Democrats should embrace guns,god and gays on their terms

[quinnox]

That's what you hear about why Democrats do so badly in the South from a republicans perspective, Guns (Dems want to take them), God (Dems are not people of faith), and Gays (Dems love gays and want to push the gay agenda).

Course the truth lies somewhere in between. But why not embrace these things on the Democrats terms.

For example, say that Democrats respect religious freedom and also the freedom to not be religious. And for those who are people of faith, talk about values such as helping the poor and not engaging in violence and so on. In other words, take the pieces of religion that appeal to traditional Democrat values. The Republicans have been doing this for years very effectively.

About guns, say that while guns are certainly a right, we don't want to have full bore military assault style weapons on our streets to hurt our kids and especially in these fearful times with terrorists running around. But otherwise guns are ok as long as they are regulated for national security reasons in these uncertain times.

Finally on gays, Dems could say they are for civil unions and recognize that most Americans don't want to see the term marriage used when talking about gays.
At the same time, gays could have the same legal rights that the normal marriage gets.

So why not embrace these issues, but on Democrats terms!

This way the party could hopefully expand its base in the South and get a new look from those southern voters at the same time.

[liberalitch]

1. I have a gun (several actually), I have a god and I believe...

in gays....
oooops i think that's wrong.... oh well you get the drift

[DanCa]

2. I consider myself to be pro neutral on somethings.

Guns for instance while I will never carry one I wont take away another right to carry one. At the same time I reserve the right to sue if you shoot me in the tush.
God - am more and more convinced that the red god is now just a collection of political hot bed of social issues and code words and is no longer the biblical historical verison of the blue god - jesus christ and all his works. If by adjust you mean the dems should schill god to cater to the red god's based than I respectively decline.
Gays - this is were we respectively disagree. The way I see it is that gays are human beings and americans and that they have the same rights as you me. We do need to address this line of thought however.
Please note I am not disrespecting you with my comments. We have a different out look though. This is just one mans opinion before the dopamine kicks in :)
Have a gentle and healthy day,
Danny.

[melnjones]

3. Makes sense...

Granted, there are differing opinions on these issues even within the Democratic Party, and that's ok. But what you are saying makes sense and reminds me of a recent speech Gen. Clark gave, talking about the importance of framing what we say, as in saying what we are FOR, not just what we are against.

[LoZoccolo]

4. This would make too much sense.

Everyone knows that our job is to let the Republicans draw the battle lines, and for us to just get on the other side they tell us to and allow them to run with the strategy they picked.

What would we do without them constantly setting our agenda for us?

[derby378]

5. "Full bore?"

About guns, say that while guns are certainly a right, we don't want to have full bore military assault style weapons on our streets to hurt our kids and especially in these fearful times with terrorists running around.

I think you just lost the Southern states, Texas, and Nevada.

It neither breaks your back nor picks your pocket if I own an AK-47 or an M1. (I don't BTW.)

[readmoreoften]

6. Um. These are EXACTLY the positions the democratic party has taken.

And this middle of the road position on everything pleases no one. I could, frankly, give a crap about gun control. Living in the south, where people have the right to carry made me feel no more or less safe.

All the religious stuff is just spin. Hate is easier to rouse than sanity, balance, and compassion. Is it a wonder that the Red Jesus gets more votes?

You can't compromise on gays. It doesn't convince the homophobes and the true progressives think you're weak. Let's be clear: many people in America want gay people to disappear--by closeting, if possible--but if not then by any means necessary. Everyone knows that civil unions are bullshit and have no legal standing.

Can we please stand for something?

[derby378]

7. We do - but we have a hard time fitting it on a bumper sticker

And now we need to rethink some of our traditional positions to see if they're actually hurting the party. That's one reason I harp on the AWB so much, but there's a lot of Democrats who think we should take a softer issue on access to abortion services, and that don't set well with me.

[yorgatron]

8. i'm an agnostic,and i go to the pistol range with my gay friend.

i wish Matthew Shepherd had had a CCW.

[gollygee]

9. I agree

1. This strategy is really working well, isn't it? :sarcasm: The original poster in this thread isn't even aware of our positions on these issues. People don't know what we stand for because we don't really stand for anything. We just try to win elections, regardless of what's right or wrong. Which doesn't work, obviously.

And that leads to:

2. As you said, couldn't we stand for something for a change?

[Abelman]

10. Here's where I stand

On faith: I don't find anything wrong with professing your faith so long as you aren't forcing others to follow it. That the red staters are doing is unconstitional in that they expect everyone to follow their religion. I have no problem pointing this out. I also have no problem explaining that the founding fathers weren't mainly devout Christians, but Enlightenment Deists. I have respect for someone's rights to not share my religion - even though I disagree with them. Religion can easily be seperated from politics; the problem is people who don't have strong enough faith. They think that if the government isn't enforcing their beliefs, then those beliefs will forever be gone.

They don't seem to understand what faith means.

GUNS: Everyone should be able to own any gun they want, but I am a strong proponent that they take a safety course for those guns before they are allowed to have them. That's my only stopper. I can't see the sense in allowing someone to have a gun if they don't know how to safely operate it. I also don't see why people seem to "need" certain guns, but if it makes them feel safe, let them have them.

Gays: I don't believe in government regulated marriage for ANYONE. Marriage is a religious issue, and if two people want to have a union regardless of gender or sexual orientation, that should be a state-recognized civil union. Marriage is something fo rthem to take up with their religion.