Why the party needs Howard Dean Democrats. . .

[Brian_Expat]

http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=11549&sd=03/04/04

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry (D-Mass.), under fire from gay Democrats for opposing same-sex marriage, has promised that if elected president, he would grant state-sanctioned married gay couples the same federal rights and benefits married straight couples enjoy, according to several people who met with Kerry in San Francisco last Friday, reports The Washington Post. Kerry, who says he personally opposes same-sex marriage, said he would, however, bestow all federal marriage benefits--such as the right to file joint income taxes and collect survivor benefits--on same-sex couples who unite legally in civil unions, domestic partnerships, and even marriage under their state laws. The number of federal benefits for married couples was recently adjusted by the U.S. Government Accounting Office from 1,049 to 1,138.
Kerry made the comments at a gay fund-raiser in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood, the Post reports. Until the event, he had talked mostly in general terms of providing federal benefits and the "same basic rights" to same-sex couples. "It's the first time in history that a presidential candidate has ever supported full and equal protection for same-sex couples," said state representative Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat and an early Kerry supporter who attended Friday's fund-raiser and queried Kerry about his position.

Leno and the Kerry campaign fielded a number of calls and personal conversations from Dean Democrats who refused to "hop on board" the fundraising train without Kerry "clarifying" his remarks. With this latest promise (which I intend to hold Kerry responsible for, should he win election), Kerry's position on gay marriage is basically "in favour" (regardless of what he's said otherwise).

As with most of the rest of his campaign (anti-war, balanced budget, etc.), it was a message pushed and endorsed by. . . HDDs. You all can thank us after the White House gets in with the margins provided by the gay Republicans (1 million of them) who endorse Kerry's stance. :-)

[littlejoe]

1. The door swings both ways. No pun intended.

[Melodybe]

2. Dean Democrats are the biggest ABB people around

Kerry will not have too much trouble getting them on board. All he has to do is give Dean something to do and we'll be happy.

[Zero Gravitas]

3. We need the Deaniacs, and the Clarkies

and everyone who realizes how dangerous Bush is. I am astounded that so many are equivocating about whether they should support Kerry or not. I mean HELLO! the choice (whether you like or not) is Kerry or four more years of Bush. So Kerry isn't perfect but surely there is no question that he would be a million times better than bush.

Heck Dean was my first choice... I gave money to Clark. I am not going to start whining now of all times that I wish we had a different candidate. As far as I am concerned Kerry is a tool that we can use to get rid of Bush. After that duty has been accomplished we can get back to debating about the direction of the party.

I really question the common sense of people who are still unsure whether they should support Kerry or not. OK maybe its not their common sense that is questionable, maybe they just think that Bush isn't really that bad after all. :shrug:

[LuLu550]

4. We must stick together and take care of what really matters

is making this big boat turn to the post.Big boats turn very very slowly, but if we don't start turning it, it will keep going starboard. That is bad. I love Clark and am sad he is not our candidate but I'll work for Kerry to get the right wing nut jobs out of power.

[SheilaT]

5. The Dean Democrats

are the ones revitalizing the Democratic Party. It was Howard Dean who got me to be active. Not anyone else.

Last night here in Kansas City there were about 50 people at a Dean meetup. Dean has inspired loyalty and devotion like no other candidate in recent history. And I'm sorry, but that does not just transfer readily to anyone else.

Since I live in Kansas, which would undoubtedly go Republican if Satan himself were running as one, I'll have the luxury of not voting this year. Or maybe I'll write in Dean's name anyway.

Several months ago I came to the conclusion that winning back the House and Senate is easily as important as retaking the White House, and to that end I'm no giving all my volunteer time and energies to Joan Ruff, who is running for the U.S. Senate against Sam Brownback.