| Author |
Message |
Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
|
 Fri May 12, 2006 12:04 am Dean Misstates Party Platform on Gays |
|
| Quote: | Dean Misstates Party Platform on Gays By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer
Thu May 11, 4:15 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Democratic chairman Howard Dean mischaracterized his party's platform on gay rights in an interview courting evangelicals, then set the record straight Thursday when an advocacy group called him on it.
Dean told Christian Broadcasting Network News that the 2004 Democratic platform declares "marriage is between a man and a woman" � just one of the points he made in reaching out to religious conservatives who are largely hostile to the party.
But the platform does not define marriage that way, and his remarks prompted the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to return a $5,000 donation from the Democratic National Committee.
Dean later acknowledged his misstatement, but the group sent back the money anyway. "We need for Governor Dean to demonstrate real leadership on our issues," executive director Matt Foreman said in an interview, "not to equivocate depending on the audience."
Dean sought to establish common ground with religious conservatives in the interview on Pat Robertson's network, a tall order considering their opposition to the Democratic Party's positions on abortion rights, gay rights and some other social issues.
Dean said that "one of the misconceptions about the Democratic Party is that we're godless and that we don't have any values."
He went on: "The truth is, we have an enormous amount in common with the Christian community, and particularly with the evangelical Christian community. And one of the biggest things that Democrats worry about is the materialism of our country, what's on television that our kids are seeing, and the lack of spirituality."
With Republicans embracing the traditional definition of marriage in 2004, Democrats sought to appeal to such traditionalists without giving up their support for gay rights.
The result: a platform plank that left the central question about what defines marriage to the states, and specifically rejected President Bush's support for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
It asserted: "We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families."
Dean stated in the interview: "The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That's what it says."
He added that the party differs with some religious leaders in believing "everybody deserves to live with dignity and respect, and that equal rights under the law are important."
After the gay rights group went public with its complaints about his remarks, Dean acknowledged: "I misstated the Democratic Party's platform, which does not say marriage should be limited to a man and a woman," and reasserted the party's commitment to equal protection for all.
Foreman said Dean should be persuading Democrats to fight against ballot initiatives seeking to ban gay marriage, but instead has misrepresented the party's "important and affirming plank" several times.
"There has been a disturbing lack of clarity from Governor Dean about where we fit into the party and the country," he said after Dean corrected himself.
Foreman said the $5,000 was for sponsorship of the group's leadership awards dinner in Washington last week, and will be missed. |
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060511/ap_on_re_us/democrats_gays
"Howard Dean don't care about Gay people."-Kanye West 
|
|
|
Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
|
| Fri May 12, 2006 12:12 am |
|
Heard all about this on O'Reilly. Turns out it was never the platform of the Democrats in the first place,  . They wanted to leave it up to the states.
But it was clearly an attempt by him to pander to the Christian Conservatives who watch the 700 Club, Pat Robertson's show. That's not really his position, as has been shown time and time again, but he was clearly trying to gain a little support from that base.
My stance is that the Republicans and Democrats both have some great problems right now. Both parties do.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
|
|
|
CJ Cregg
Commodore
Joined: 05 Oct 2002
Posts: 1254
|
| Fri May 12, 2006 10:47 am |
|
Well he is a politician, that's what they do, try to get the most votes they can.
At least he is trying to connect to the religious base, instead of just ignoring him.
|
|
|
Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
|
| Fri May 12, 2006 5:18 pm |
|
Well, I wouldn't say he's trying to do that. All he was doing there was going on the 700 Club, after being invited, and, while there, pandered to the Christian Conservative base of the Republican Party. Otherwise he ignores the Conservative Christians in America flat-out, as does much of the Democratic party.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
|
|
|
TrekkieMage
Office Junkie
Joined: 17 Oct 2004
Posts: 5335
Location: Hiding
|
| Fri May 12, 2006 5:28 pm |
|
| Republican_Man wrote: | | Otherwise he ignores the Conservative Christians in America flat-out, as does much of the Democratic party. |
Really? Most Democrats ignore the Conservative Christians? I didn't know that
As for Dean...Someone please remind me why he's the leader of the Democratic Party? He needs (in my opinion) to do one of two things: 1. Do something to impress people. Convince them that he really does belong in that position. 2. Leave/resign. He's just making an idiot out of himself. Or at least the press is making an idiot out of him.
|
|
|
Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
|
| Fri May 12, 2006 5:32 pm |
|
He needs to do one of three things: Stay, stay, or stay! Take your pic. I love it when a nutjob hurts the Democratic party
And I would argue that it's most, but did I say most? No. I said much of the Democratic party 
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
Star Trek �, in all its various forms, are trademarks & copyrights of Paramount Pictures
This site has no official connection with Star Trek or Paramount Pictures
Site content/Site design elements owned by Morphy and is meant to only be an archive/Tribute to STV.com
|
Search
FAQ
Log in
