The reflexive, knee-jerk rescinding of Democratic support for Oregon House District 54 candidate Nathan Boddie, in the face of another example of the cultural juggernaut known as #MeToo, reeks of foolishness and exemplifies short-sightedness.

Further, it violates the principle of due process and innocence before proven guilt, with the expense of the Democrats’ reaction falling at the feet of the progressive voter.

The Democratic Party’s tendency toward eating its own is at best self-injurious, and at worst, suicidal. In the long run and larger picture, no good will come from this spectacle.

Democrats lost my formal support for good in 2016 with the brazen disregard of voter preference for Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary leading up to the abysmal failure of Secretary (Hillary) Clinton’s candidacy against our current president.

Given such precedent, I suppose it is not that surprising for Oregon Democrats to shoot themselves in the foot with just one state House seat away from a supermajority that would ensure the success of a progressive agenda.

What we know so far is that Ms. (Moey) Newbold has made a claim of inappropriate touching by Dr. Boddie six years ago without substantiating evidence except for the nascent corroboration of her employer and friends.

The Democratic FuturePAC had earlier this year made incredibly vague assertions of misconduct by Dr. Boddie that have held an unreasonable amount of sway in causing the overreactive shedding of support from several state and regional interest groups.

It appears these groups, much like the Democratic state leadership including Gov. Kate Brown, are more beholden to the irrationality of the #MeToo movement than to the desires of their supporters and voters.

Certainly, there must be consequences for those who violate others sexually or otherwise. And certainly, there must be a concerted stance against such conduct to promote a societal shift in favor of shaming those who feel such behavior is acceptable.

I do not advocate for any exceptions. In this particular situation, however, the Democrats’ premature leap to summary judgment and execution of Dr. Boddie may well lead to the ultimately unjustified death of a formidable progressive campaign to replace Rep. (Knute) Buehler.

If Dr. Boddie’s candidacy fails, it will obviously be the result of these reactive misdeeds. Given this possibility, it is worth considering his opponent.

Cheri Helt, the Republican candidate for District 54, purports to have “moderate” leanings. Party affiliation with Republicans, however, will inevitably come with expectations to toe the line.

If the catastrophic and radical far-right agenda of the Republican Party serves as any indication of how Ms. Helt will ultimately represent Bend, what good for Democrats is there in helping her to victory by cannibalizing their own candidate?

Even if Democrats come to their senses and revoke their hard-line stance, it may be too late.

While I can assure that Dr. Boddie will still receive my vote, any enthusiasm I’ve had for other Democrats including the governor has been shaken. I implore fellow voters of District 54 to consider the ramifications of hastily withholding support from Dr. Boddie, not for the sake of the Democratic Party but for a progressive agenda.

This is from a taxpaying homeowner in Bend who has solidly committed and contributed to progressive causes throughout his life, and until recently identified as a Democrat.

Foremost, I urge my fellow voters to push past doubts and place their vote for Dr. Boddie, a well-respected physician with a reliable public record of progressive idealism and advocacy. Bend needs and deserves a voice at the state House that will accurately represent our true priorities.

— Bryan Hagen is a nurse practitioner at Mosaic Medical. Views expressed are his own.