In Colorado, we are going to GIVE the Republicans the Governor's seat again. Shades of the 2000 Presidential election, vote for Nader and allow Bush to win, though Gore represents more of what you believe... worked well.
Bill Ritter - Democrat for Governor - former Denver D.A., well liked, well respected, progressive on all issues but...does not personally believe in abortion. Has said he will not seek abortion restrictions but would sign a bill if it comes across his desk.
Democrat's up in arms over what to do - try to get another candidate, don't throw support Ritter's way. Oh no! Not Pro Choice - who cares about helping the poor, protecting the environment, supporting the people rather than business...even though the GOP Candidates are heartily anti abortion, we can't let a non pro choicer be a Democrat...
Result - Good chance that a GOP ANTI ABORTION candidate will win as the Democrat's eat their own...
I HOPE I PISS YOU OFF - This is how the Dem's get labeled and framed by the GOP...more below
I don't agree with Ritter on the choice issue, but I do on many other issues. Should I just disqualify him because of the one issue? My other choice is strictly anti-abortion Republicans who favor business rather than people. I have heard this called the lesser of two evils approach, maybe it is, but I think it is the REAL WORLD approach. Here we have a candidate who may be derailed by one issue, one issue - I know it is important, but what about the rest of the issues, are they any less important. THIS IS WHAT HAS KILLED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONWIDE - SPECIAL INTERESTS OUTWEIGH OVERALL CONSEQUENCES - the Governer does not make the laws so since Ritter will not seek limits, why not focus on retaining the majority in the legislature and supporting Ritter - What does the Democratic Party do - try to recruit someone else to run. Result - the only press Ritter gets is the "Problem for Ritter -Abortion" and the GOP gets a ton of free press.
I am 100% pro-choice - but given a choice between a strict anti abortion candidate who is corporate driven and a Ritter, I would think the choice is obvious.
When I see the Dem's in Congress try to be unified, only to have a Kerry or Bidencome out for themselves, my blood boils. A party divided cannot win, even if you disagree with a candidate on some positions, isn't it the overall person that matters, isn't it getting the majority more important, isn't that majority going to allow you to work on your issue better than simply being in the minority.
Dem's claim to be more enlightened than conservatives, but we certainly don't show openness on specific issues. Until Dem's change, we will be the party of losers.
It's time to make a stand and change the guard of the Democratic Party.