How to counter Southern Dems worried about Dean (read 'civil unions')

[blm]

EASY!

Bush, the week before the election, said he was FOR civil unions. That was definitely a 'look at me, I'm not really a gay basher' moment for moderates, but, we can USE that clip to promote civil unions as the answer.

Let's be honest, the civil unions issue is probably the dividing point. But, most people are FOR civil unions, including Bush (he just won't say so loud enough to upset the fundies))

Right now, many Southern Dems are just worried that Dean's press from the primary was TRUE and that he is too far left. Those of us familiar with his actual record know that he governed as a centrist and adopted a more progressive passion during the primaries.

Well, if we use Bush's civil unions clip quickly, we can stem any nervousness from those Dems worired about what a Dean chairmanship might mean to their region.

Let's get it out there to all the newsgroups and get his exact quotes to every newspaper and Dem headquarters, especially in the south.

It will also be a helpful move to unite the party AFTER Dean is elected.

[Ian David]

1. Cheney has been pro-civil union for years. And has a lesbian daughter

Remind them of that, too.

Bush has also spoken to a gay church group about encouraging gay people to adopt children.

And I bet once we start getting desperate for troops, Bush will end "Don't Ask Don't Tell" a few months before they start drafting.

[Debi]

20. But don't say it in a debate

or Cheney will come after you ;)

[salin]

2. Effective approach...

[CindyDale]

3. I don't understand

Most people are in favor of gay unions, aren't they? It's gay marriage they oppose, though they don't want an amendment.

I haven't met anyone in Florida who said anything against civil unions.

I did meet a Democrat who was against gay marriage. He asked me if I'd want all gay married couples as neighbors. I couldn't figure out what he meant. Did he think most people would become gay if there were gay marriage. It didn't make sense, and he didn't really clarify exactly what he meant. LOL

Do people really oppose civil unions? Except for greedy pro-Bush people who hate to see anyone get any benefits but them, I find that hard to believe.

[blm]

4. Politicos think Dean signing that civil unions bill doomed him politically

and the press uses that to hammer the theme that Dean is a far lefty loon. Hogwash, of course.

The point is that many Southern Dems and their constituents only know that version of who Dean is, and it makes them nervous in their regions.

But, it would be a SMART move on our part to AMPLIFY Bush's own words in support of civil unions. That way Bush can't turn back and have his people attack southern Dem politicians based on DNC chair Dean's support for civil unions.

[Cheswick2.0]

8. When Dean first signed that legislation people were indeed against it

He had to wear a bullet proof vest and travel the state explaining it to people. Then he won ANOTHER election as governor.
Fortunately now that people are forced to accept it in several states and God has not destroyed the whole nation with the fires of hell, people are getting to accept the idea as not nearly as scary as they thought.

Dean deserves a lot of credit for bringing this change to america. He literally risked his life to do so.

[CindyDale]

12. Wow, I didn't know that

That is how I would see him, though, as a true executive type who can not only enforce the law but get people to accept change and progress.

[Rowdyboy]

5. My state party chairman, Wayne Dowdy of Mississippi endorsed Dean

along with one of our 3 national committee pmembers, Johnnie Patton. That means at least half of the Mississippi contigent is already on board.

BTW, I dropped Mr Dowdy an e-mail thanking him for the endorsement and he responded to me, encouraging me to turn out on March 1st when Dean visits Mississippi. I'll be there!

[blm]

6. I hope more join him in getting past this civil unions bogeyman.

.

[Cheswick2.0]

9. I wonder how long before we get past the gay marriage boogeyman too

I wish we could get there.

[Pirate Smile]

10. I think there has been a lot of progress in the past year or two.

[blm]

19. There'd be ALOT of progress if Bush had an honest bone in his body.

Bush is for civil unions but he NEEDS to keep the electorate stirred up over gay marriage.

My guess is that Bush will make sure the GOP screams loudly against gays through the 2006 election and then propose civil unions to bolster his place in history before he leaves office.

[Cheswick2.0]

7. you won't get anywhere defending Dean until you understand one thing

identifying him as a centrist makes no more sense than identifying him as a liberal. But more than either, he is a populist.
Simply saying "well he is not really liberal" will only continue to cloud the truth and cause confusion amoung the people you are trying to reach.

[blm]

11. He governed as a centrist and claimed triangulation as a tactic before

Clinton.

Why act so defensive about it?

And Dean did not GOVERN as a populist. His populist approach came about during his presidential campaign.

Revising history is NOT helpful to Dean. Being truthful is the way to go.

[JI7]

13. we also need to point out Ken Mehlman the GOP Chair is gay

we need to get it out there some way.

[saltpoint]

14. Re Southern misgivings about Dr. Dean...

I say we pitch in and help the truly brave DUers and other progressives and liberals relocate to blue states.

Next we send a LARGE PRINT easy-to-read, heavily illustrated HANDBOOK TO SECESSION to the Southern States, and maybe throw in a few U-Haul discount coupons.

Keep the progressives and liberals and bid them strong welcome, but wave bye-bye to the Judge Roy Moore contingent.

[blm]

15. heheh......let's try something we can do today.

If that doesn't work we'll pull out the moving trucks in 2007.

[saltpoint]

16. Well, ok.

(I was just blowin' off a little steam.)

[blm]

17. heh...I knowzit....

I'm in NC and have decided to fight it out down here whenever I can.

[Blue_Roses]

18. I'm in the south

and I'm right there with ya:hi:

Everytime I say I want to move to a blue state(which is very often) I wonder who would do the work here if we all moved out:D