Let The Fun Begin…
Written by Mark Harris on February 14th, 2005“You are among the most persecuted people in the history of mankind,” Dean tells his first audience, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus. This leads off a rapid-fire series of applause lines from Dean, who during his presidential campaign once declared, “If Bill Clinton can be the first ‘black president,’ I can be our first ‘gay president.’ ” He doesn’t go this far yesterday, but assures everyone that when he’s elected, “it will not be my chairmanship, it will be our chairmanship.”
I’m sure this is news to the African Americans, Jews, and other ethinic groups in the “big tent” of the Democratic Party. If he keeps saying stuff like this then maybe I was wrong about Dean being a threat to the GOP. That quote is going to plaster every piece of mail the GOP puts out in the ‘06 cycle. I mean why does American Jewry stick so hard to the Democratic Party. The Dems don’t like Israel, they obviously have little interest in the plight of Jewry abroad being persecuted, and have lately been heavily courting the American Muslim caucuses that have plancks in them, which are not so friendly to Israel or Judaism.
14
PM
I don’t even know where to begin, other than to say I’m glad the Washington Post had the guts to print this article.
“We’re gonna need lots of help from y’all”: Could Howard Dean be a bigger racist if he tried? Oh, wait…he could: “Maybe if they got the hotel staff in there.”
“I can be our first ‘gay president.’”: Those red states ain’t turnin’ blue anytime soon, Howard.
14
PM
Amen
15
AM
Give up on the Jews. The GOP has courted them for years with both our attitude and policy. They voted overwhelmingly for the Democrats this last election.
15
AM
Yes, but progress is being made, and the GOP should never give up on any group. For example, Bush received 25% of the Jewish vote in ‘04, up from 19% in ‘00. What is more, he receieved 52% of the Catholic vote, up from 47% in ‘00. Bush showed that when you view people as individuals and not as members of groups, you can win their support.
15
PM
Sure, but Jews as a group aren’t moving anywhere, Catholics have long been moving towards the GOP and for good reason. Jews have many reasons to vote Republican and during this election the choice was stark, but most Jews are liberals first.
15
PM
You are correct - Jews have every reason to vote for Republicans but many don’t, and it is mindboggling why the majority of Jews continue to support a party that does not support Israel. My point, however, is that you can’t say “Jews as a group” anymore, since a percentage, albiet small for now, of that group is moving to the right.