Reply #16: If it becomes a battle over gay rights, Dean WILL easily win [View All]

Dean won't run from that debate and there is NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE who can beat him on this issue. Anyone who watched the Civil Unions backlash play out in Vermont knows that Dean has no problem winning people over on this issue. I haven't seen anyone silence critics of gay rights in the way Dean can. In fact, he makes them look idiotic for even questioning gay rights and civil unions, and there is NO arguing the points he makes because he ties it in with patriotism, heroism and human decency. Even the majority of conservatives don't care about homosexuality anymore. The only ones who do are the zealously religious right wingers. Those votes are already lost over abortion. What a lot of people don't realize is that the Vermont battle over Civil Unions attracted the usual religious zealots to come up here and embark on a disgusting hate campaign against homosexuality. It backfired, disgusted voters and damn near everyone in the state was more angry over the hate campaign than they had been over the signing of that bill. This was a very, very ugly election season. The ones who were voted out were the moderate Republicans who voted in favor of civil unions because they didn't have the support of their party. Try as they might, they couldn't beat Dean, even though the Vermont Progressive Party is pretty influential here in Vermont. There is nothing Bush and the GOP can do or say that Dean hasn't already successfully countered and dealt with on this issue. It doesn't matter who the nominee is, this is going to be brought up by the right just because of a few small victories coming for the gay community. I'll tell you right now, the ONLY one who can survive what is coming is Howard Dean. Not only will he survive that fight, he will win it. Seriously, have you noticed how almost no reporter even brings this issue up anymore when talking to Dean? That's because those who have tried have been silenced by him and the way he talks about it makes people feel okay about civil unions.

It is true that for typical candidates, the tax issue would hurt them. It's different with Dean because of the way he frames it. He makes it very easy for people to associate the tax cuts with rising property taxes, cuts in services, education, social programs and tuition for college. He also talks about changing the tax system so that the burden doesn't fall on the middle and lower classes. Because of the way he frames the issue, it's a winner. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be, though. It will work this time. I'm normally all for lower taxes, but I'm really opposed to the cuts when there is a deficit like the one we have and states are suffering. Most people who make the connection want the cuts repealed.

Dean has proven that nothing thrown at him slows him down or hurts him. Kerry supporters are still upset over the whole "Bush-Lite" thing because it stuck to Kerry like glue and his supporters feel it has prevented people from supporting Kerry. Now look at all the crap hurled at Dean. Everytime his opponents and their supporters think they came up with something to sink his campaign it only boosts him up more.

Now, which candidate stands the best chance against Bush, one who has already lost supporters because the label of "Bush Lite" stuck to them, or one who has been attacked from all sides and just gotten stronger from it? I'll stick with the guy who has already proven himself to be able to easily deflect and gain strength from the attacks, thank you very much.