The real question

[radfringe]

various snippets regarding Dean and Civil Unions are indicating that the repugs are reving up the "Family Values" machine...

there's no doubt, whoever ends up being the Democratic nominee, that "Family Values" will be part of the repug campaign.

In addition to draping themselves with the flag, repugs have surrounded themselves with a fortress of family values, and Dems are unable to break through this fortress.

I have a suggestion - flip the issue. For all the talk of family values - do repugs "value families"? How much do they "value families" when programs that help "families" are underfunded/cut?
Reopugs may talk alot about family values but they don't value families enough to help them.

[NJCher]

1. very clever

We need to make sure our candidates hear your idea.

The family values thing makes me SICK. I got so tired of hearing about it and as a writing teacher, was shocked when one of my best students chose that topic for her research paper. I dispensed with any niceties and just said, "You do realize this family values crap is just republican propaganda, don't you?" She didn't but she does now.


Cher

[redeye]

2. I have another suggestion...

...cut the spin. The Dems shouldn't be twisting issues itno pretzels, but rather be as straightforward as possible. "Family values are what makes dysfunctional and abusive families stay even when everyone will benefit if the family breaks up. Childhood is already eighteen years of slavery; must the dictatorship of the family be the worst dictatorship possible?" Say that and a) you're sincere (okay, that's what I think, but the first sentence in the quote is much less debatable), and b) you get the vote of everyone aged 18 to 25, plus the enthusiastic support of every high-schooler.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. When I'm feeling like a wiseass...

and they bring up family values, I just ask them if they would prefer Chelsea or Jenna as a daughter.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Definately flip

It's like the Repukes saying they support the troops. I wrote a letter to the editor of my local paper in March, contending that the protestors were more concerned with military/veteran's issues, and cited sources. Whereas all the other protestor letters got scathing replies, there wasn't a peep out of the right wingers. Doubt if they wrote their Congressman, as I suggested, but at least they shut up.

I think we can ask if Bush is really touting family values when he denies child tax credits to low income families, makes the economy so rocky that good paying jobs go south, cripples Head Start, etc. etc. Again, I'd expect ringing silence from the right.