Red State Dems that shun Dean - (Sebellius, etc)

[dave29]

1) How can we succeed if the Dem's don't even seem willing to appear together (.ie saying "we agree to disagree") - and only meet in private and give tacit support?

2) Should we target these Dems with our "disapproval" of their unwillingness to stand with other Dems, especially the national chairman?

3) Are they being cowardly or overly politically sensitive?

As a huge supporter of Dean's effort to reach out into supposedly "Red States", I think it's important that Dems show a United front when it comes to the highest priority - differentiating ourselves from Republicans, and standing up for our party. How do we tackle the problem of those reticent to support the very man who is best at selling that message?

[LosinIt]

1. work around them, when they see their base being energized

by the truth being presented by the good doctor, they might just get scared enough to come around. If not, it's bye-bye next election.

[eleny]

2. I think that Dean can bring them around

When I saw that Dean was in Kansas the other day I thought how smart he is for diving right into the red state heartland and taking care of business. I trust his judgment. He's wasting no time in the safe harbor states but going right into America's belly. I say to let him make his case to the red state Dems and see what he wants us to do.

[blm]

3. First off, don't BUY IT when the media CLAIMS Dean is being shunned.

They want nothing more than to CREATE negative stories about Dems so they will fabricate and exaggerate any differences or mischaracterize any circumstance.

Their goal is to CREATE a shitstorm to drive skeptical Dems away from the party.

[dave29]

5. agreed

I should have pointed out that Dean received some praise rom Sebellius after their private meeting - however, the truth of the matter is, unless they claim to have had prior engagements (which I do not know), they DID refuse to stand on stage with him - and that makes it easy for the GOP spin machine to grab on to. It was after reading one of the articles covering the event with that slant that I wrote this post.

They of course will seize on anything... we shouldn't make it easier for them.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I'm disgusted with our local county Dems

even before Kerry's nomination, they came to a group of non-partisan activists saying they wouldn't support any of the presidential candidates because "they don't like guns" or "they are Yankees". They very proudly told us the ONLY presidential candidate they had EVER supported was Clinton (this is Arkansas), and that in times past people's votes had been bought and paid for. Their ignorance of the Democratic candidates (they didn't even know anything about Wes Clark, for heaven's sake!) and attitude that they wouldn't support anyone made me wonder if the local Democratic committee had been taken over by Repukes. Their strategy didn't work, as their local candidates didn't win, either. My group raised money, held meetings, put pro-Kerry ads in the paper, and wrote LTTE.

Now, there's an interesting dynamic in our county-a lot of "newcomers" and then some "locals". The Locals are the ones in power-and they don't make it easy to find out when and where they are meeting. I think I'm the only one from the group who is still politically active-the rest are disgusted with the lack of help from the locals, and aren't interested in trying to take over the local committee.

[ChiciB1]

7. Where Do You Live??

I live in Florida and noticed that the local DFA isn't exactly "on target" as much as I. I will go to the next meeting, and can only hope things will improve.

Senator Bill Nelson could do a lot here, but I doubt he will!!!!

As for locals... I live in a HEAVILY REPUKE county. Like the one where Katherine Harris is the Representative of.

Is there any hope here??? Anyone out there from my county (Sarasota)??? What do you think???

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Northwest Arkansas

the next county over, where I work, has a decent and active Democratic group, and that is where I helped out during the campaign.

[ChiciB1]

13. Thanks for the reply...

I worked really really hard here too and we THOUGHT we had it beat, BUT... as I watched the returns on election night county by county, I saw about 40,000 votes dumped into Cruella's side in one fell swoop. Then it began happening county by county all over Florida, dumping votes for the Boy King IDIOT!!

Big time Election Fraud for sure! They quickly called Florida for "It" and went straight to the upheaval of Ohio!!

What a Scam!!!!

[democrank]

6. Once Dean cuts through the corporate media`s BS

and lays out his message, he`ll gain support. Many of the "Democrats" who trash Dean should save their breath, grab Zell Miller with one hand and Joe Lieberman with the other and walk off into the glorious Republican sunset.

[acmavm]

8. It tells you a lot about any dem in office if they supported and followed

the message of the DNC when McAuliff (a corporatist republican lite quisling) was the leader of the party but refuses to support and follow the man that the people wanted to lead.

As always, I will point out that I wasn't a Dean partisan, I was a Clarkie. But as far as the direction of the party goes, Dean is representative of the real party members (the people) and a lot of these guy and gals are representing big business and big brother.

[cestpaspossible]

9. It's not true that Sebellius shunned Dean

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who had breakfast Friday morning with Dean, told reporters at the Statehouse that the former Vermont governor was a good choice for party leadership. She particularly likes his energy and desire to build the party from the ground up.
AP article

You are not a marionette, don't let the media pull your strings. When you read a news story that makes you angry at another Democrat, consider the possibility that the purpose of the story was not to provide you with information, but to divide the Democratic party.

[Jim Sagle]

10. Moral: If the media says the sky is blue, check it out!

[cestpaspossible]

11. Yeah, pretty much, lol