Are you worried about Dean being hurt by Civil Unions?

[KaraokeKarlton]

If you are, you need to listen to this interview and pay close attention to how well he handles criticism and questions about Civil Unions. He's brilliant on the issue and effectively silences any criticism.

http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2002/07/20020703_a_main.asp

I found the link on Rick Klau's audio and video archive on Dean, which can be found here:

http://www.rklau.com/dean2004/misc/video.html

[Cha]

1. I'm not "worried" about Dean on anything

but thanks for posting this for those who are.

[Egnever]

2. No and I cant wait till he gets to make his case

its long overdue!

[bowens43]

3. Why should we be worried?

[Redneck Socialist]

4. I don't think it matters too much what Dean says...

...about this. Bush Co. is going to say he is for gay marriage over and over if Dean is the nominee.

At best Dean will waste valuable time and money responding to this charge while Bush goes on defining Dean and controlling the agenda.

(PS I couldn't get the link to work so I could not judge Dean's response, but even if it is great if Dean is responding to Bush's attacks it means that he is losing. If we don't control the message early and get Bush responding to our agenda we are going to lose the election.)

[Cha]

5. Then you don't know Dean like his

supporters do. Dean has had to stand up for gay rights for a while in Vermont and will continue to do so against the bush folly.

[boxster]

7. I think you're missing RS's point. The civil union issue...

is like abortion - its opponents will not be swayed regardless of how Dean responds. It will still be held against him by the Republicans and will likely be an issue beaten to death in the media.

Don't be so quick to dismiss the importance of issues like this. Just because you believe Dean can respond to an issue does not mean that it can't still hurt him. Being blind to one's own faults is a dangerous game to play in politics.

[Cha]

11. It is what it is! And I'm glad Dean is who he

Is! I wouldn't have it any other way! That's one of the reason's Dean has My support. the people it "hurts" him with wouldn't be voting for him anyway.

[Redneck Socialist]

9. At this point I am leaning Dean, but...

...most general election voters won't get to "know" Dean. They will decide their vote on the impressions they develop based on what they see in the media. If Bush Co. keeps saying "gay marriage" over and over that is what many voters are going to think Dean supports.

On the plus side I don't think the election is going to swing on this issue. It is still going to come down to the war and the economy and if the dem nominee keeps hammering on Bush's "misrepresentations" we have a good chance of winning.

[KaraokeKarlton]

6. It didn't work?

I have several computers, but the one I'm on right now doesn't have a sound card, so I can't check to see if the file works. I've heard the interview before, though. Can anyone else test it and see if it works for them?

[Redneck Socialist]

10. Nope...

...I can get to the page but when I click on "listen" nothing happens.

[KaraokeKarlton]

14. It's a small download

Check wherever your downloaded files go and there should be an audio file.

[Egnever]

17. works for me

:)

[xultar]

8. No, cuz it is a good position and the right way to go!

[Cha]

12. Thank you!

[On the Road]

13. I USED to be Worried

but the civil union issue has gone from a fringe issue to a mainstream commonsense issue with amazing speed. You're no longer a radical freak for supporting civil unions. And Dean avoided the step of supporting gay marriage, which is think is the right policy. He was just ahead of the curve on this one, and gets points for taking a stand when it was less popular.

The other thing that's increasingly apparent about Dean is that he is able to control the terms of the debate like none of the other candidates. Nobody else is even close on this. Dean is defining the campaign, the issues, and the image he projects, for better or for worse. I don't how he does it. But it will win him the nomination and probably the White House.

[Scott Lee]

16. You just defined the winning strategy for the Dems

Define the issues, define the game rather than let your opponent do it for you and end up being locked in a never ending game of defensive catch-up ball.

Well said. Lets hope the Democrats don't forget this when the fight gets down to the bare knuckles.

[paulk]

15. all the Dem. candidates have pretty much the same position on this

and abortion, too. People who are going to swayed by these two issues aren't going to vote Dem. for any reason, So, no - I don't think his position will hurt him.