Reply #18: lots of talk from Dean about white southerners [View All]

I'm waiting for the conversation to turn to the traditional Democratic voters, minorities included. This is a race for the Democratic primary, not the conservative club. We need to focus on traditional Democrats or we could lose 3 just to get one southern conservative vote.

I don't like the threats of: Support Dean no matter what or you'll get Bush. Or.the southern voters who have never voted for Democrats are our only hope.

There is something so craven about bending your principles to get these votes. I think giving any cover for rebel flag-wavers is too high a price for a vote.

It is bewildering to me to see the frantic efforts to appease these folks. We won the last election without them. We can win another without them. We don't have to make a republican noise. We just need to stick to our Democratic principles. Votes will follow our conviction.

I am a longtime Democrat. Never voted outside of the party. Never will. But, I think we can go so far in our appeal to the white southerners that we alienate our core constituencies. We shouldn't take their vote for granted. Not unless we want our party to become more like these southern prospects, to the supression of our core beliefs.

In my view, we should put our liberal foot in the door and keep it there. Conservatism be damned!