Poll Watch: A Kerry/Dean Ticket Would Save The Day
Well, this is the best news I've had in a long while. Almost makes me giddy, although it could just still be the afterglow of the Veenstra defeat. But, I doubt it, because the ONE thing that could actually make me think kindly of Kerry would be for him to choose our Howard Dean as his VP. The brilliant glow shining off of Gov. Dean would actually make Kerry seem, in the words of Demetrius at People-powered Graphics, slightly less evil. That being said, here's the news!
From: National Draft Dean for VP Committee
We're having an impact! Communication with someone who prefers to remain anonymous inside the Kerry campaign tells us that Dean is under consideration — because Nader is polling double digits in some battleground states. Recent Fox and Zogby polls showed a Kerry/Dean ticket taking votes away from both Nader AND Bush. Momentum is building, but we can't stop now.
In recent history, VP selections have been announced prior to the Democratic National Convention commencement. This gives us a very small window of time to make our statement! We're moving into the final push.
Sign the Draft Dean petition here:
http://www.draftdeanforvp.org/petition.html
Michael Faulkner, co-chair, National Draft Dean Committee
Dean: It's Common Sense, Stupid!
A historical perspective by Draft Dean for VP committee member Melinda LaChance
John Adams called it “the most insignificant office ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.” And until 1804, the vice presidency was little more than a consolation prize. The Constitution's original provision for presidential elections dictated that the candidate with the second most number of electoral votes assumed the position of vice president. The ratification of the 12th Amendment required the Electoral College to cast separate ballots in voting for president and vice president. It was after the passage of the 12th Amendment that presidential candidates and political parties began to ticket balance by nominating VP candidates who could attract voters not initially drawn by the top of the ticket. Some notable instances of successful ticket balancing throughout history:
· The Whig Party selected former Democrat John Tyler to run on the same ticket as presidential candidate William Henry Harrison in the 1840 election. Tyler's cross-party appeal ensured Harrison's victory.
· The 1980 Republican presidential primary had been especially contentious, with George Bush attacking Ronald Reagan's tax-cut plan as “voodoo economics.” Reagan's conservative rhetoric delivered him the Republican nomination, and he subsequently named former rival Bush as his running mate. Bush's background as U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Envoy to China and director of the C.I.A. helped compensate for Reagan's lack of foreign policy experience. As a moderate Republican, Bush drew independents and even conservative Democrats to the Reagan/Bush ticket.
Balancing a presidential ticket is not an exact science, but examining recent successes reveals a pattern of legislative and executive pairings. Although four out of the last five presidents have been state governors, the position of governor affords little foreign policy experience. Federal legislators tend to acquire experience in foreign policy, but they also develop extensive voting records, which become liabilities in a presidential campaign. Only two presidents in the history of the United States won their races as incumbent senators: Warren Harding and John F. Kennedy. It's difficult enough to get one senator elected president; putting two senators on a ticket (or worse, a senator and a congressman) has not historically spelled election success.
If you haven't already, sign the Draft Dean petition here.
Blog For Iowa 
Well Linda
While it may be interesting I dont reckon Gov. Dean will get the nod. Before you toss the brick my way I did sign the petition.
Carlisle, Iowa
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Well, there might actually be a kernal of truth to this. I worked the Kerry/DNC booth at Iowa City Pride this weekend and encountered significant numbers of people saying they would vote for Nadar.
Here's the kind of remark I heard many times, “well Kerry pulled the same thing on the gay community that Clinton/Gore did when they failed to live up to their promises of supporting the gay community by instituting “don't ask don't tell” and then signing DOMA. Kerry's coming out supporting the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment simply makes him an unacceptable candidate for my vote.”
This I will also share……..the vast majority of gays and lesbians with whom I spoke are VERY dissappointed Dean is not the nominee (or Kucinnich). While its difficult to know if Dean being on the ticket would bring them back, he would do far more then Edwards who is most definately lacking in ANY support in the gay community.
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hey Darrell
Did you remind the folks you spoke to that Kerry backs civil unions but not marriage? I thought he made that pretty clear in the debates in the run up to the caucus. I didnt support Kerry in the caucus because of his war vote. I went in backing Kucinnich and wound up with the Deanies when we couldnt get one more person to make us viable. I know this is my stupid opinion but any Gay person that votes for Nader is nuts. If the stakes were not so high I would not mind, but bush has to go. I'm getting too old to go into the bush again.
Carlisle, Iowa
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Up until today, I would have agreed with you 100%. But, as of today, I only agree with you 95%! LOL
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Yes, Carlisle…I had several of those discussions…but the point is not really Kerry's position but his about face and turning on the gay community like Clinton did. The problem is that those persons who would not vote for Kerry believe he will do just like Clinton and after elected abandon the gay community…Frankly, I have something of the same concern…but I am voting to defeat Bush in spite of that. Although I am working to elect Kerry passing out his lit and talking the talk; simply out of principal I refuse to contribute to his campaign and instead take those monies and give them to progressive candidates that advance my issues.
90% of gays and lesbians I am confident will vote for Kerry, but that leaves perhaps 500,000 who will vote for probably Nader.
And, so many people think civil unions and gay marriage are essentially the same things…well, those people are not gays and lesbians……seperate but equal is not equal in most LGBT community members minds.
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On a related note, I have information from reliable sources in Washington, DC that the Republicans are making plans to bring to a vote the anti-gay constitutional amendment shortly before the Democratic National Convention.
I urge everyone to contact Grassley…….point out that the Iowa Senate defeated such an amendment with the margin of victory provided by Republicans. I would also point out to him that Ken Veenstra, the author of that amendment, was defeated in his Republican primary.
Make the point to Grassley that this isn't an issue that wins votes in Iowa….maybe he will reconsider his planned vote in support of it given his upcoming election.
But there are some who are suggesting, that in fact the Repugs are going to push the vote earlier so this issue goes away before the election because of growing evidence of voter backlash. The theory is its defeat will lull the gay community back into political complacency and yet make their consituency satisfied that they tried. The tone of the Republican rhetoric will tell us much about their motivations.
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Hi, all, I, too, signed very very early when the petition was first announced. I, too, am giving money directly to progressive candidates. I am writing letters for Sr. for Am. and for Mainstreet Moms Opposing Bush.
I would like to suggest that the above comments about the gay marriage issue and the political strategy be sent to the main blog for some direct action by all state groups…maybe it is already being done.
Lastly, it is my view that if Dean would get the nod after all the pain and suffering he has been put thru, the Dean people would erupt with joy, energy, money, their time…ie, more would get directly involved as this would be simply so incredibly wonderful. A Sec. position would be good too, but the real energizing of the Dems would be from Dean.
Just having this on our blog is a perfect example, as here we are, commenting away!
Best to all…
Bev
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Hey Darrel
I'm afraid that I must profess ignorance as to when Kerry turned on the Gay community. Could you help me out? I happen to think that your concern is a real consideration, on Kerry walking away. Regarding civil unions v. marriage. Took me a minute to get the seperate but equal. As an old straight crazy XGI I see unions as something allowed by the state, while marriage is sanctioned by a church. In my fuzzy mind two seperate things. But what the heck do I know.
mark
Carlisle, Iowa
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Kerry turning against the gay community . . . isn't that the same old Kerry, always on both sides of every issue?
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Boy, you got that right, Bev! It would be like the Democratic Party just exploded over night with energy and enthusiasm. IMO, Kerry is either too stupid to see it or else he can see it and he's too threatened by it. Nobody wants to be shown up by the VP candidate.
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You see Kerry has in the past claimed to be the champion of civil rights for gays and lesbians…and in fact, he was one of very few Senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act and he was an early opponent to the “don't ask, don't tell policy”. Until this election cycle you will be VERY HARD PPRESSED to find anything where Kerry even suggests he opposes gay marriages, in fact, his success in Mass. is in no small part because of the historic support he has enjoyed for a large gay population.
Kerry during the caucuses was steadfast in his opposition to constitutional amendments (state or federal) prohibiting gay marriages…I personally heard him make those statements.
Then, Kerry sews up the nomination….things get a little hairy in his home state and in a complete surprise to his gay constituents he supports the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment in Mass. His about face was widely reported in gay publications nationwide and he was severely criticized by the gay community in Mass for abandoning them after all his years of support.
You might know the Iowa Senate this year defeated an anti-gay constitutional amendment. Voting with the democratic majority were five Republicans, who don't necessarily support gay marriages but oppose messing with the constitution and mixing government and religion.
Yes, marriage is a religious scrament in several churches including the one I attend which sanctifies gay marriages…so why should the government limit my church to allow gay marriages…you see, any way you look at it….its still discrimination.
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Darrell
Thanks for the run down. Several things to ponder, and I will. I may not come to a conclusion you would like, but your insight has provided me a couple of things to throw out when the subject come up in conversation, to perhaps provide one of those ah ha revelations.
mark
Carlisle, Iowa
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