Speaking against the Human Life Ordinance at the Bakersfield City Council meeting yesterday, Candi Easter, Chairman of the Kern County Democratic Party, began her comments with a personal slur against us, though likely nobody besides Terri and myself realized it.

“Personally,” Candi explained, “I believe that a couple that has 8 or 10 children is offensive. However I would never ever come to this Council and ask them to legislate against it.”

As parents of 11 children, Terri and I immediately recognized Candi’s mean-spirited point.

I first met Candi over 20 years ago, as we worked together for the same company. Sometimes it was even necessary for me to work in her home. Although I have known of her position with the Democratic Party for years, I have always been friendly with her when we have encountered each other in public.

After the meeting, I walked up to Candi, putting my arm around her as I smiled and said, “after all these years, I honestly had no idea that we offended you so much by having so many children.”

Candi just turned and walked away.

Years ago when some of our children passed by the Democratic Party booth at the Kern County Fair, they had expressed opposition to the condoms which were being handed out. We had known that Candi was offended by the fact that the condoms our children saw at her booth became such a news item, but we hadn’t realized that she was so offended at the simple fact that we allowed our children to be born.