they’d endorsed him: Sandi, Conan and Ned (Staebler) all said yes. Sandi was blind-sided and said she would have remained neutral, had she known Adams was pro-life and does not support marriage equality. Conan was gob smacked that Don had said he was pro-life and anti-marriage equality and said he was going to call him.

It was that evening, after I spoke with Conan, that Don sent me (and David Askins, evidently) the email “expanding” on his yes/no answers, in essence trying to reverse himself.

Rebekah Warren did not respond to phone messages on her cell, or her own staff’s emails asking whether she did endorse Adams, as he told me. He was very clear that he spoke to Conan and Rebekah at the same time—first Conan, then the two of them together.

I really couldn’t care whether he’s pro-life and anti-marriage equality for religious reasons. He’s entitled to his religious beliefs. The public, however, is entitled to know about candidates whom they elect.

Taylor, who Adams claimed would be happy to call me and discuss his support of the Ward 1 candidate, said through his campaign manager on Monday is not endorsing any other candidates.

Sumi Kailasapathy is pro-choice and supports gay marriage, she said. It’s a difference between the candidates that will matter to some and not a bit to others.

He sent us this followup to earlier answers he’d given to Pat Lesko. [We don't yet have a copy of his initial responses.]

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: “Don Adams”
Date: Jul 24, 2014 5:20 PM
Subject: Statement
To: PDLesko@a2indy.com
Cc:

“To expand on my answers to your questions earlier, I want to unequivocally state my support for marriage equality rights. If elected, I pledge to oppose any legislation that discriminates against people for any reason — including their race, gender, age, nation of origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

I would hope that women consider every reasonable option to prevent unintended pregnancies before contemplating abortion. However, I do not believe that it is the role of government to dictate that decision for women and that that choice should be left between her and her doctor. I do not believe it is the role of government to dictate that choice for them. I believe that abortions should be safe, legal, and rare; I would not support any policy initiative or legislation that reduces or impairs a woman’s right to choose.”