Daily Democrat: a positive discussion about Dick Gephardt

In an effort to provide for some enlightening discussion, rather than partisan flaming, the administrators have decided to post regular threads about the candidates for the Democratic nomination which are reserved for positive discussion only. These threads will be called the "Daily Democrat".

Currently, we intend to post two Daily Democrat discussion threads per day. If a particular thread becomes too long, then the moderators will open additional threads as necessary. These discussion threads will be allowed to stay open until the next two Daily Democrat threads are opened at some point the following day.

THE RULES

The rules for these Daily Democrat candidate threads are as follows. (For the purposes of these rules, the candidate who is the subject of the thread is referred to as the "Daily Democrat".)

1. You are welcome to post anything positive about the Daily Democrat. You can explain why you support that person. You can dispel myths about that candidate. You can discuss that person's positions on various issues. Whatever.

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

3. You may not post attacks of any kind against the Daily Democrat. Furthermore, you cannot post criticism and try to pass it off as a compliment ("I enthusiastically support candidate X because he ruined his state's economy!")

4. You may not discuss the supporters of any candidate (that goes for the the Daily Democrat, or any other candidate).

5. Undecided voters are encouraged to ask questions about the Daily Democrat in order to better inform their choice. Note that criticism disguised as a question will not be allowed.

6. You may not start another discussion thread for the purposes of responding to comments made in the "Daily Democrat" thread. Sorry -- you just have to suck it up and let the positive discussion continue uninterrupted.

7. I will not babysit the Daily Democrat thread, because I believe it will not be necessary. It is the responsibility of every member to know and follow the rules. Deliberate disruption of the Daily Democrat thread, or efforts by opponents to influence the Daily Democrat thread, will result in the banning of the individual(s) responsible.

8. I reserve the right to change the rules as necessary to make this work.

TIMING

We will discuss two Daily Democrats per day, and cycle through the list of presidential candidates in modified alphabetical order.

12/04 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/05 - Howard Dean ....... and ... Joe Lieberman
12/06 - John Edwards ...... and ... Carol Moseley Braun
12/07 - Dick Gephardt ..... and ... Al Sharpton
12/08 - John Kerry ........ and ... Wesley Clark
12/09 - Dennis Kucinich ... and ... Howard Dean
12/10 - Joe Lieberman ..... and ... John Edwards
12/11 - Carol Moseley Braun and ... Dick Gephardt
12/12 - Al Sharpton ....... and ... John Kerry
12/13 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/14 - Etc...

LET'S GET STARTED

Here's your chance for some positive discussion of Dick Gephardt! Who wants to start it off?

He made a mistake on IWR and I was very angry. But he is not the only candidate or democrat I like who made that mistake.. people here need to be honest about that.
What I respect about Gephardt is his loyalty to labor and his years of service to the party. Many people would like to discard these things as unimportant, but they are not. He is certainly seasoned and it shows in his campaign focus. I know he is not catching fire, but when he speaks he speaks for many of the silent majority of democrats who think as he does.

and possibly some southern states.

I disagree with him more than I agree with him but he would be an improvement over Bush*.

5 Things

1) His record in regards to labor, especially foreign trade is stellar, no wonder so many industrial unions have endorsed the guy. Gephardt even opposed his own President when Bill was wrong on NAFTA. "House Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, D-Mo., the quintessential party loyalist, is adjusting to a dissident's role. His opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he declared Tuesday in a speech at the National Press Club, puts him in direct opposition to President Bill Clinton at a time when Clinton, and the Democrats, are pressing the most ambitious legislative agenda in a generation." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/26/93;

Gephardt opposed Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China: "Gephardt to fight normalized trade status for China; Stance draws fire in election year" Houston Chronicle, 4/19/00;

Gephardt opposed Fast-Track -- and won the fight in 1997: "Fast-Track Loss Makes Winner of Labor, Gephardt" St. Louis Post-Disptach, 11/14/97


2) Loyalty to Clinton during impeachment, fought the House Mangaers tooth-and-nail and also gave an awesome speech on the topic on the floor. Washington Post 12/22/1998: "For Gephardt, the speech was an eloquent capstone to a year in which he navigated beleaguered House Democrats through the thickets of the White House sex scandal to surprising gains in midterm elections and a carefully built party consensus that survived even the divisive impeachment debate. It was also a moment when he grew in stature from a fresh-faced but bland politician with perennial presidential ambitions to become, at least for a day, an authentic national figure suddenly able to articulate the country's deepest agonies. "But for his colleagues, his actions through the year and his words Saturday brought his party – and perhaps the entire House – together for a moment when they appeared to be drowning. "He went from being respected to being respected and loved by the Democratic caucus," said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)

3) Fought Newt Gingrich day in and day out as Minority Leader. Stylisticlly Gephardt is a perfect contrast to Newt. He is pragmatic and a consensus builder. Newt was a abrasive and loud. It was perfect contrast and for Democrats he was a perfect leader at that time for that reason.

4) Working class background. The truth be told voters in the South and Midwest, I fear are skeptical of folks from the coasts. Gephardt's background gives the perception that the working blue collar folks can relate to.

5) Even though most think the guy is wore down by over 25 years in Congress, he still has some bold ideas and goals for his Presidency. National health care, international minimum wage, energy independence from Mideastern Oil,

I'm sure there are more, but those top my list!

God knows I have had my fill of some of the flashier candidates.

I'd forgotten about that. I remember really being impressed by that, I'd never thought of Gep being a great communicator, but his impeachment speech changed that for me.

But I wouldn't call Gep loyal to Clinton throughout the whole scandal. I remember him being more concerned about protecting the dem party from damage, which was the correct thing for him to do. I think at several points he pissed off the Clinton people.

who has served the Democratic cause well for years and years. He's been a strong fighter for the Democratic cause, not just in his years as leader, but also in his years prior, ever since he entered the House.

has always been firm on labor rights and has stood up for the working American.

has stood up for Unions and the middle class his entire career. He has not caved to become a corporate Democrat like so many others.

Gephardt stood up to Newt and the Impeachment circus. He supported our President and our democracy.

If he wins Iowa, he maybe the darkhorse candidate. We don't talk about him much on DU, but I think he still has an outside chance.

He was a fine speaker at the UAW convention in Anaheim.

Gephardt correctly saw where this would go. He opposed it and I can never forget it. He should have every single labor endorsement for his loyalty to workers and it shocks me no end that he has been betrayed.

And he really is a solid dem- no matter what other people might think. I would have no problem voting for Gep :-)

And he has been a solid supporter of unions during an era when many others have turned their backs on them.

and plus one of the best men I know supports Gep, thanks grandpa for all you've taught me.

I would have no problem supporting him either.

Strength: labor.

He would make a fine president, and is vastly underestimated by the media. He might just end up the nominee, to much surprise.

Gep isn't a fresh face, but he has been battling for Democratic causes for more than two decades. I think it is time for him to have a shot at the brass ring, at least for partial payment for his great service for so many years to the Dems.

He truly cares about common people, and has a heart and compassion that would be a refreshing change for the White House.

I would be honored to vote for Dick Gephardt for president.

There is enough in there for ME to proud of that I would be happy to support and vote for him, though he's not my first or even third choice.

Great Dem...my #2 candidate