On Howard Dean (common dreams)

[indigo32]

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0424-08.htm


A reader from Florida writes: "What’s your feel with Howard Dean? His supporters in Florida are increasing." From an activist friend in California, I hear: "What’s with your Governor Dean? Is he for real?"

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In December 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court unanimously ruled that gay couples are entitled to equal rights and protections under the law. I initially castigated Dean for coming out against gay marriage. He chose to make a stand in support of civil unions. And stand he did. Right-wing Republicans attempted to make civil unions the issue by which they would bring down moderate Republicans and liberal Democrats. The debate was ugly, but Dean was heroic. On radio phone-in shows and in speeches and public appearances, he took on the abuse, bigotry and phony science of the homophobic following and did not give an inch. He turned the debate and the election that followed into a referendum on human dignity and dignity won. The bottom line with Howard Dean is that he’s a decent guy with backbone.

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