Can Dean unite the Democratic Party....

[kentuck]

Since, from what we read in the last couple of days, he seems to be the frontrunner for DNC chief? Will the moderate to conservative Democrats, a la Lieberman, support him in his new role if elected? Will he be the spokesman the Democrats need? I hope he gets it. Kephra would have been happy. :)

[dsc]

1. I honestly don't know

To take one example, I can't really see a united front between one group of people who believe LGBT rights are an important part of civil rights and another group who don't. If anyone can bridge this, I think Dean can but it isn't going to be easy.

[Erika]

3. I contributed $ to Dean early on

and thanked him for energizing the party. The right wing press marginalized him by their exaggerated review of the "scream".

I don't see the LGBT thing as a big issue to the democrats. We're for civil rights to all. The war is probably a bigger issue as dividing the dems. But it's dividing the GOP also.

[dsc]

5. Like it or not it is a big issue

at least in the south. It is, other than Iraq, the principle issue they used to paint him as too liberal for the south.

[Warpy]

9. Check out how the south voted

There are a helluva lot of blue counties in Dixie.

The real fundy corridor seems to be Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas.

The key to uniting the party has got to be addressing the concerns of the traditional party base of working people, and that means embracing economic populism the way Clinton did during his campaigns (if not during his terms).

Dean remains one of the best hopes of doing that, of breaking the DLC stranglehold on the party. Another "screw the base, business as usual" DLC drone won't have a chance.

The way to get gay rights is to get Democrats elected, and the only way to do that is by appealing to the party base with economic issues. Campaigning on social issues while ignoring the economic issues has been a losing strategy for far too long.

[dsc]

13. No one wants to ignore economics

but if civil rights issues aren't pressed while running they won't get accomplished while governing. I can only speak for here but our statewide wins in NC were with anti gay candidates.

[Bemis]

2. He could cause a divide...

I know of several democrats that get really agitated at the thought of Dean heading the DNC. They seem to like to like the old guard DLC.

Personally I think he could pleasantly surprise a number of people.

[Erika]

4. But if they stick a GOP lite

in, there will be a bigger divide.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. That I agree with

and am for trying out Dean. We've tried being like the republicans for far too long. Sure, we can adapt some of their ideas (like how they are organized and whatnot) but I don't think we should be republican-lite anymore. It worked for Clinton and some other people but as a party I don't think we should be.

[BlueInRed]

7. I think we are already divided

It seems to me worth a try bc what we are doing isn't working.

[Guaranteed]

14. Bingo. nt

[Dying Eagle]

6. I hope so

He may be our only hope for the Party. The Dem's are on life support and a good doctor is just what it needs!!

[KittyWampus]

8. Dean Governed As A Moderate, DLC Democrat & Ran In The Primary

as a moderate Democrat... so why would moderates NOT support him?

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Whatever he does, it cannot be any worse that what is happening right

now.
Perhaps..just perhaps, really challenging those old centrist, DLC types, and allowing some room for the more progressive thinkers to offer some ideas, would be the best thing to happen to the Democratic Party in decades.
It certainly couldn't be any worse than what has been happening for the past 30 years.

[terryg11]

11. he should be able to

I think most of the dems respect the guy even if they don't say so in public. He really gave the dems a lift last year with his grass roots organization and energized volunteers. We need a fighter right now and that's what he is. Everyone needs to put that stupid clip behind them, it was bogus.

[Guaranteed]

12. That is an excellent question.

I don't know, but I do know that Dean is a team player. He worked his ass off for Kerry after the primaries, and I expect that he'll be working with the same solidarity this time around- and expecting the same from others.

[Erika]

15. I'll go for Dean again

Who else is there? Dean energized the party and attratcted first time voters.

[Gyre]

16. Dean pulling the strings

is the ONLY thing that will get me back into the dem party.

Gyre

[paulk]

18. is it the job of the DNC chair to unite the party?

seriously...

I think people are reading a lot more into the job than there is.