Dem leadership debates abortion

Posted on 12/24/2004 at 9:19 am by Bob Cesca

Progressives!The Democratic leaderhsip is in the midst of an internal battle over abortion. Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer and Howard Dean are the frontrunners to lead the DNC. Roemer, a pro-lifer, just recently emerged as a candidate and appears to have the support of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. Howard Dean, on the other hand, is urging a Democratic move towards its progressive base and a continued pro-choice posture.

This is why they lose. Rather than standing by its core convictions, while modernizing its tactics (which Dean would do), the Democrats appear to be capitulating to Republican platform ideology and the impassioned mandates of the right-wing punditry to join them or die.

Moving to the right is tantamount to conceding to the whims of an empty shirt GOP. And ANY concessions would confirm the weakling stereotype endowed upon the Democrats by every wingnut with a microphone and the ears of the nation. Get a modern progressive in the top spot and let’s go already!

It’s not abortion, gay rights, or stem cells that ruin the Democrats in the red states, it’s indecision over those issues combined with major flaws in modern campaign strategy.

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  • joe garcia

    MIAMI HERALDPosted on Fri, Jan. 07, 2005POLITICSAmid necessary change, hold on to bedrock Democratic principlesBY JOE GARCIAjfgarcia@the-beach.netThe new year will usher in leadership changes for the Democratic Party. A February meeting of the Democratic National Committee will select a new chair to replace Terry McAuliffe. Currently, there are eight candidates vying for the position. No front-runner has yet emerged.Democratic minority leaders in the House and Senate — Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California — have endorsed the candidacy of former Indiana Democratic Rep. Tim Roemer, who also served as a member of the 9/11 Commission.In the aftermath of this year’s election, Democrats must redefine our message and election tactics by implementing a 50-state strategy. In order to be successful in the 2006 midterm elections and the 2008 presidential race, Democrats must develop a message resonating with voters in Montana, Kansas, New York, Florida and California. We must no longer be a “New England party.”However, in this articulation of values we must not abandon our bedrock principles, the ”post-New Deal Consensus” guaranteeing the Democratic Party will fight for educational excellence, decent and affordable healthcare, a healthy environment and a government pledged to foster racial equity, gender diversity and reproductive freedom. These principles were advocated successfully by former President Clinton as a ”covenant” between government and the American people.Attacks leveled by the GOP condemning our populist agenda as sowing the seeds of class warfare must be met by a message stressing the existence of ”Two Americas” as articulated by Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards. We must communicate that the Republican agenda favoring big business, tax cuts for the rich, huge budget deficits and a reckless foreign policy is dooming rather than growing the middle class and will burden our children and grandchildren with trillions of dollars of debt.Democrats must remain true to our legacy. We are not an endangered species. We must not abandon the principles of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. We must not fall victim to those who argue that Democrats must become ”Republican-lite” by altering our positions on choice, gun control, privatization of Social Security, voucher schools and the separation of church and state.This notion of ”If you can’t beat them, join them” is woefully ill conceived. Instead, we must vigorously advocate our agenda and not fall victim to those who advise that campaigns should be fought ”on the margin” where the differences between Democrats and Republicans are blurred.There are stark differences between America’s two major political parties. The successful communication of these differences could help Democrats reap the benefits of shifts in trends and changes in the voting-age population.Because of his candor, President Bush was very successful in this year’s election. He was true to his principles and policies. He said repeatedly, ”You might not agree with me on everything, but you know where I stand.” Democrats must adopt not only this frankness but also a clear communication of our values, principles and ethics fostering unity rather than division, expanding the middle class and encouraging economic and social equality.We must be champions of the ”Beloved Community” of Martin Luther King Jr. rather than the ”Divided America” or ”Uncultural War” advanced by the extremist wing of the Republican Pary.Joe Garcia served on the 2004 and 2000 Democratic National Convention’s Platform Committee.© 2005 Herald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.http://www.miami.com

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