What rights are YOU willing to give up to win?

[Modem Butterfly]

The Dems are supposed to be all about defending the minority from the majority, the little guy from the big. Yet it now seems that we're willing to toss a few of the less "popular" ideas, positions, and/or groups out the window if it will garner us a few more votes. It's one thing to tell others what rights THEY should give up, but it's another to give up your own. So, I'm asking, what rights are YOU willing to give up to win?

The right to worship as you please, or perhaps not worship at all?

The right to have sex with whatever consenting adults in whatever manner you wish?

The right to control your own reproduction?

The right to demand better working conditions?

The right to a better education for your child?

Come on, folks. What will YOU give up so that we can win?

[ixion]

1. not one. period.

any freedom given up is nothing more than a win for those who hate freedom. ;-)

[randr]

2. Giving up one right is accepting defeat!

[Walt Starr]

3. How about we just give up ALL rights by not winning at all?

If this is a swipe at the pledge bullshit issue, they that's what you advocate, risking everything for one single bullshit issue.

[Boredtodeath]

8. Think Walt, THINK.

First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller

[Walt Starr]

10. Comparing this bullshit issue to Hitler's acts is DISGUSTING and INSULTING

Seriously, it's a bullshit issue and making hay about is bullshit activism at its worst.

[Boredtodeath]

18. No, you're insulting.

It's the EXACT same thing.

During the last election, it was the "gay issue" which should be tossed aside so we could win. The gays were just supposed to sit down and shut up so we could win - not the right time to bring this issue to the forefront.

Before that it was women's rights; ERA, which should be sacrificed for the ever elusive "Win."

By the next election, Walt, it's likely to be your right to live as a Democrat.

And, it's an insult to all who truly believe in freedom that you would suggest otherwise.

[Modem Butterfly]

13. Or, we could just continue to give up every time...

...every time the GOP has a clever marketing strategy. Cause that's been really successful so far...

[Boredtodeath]

4. These people are only willing to give up YOUR rights

Theirs are absolute, doncha know?

You know.........kinda like............

First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller

[calico1]

5. None that you mentioned.

However, I am willing to give up being civil to people who voted for bush. ;-)

[whistle]

6. None....

[bleedingheart]

7. none

[Joyce78]

9. NONE

[kweerwolf]

11. Other peoples' rights

I cringe when I hear Democrats talking about dropping support for "fringe issues" in order to appeal to a broader section of voters.

But the thing that I find ironic about it is that when Democrats suggest dropping support for gay rights, it's inevitably from straight folks. Or when they talk about downplaying pro-choice positions, it's usually from a male. Or when they talk about cutting education, it's from someone whose kids have already gone through school.

Seems like no one wants to give up their rights, but they are quick to point out rights that don't affect them or their families and suggest getting rid of those rights or softening those positions.

[patrice]

12. Some "Parental Notification" and Some "late-term" abortions.

Not! All of either one.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Zero...zilch...nada

[SmokingJacket]

15. Hmmm, in a totally theoretical world, I would give up some of my

freedom FROM religion. That is, if I (as an agnostic) had to listen to a loudspeaker blaring out a prayer every morning, and my kid was required to listen to prayers in school, I would go along with it IF IN EXCHANGE we had...

1)An excellent Democratic president,
2) A goverment with a pacifist perspective
3) Universal health care
4) Equal marriage rights for all
5) A higher minimum wage
6) Guaranteed reproductive rights.
7) Other stuff I'm probably forgetting right now. Oh yeah, legal pot!

I don't believe giving up any rights would ever allow us to "win" though -- do you??

[RethugAssKicker]

16. NONE!!!!!!!!!!1

[ProfessorGAC]

17. None

The function of gov't is to defend the country, promote the general wefare, and ensure domestic tranquility all WHILE PROTECTING THE INHERENT RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENRY! There is no excuse for subrorating or abrogating any rights in order to do the job.

If they have to minimize rights to their job, they're doing it wrong.
The Professor

[ReadTomPaine]

19. Give up rights? Hell, I demand more.. not less.

Rights which are suppressed or not recognized need to be taken back, not given up or requested for on bended knee.

[txaslftist]

20. What makes you think any of those rights are in peril?

Seriously, MB. You think the Republicans want to take away our right to be athiests, agnostics, wiccans and jews? Hell no. They want to keep saying how godless and unchristian we are, and how can they do that if we can't worship as we please?
You think they want to limit our right to practice homosexuality and unmarried sex? Hell no. They want to trot out every election how sexually immoral Democrats are.
You think they want to get rid of Roe v. Wade? Hell no and hell no. That's their favorite bogeyman to trot out every election cycle.
EVERYBODY, including Republicans wants a better education for their child, so that's a non-issue.

The only one of those rights that is "in play" is the right to demand better working conditions. The Republicans DO want to get rid of our right to unionize, get a living wage and regulate health and safety in the workplace.

They DO want to get rid of environmental regulations. They DO want to get rid of taxes on the wealthy. They DO want to get rid of affirmative action.

The Republicans are not a party that has anything to do with morals. They are an ECONOMICS based party of the rich, privileged and powerful united (quite effectively) against the lower middle class, the poor and minorities. They use moral issues to divide us.

When you bring up "our moral/social liberties are threatened" you are just playing their game.

[Modem Butterfly]

23. The folks who think we need to give them up in order to win

Maybe you weren't around immediately after the last election, when many were actually blaming the defeat on gays and lesbians and women who have the nerve to think they should be able to have an abortion...

[leftupnorth]

25. ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY

"When you bring up "our moral/social liberties are threatened" you are just playing their game."

Exactly.

[Imagevision]

21. Giving up my 2 SUV's isn't an option at this point...!

Trading in for two 40 mpg vehicles, these gas prices are here to stay for too long, the saved money alone will make the payments.

[Burma Jones]

22. Give up to win????

Worship: If you want to call "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance a form of worship, then that's a battle I would probably leave for another day. We need to remember how we approached the Pledge as children - as a sort of bunch of mumbled crap we started the day with.

Sex among consenting adults: This is a no brainer, Constitutional protection for everyone that does not abuse minors. Marriage is a trickier subject as it is a legal contract with priviledges. I believe that the government should recognize Civil Unions, both Gay and Straight, as being between two Adults. Marriage is a religious issue to be taken up by each religion. I got a marriage license from the state of NY, that made us married. A Rabbi later conducted a ceremony that made us say so in front of God and everybody - and made our parents shell out some moolah, but the ceremony is NOT what allowed us to file joint tax returns.....

Control own Reproduction: Another No Brainer. Most Americans support the Right to Choose regardless of whether they would obtain an abortion themselves.

Better Working Conditions: I support the right to demand better working conditions. However, businesses also have the right to set up shop somewhere else.

Better Education for your Child: This should be a local issue. We have dealt with education at the county level exceptionally well (Montgomery County, MD). The feds would just screw this up.

[chalky]

24. Went down that list and it struck me--we've already given up those rights,

and if we ARE in a fight, whether we admit it or not, the fight is to win those rights back.

[mmonk]

26. My right to

vote for someone who will take away my rights. Otherwords, if our nominee wants to take rights away, I won't vote for them.

[Gemini Cat]

27. None.

I'm not willing to give up my rights or your rights.