Political Expediency Abounds in Schiavo Case

[rodeodance]

I am ambivlant as to whether of not the Dems should have put up a big fight.

...Democratic strategist David Sirota said the Schiavo case creates three impressions. "Firstly, Republicans are zealots," he said. "Secondly, where the hell are the Democrats? And thirdly, well, at least the zealots believe in something strongly. And that's the problem for Democrats right now on this issue, and a whole host of others. The party seems unwilling to stand up for anything controversial."

"The calculus by Democrats is that they don't want to offend anyone," Sirota said. "But in trying not to offend anyone, they lose support from everyone. What many Democrats haven't yet learned from Republicans is that it is better to be loved by some, and hated by others, than try to be liked by everyone. Because when you do that, you are liked by no one."

Democrats continue to fuss over the meaning of a November exit poll that indicated moral issues as the top priority for a plurality of voters. Most voters who cited morality as their top issue voted for President Bush. The poll and the November drumming set off a new round of soul searching among the party faithful, who wondered aloud what they could do to counter the party's Godless reputation.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) favored the Schiavo measure and helped negotiate its wording with Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.), according to Jim Manley, a spokesman for Reid. There was no consistent position on the measure among Democratic senators, Manley said.......


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59502-2005Mar23.html

Political Expediency Abounds in Schiavo Case

By Terry M. Neal
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 23, 2005; 9:41 AM

[GetTheRightVote]

1. They need to stand for something one of these days and soon

:kick:

[PartyPooper]

2. Ya' think so?

:think:

[truthisfreedom]

3. i think this case is not a good example of the problem, although i agree

it exists. we can certainly play our own version of that game, but we do NOT have to play it on their terms or by their rules. they shot themselves in both feet with this one. we need Dean's principled guidance on our quest to establish an image for the Dems.