Since we are almost thinking in "general election" terms (or at least Joe Trippi is), i want to talk about an aspect of the party that bugs the heck out of me and which i hope we don't succumb to in the general election--obsessive PC intolerance. I'm a person of color and of religious faith, so perhaps this tinges my views.
When Trent Lott made his dumb remarks about Strom Thurmond, the Black Congressional Caucus demanded he resign from his position.
When Santorum said his stupid "man on dog" whatever remarks, Dean and several other Dems demanded he step down from his position.
The reaction from liberals to those instances made me recoil and only reinforced the "elite interest group PC-doctrinaire" stereotype. It is the place of Democrats to condemn the remarks as the bigoted garbage that they are. it is another thing to demand resignations and infringe on free speech principles. and politically, it's stupid. i debated this with many angry liberals and said, "look, don't we WANT trent lott and Santorum to represent the leadership of the GOP?? why make our jobs harder by getting a friendly looking "moderate" like Frist in there? i want to point out to the American people that these are the types of people the GOP has as leaders." and also, as someone who abhors PC (mainly because i have to deal with white progressives all the time), i'd rather know where i stand with people instead of having them speak in broad platitudes.
I have a feeling this issue will come up again during the primaries. and i hope this time, Dean's folks won't put up petitions asking Santorum to resign....