What do you think are some "Kiss of Death" issues?

[Silverhair]

By that I mean issues that get discussed here on DU, and that many here support, but would be political suicide for a candidate to take to an election. In other words, issues that the general populace would get excited about and vote against.

I will give two examples:

1. Attacking the Pledge. Dukakais was savaged because he had problems with it.

2. Taking away the churches tax exemptions.

[seriousstan]

1. Gay marriage, gun control and the Iraq war.

I didn't say I agree with this, but I think it is fact.

[yurbud]

3. I agree with two out of three, but not Iraq

[seriousstan]

6. I think the proof is that very few are taking that position.

Nobody in the running is touching it. Actually they are embracing the "stay the course" position. Just look at Hillary's position.

[yurbud]

10. that's not because of voters--it's big business they fear

[seriousstan]

13. I disagree.

[yurbud]

15. Dean was on a roll as the anti-war democrat

as long as you don't come across as a "passive" pacifist, you can make the position work.

It also helps to be honest and call a spade a spade about why we went into the war in the first place which democrats seem loathe to do.

Did you have an argument on this besides referring back to George McGovern?

[ruggerson]

26. Totally disagree on gay marriage

We have yet to have a national candidate with the gonads or the ovaries to simply say this is a matter of human rights and the public may disagree with me, but I am not going to tailor my convictions to the political winds of the time.

I think if a candidate said that, it would be like Reagan opposing abortion rights, even though most of the country supported them. It would become entirely irrelevant.

[Lorien]

2. Zero population growth

ZPG is still a taboo subject for nearly every government, though all know that population growth will destroy us (along with global warming, as they go hand in hand).

[Blue_Tires]

22. good point

i was going to say the same

any serious environmental issue which dictates americans make sacrafice and alter their comfy lifestyle is taboo


I would also include any issue that does not place total faith in the rich, the 'free market' or coporations acting in our best interests

tax issues are also taboo (i.e., any tax issue that does not deal with cutting taxes)

[yurbud]

4. who has proposed the repealing that tax exemption?

[Silverhair]

5. The thread comes up from time to time on DU.

No politician that I know of has proposed it.

[Selatius]

7. Here is the most pragmatic way to address #1:

Just say that people should be given a choice between saying the pledge with or without "under God." Besides, the one without the words "under God" was the original for something like five decades before it was changed.

[Moderate Dem]

8. Gay Marriage

Civil unions are legislating equality, which Americans will ultimately support. Gay marriage (at least at this time) is an attempt to legislate acceptance, which is impossible, and which America will not support(again, at this time).

[Moderate Dem]

9. Boy, can I kill a thread, or what?

[yurbud]

11. Randi Rhodes had best idea on this--make it all civil unions

let you call it marriage if you want.

[Moderate Dem]

12. The government shouldn't be in the marriage business

Allow civil unions for anyone who wants to share legal rights, for whatever reason. Wanna get married? Find a church to do it.

[yurbud]

17. makes sense to me

[Bill McBlueState]

16. come visit Massachusetts

We've had gay marriage for over a year, and all but a few people don't have any problem with it at all.

I think if people in the rest of the states pull their heads out of their asses, they'll agree that gay marriage has no effect on anyone except the people who are now allowed to get married.

[wordout]

14. rights for sex offenders.

[loudsue]

18. LOL! Yep. That would top the "kiss of death" list....

I'm glad to say, it's not a big issue.

:kick:

[Seeking Serenity]

19. Kissing people to death

:silly:

[Ksec]

20. Gay marriage , The Pledge thing , booting manger christmas scenes

[Quixote1818]

21. Gun Control and Enforcing the Border

The Hispanic vote will be pissed if someone runs on enforcing the border UNLESS we have someone like Bill Richardson on the ticket. We need to forget about Gun Control!

[BiggJawn]

23. "Gun Control" it's been killing us for years.

"Why, the Democrats wanna take your GUNS away! Then they'll round everyone who isn't Gay or a liberal up and send them to prison camps, converted from obsolete Amtrak yards!"

Instead of promising a whole new slew of knee-jerk unenforceable gun laws, how about better enforcement of the laws we already HAVE!

I'm gonna shut up now, before the mods move this to "The Gungeon"

[Wapsie B]

25. That's right.

Enforce the laws we have now. And find a way to neutralize that propaganda the righties at the NRA always trot out.

[Arkana]

24. Well, I think attacking the Pledge is just superficial crap.

Leave the Pledge alone, for chrissakes. We've got bigger fish to fry.

Suicidal issues? I can't think of any.