Good God. Over the past week or so, reading the diaries and front page posts has been stressful. I can literally
feel my anxiety level increase as I delve into a thread where there is a clear disagreement about what is right and what is wrong.
I am not in the business of screaming "STFU!!" There are long-time, respected members of this community who ALWAYS back Dems, regardless. There are long-time, respected member of this community who ALWAYS lend intelligent, well thought-out criticisms of Dems. I would put myself in the category of trying to see both sides of polar-opposite arguments.
But not now. Not 12 days out. Follow me over the fold.
Yesterday, I was very excited to read that an LA Times/Bloomberg poll put Webb
ahead of Allen in the VA-SEN race, 47-44.
This diary was on the recommended list, and I was pretty thrilled to open it (having not heard about this poll before I saw the diary) and start reading the diary itself and the comments.
Then I saw this comment:
Yuk :( (3+ / 0-)
"Jim Webb's a Christian and he believes that marriage is between a man and a woman."
Lots of emphasis there on Christian as if being a Christian makes it a given that he would deny Gays the right to marry. Excuse me?
Apparently he feels the need to woo the Fundies, but this is an afront not only to Gays but to Christians with Progressive values.
Frodo failed. Bush has the ring.
Wed Oct 25, 2006 at 09:51:20 AM EDT
I swear I'm not trying to pick on this particular person - His/her point is valid and s/he is entitled to his/her opinion. But you knolw what? I live in Virginia. Fortunately, I'm in Northern Virginia, which is pretty blue. Most people I know up here have no problem with the idea of same-sex marriage and marriage equality. But if I drive only four hours south, the opinion would be dramatically different. Are they right? No. Is it ok to withhold rights from a group of people due to their sexual orientation? Emphatically NO.
But there are a few other relevant questions as well - Does anyone think that a Republican-held Senate, by whatever narrow margin, is going to take any positive steps towards marriage equality? Does anyone think that a Republican-held Senate will do ANYTHING AT ALL to halt further erosion of all of our rights? Not a chance. Another two years with these people in power is flatly unthinkable.
Let me tell you - it's a sad commentary that Jim Webb has to even make such a statement. But he does. The areas outside of Northern Virginia (with a few exceptions) are Bible Belt areas. These are Jerry Fallwell folks, people. Odious? Yep. But we need one of two things from them:
1. We need them to stay home if they can't vote for a Democrat; or
2. We need them to cast their vote for a Mark Warner-style moderate Democrat - Jim Webb.
Virginia is statistically tied. Let me say that again, only more forcefully: Virginia is statistically tied. It's very clear to people who know this state and make their home here that Webb has to at least be competitive in some of the non-Northern Virginia areas; that he has to turn out committed blue Dems in the populous blue areas; and that he has to NOT give the religious right a reason to amass against him.
So let me ask you - and you don't have to answer me - could it possibly be smart to make such a statement in advance of the Republican barrage that is definitely coming given that Virginia is a Republican "firewall" state? Is there not a possibility that defusing that particular issue is smarter in the overall scheme of things?
The way I see it, we have 12 days left and we're not going to find a replacement for Jim Webb who is going to come out and publicly support marriage equality. Moreover, I would suggest to you that any Democratic candidate in the red state of Virginia who did openly support marriage equality would tuck himself into bed at night, comfortable in the courage of his convictions (and there's something to be said for that), and lose miserably on November 7. Period.
I started with the Virginia Senate race because it's my state and I've spent a LOT of time volunteering for Webb's campaign. Last night, I had a work commitment that pretty much took me away from my computer from 4pm until this morning. I heard about the New Jersey ruling as I listened to CNN on Sirius while I headed to an event in downtown DC. Personally, I thought the ruling was very expertly crafted and I was really happy with the result.
Then I opened Daily Kos this mornign and saw this on the front page:
Harold Ford:
"I do not support the decision today reached by the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding gay marriage. I oppose gay marriage, and have voted twice in Congress to amend the United States Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. This November there's a referendum on the Tennessee ballot to ban same-sex marriage - I am voting for it."
First of all, what New Jersey does is none of Ford's business.
Second of all, the NJ court didn't mandate gay marriage. It mandated equal protection under the law. How fucking awful! It's a disgrace! Equal rights? Pshaw! How dare the NJ Supreme Court refuse to allow discrimination?
Yeah, I want Ford to win. But I won't cry when he doesn't.
This, of course, was Kos' post. Until the last sentence, he had me - I generally agree with all of his points. But again - while the comment from Ford is odious, I would guess that Ford faces the same kind of issues as Webb - being a Democrat in a red state in the south that has a huge fundamentalist population. The same two either/or things I listed for Webb above also, in my mind, apply to Ford as well.
My point is this. This ruling came down. The press has been talking about it for several days in anticipation of a decision. It is a normal and natural thing for them to ask candidates where they stand on the issue of marriage equality.
So taking that as a given, you have two SOUTHERN Democratic senatorial challengers in RED states trying to capture an INCUMBENT Republican seat. There are two ways they can answer the question of their opinion on marriage equality:
1. I'm for it
2. I'm against it
Which answer do you think helps them get elected in those southern, red states??
Look. I'm not happy about this, either. But I think it goes far beyond Ford and Webb. The playing field was set by Republicans years ago with respect to this issue, and the Democratic response (or lack thereof) over the past three or four years has fundamentally ceded that ground to the Republicans. They have allowed the Republicans to make this a hot-button issue, one that can and does mobilize the Republican far-right base. Blaming Ford and Webb for having to fall into the construct current Democratic leaders have done almost nothing to demolish is not entirely their fault.
Moreover, I ahve been hitting everyone I can think of to mobilize for Webb in Virginia. I have written diaries about how rewarding and fun it is to put my time and effort into Webb's campaign. I know lots of VA Kossacks have also done similar activities - but lots haven't yet. I need people phone banking. I need people canvassing.
Do you think the negativity towards Webb is going to help to that end? This is ALL going to be about turnout in Virginia. I can't speak for Tennessee - but turning out Dems and doing what we can to discourage the turnout of the far-right is critical to success on November 7.
So be pissed off - but realize what the big picture is, here. If you criticize Webb or Ford or any other Dem challenger or incumbent on this stance or that one, you erode their support. It's just a fact. And I can't believe, in anyone's heart here at dKos, that you want support eroded for these candidates, regardless of how pissed off they have made you. Because at the end of the day, a Republican-led Senate and/or House is by FAR worse than a single statement made by a candidate.
Life's not fair sometimes - sometimes you DO have to choose between something really odious and something that is just odious. Choose wisely, my friends - because at this critical time, with so few days left to get the job done, every person who is turned off by negativity is working against the larger goal.
Let's get them in there FIRST. And if they suck and let us down and continue to let these issues dominate the debate, let's turn our considerable influence to finding Dems to replace the capitulators in the elections to come. Let's at least give them an opportunity to step up to the plate and see if there is a difference when they have the opportunity to set the agenda.
Update [2006-10-26 16:19:45 by RenaRF]: Holy cripes. I had to go to a meeting and there's something like 400 new coments. I'm going to sit here and read and catch up - my apologies for my negligence.