The Deepest Divide: God, Guns, And Gays

[Quetzal]

The Deepest Divide: God, Guns, And Gays

Michael G. Verich served eight terms as a Democratic member of the Ohio legislature, representing economically distressed Youngstown. That should make him a natural supporter of Democratic standard-bearer John F. Kerry, who is blitzing the Rust Belt with attacks on the Bush Administration for offshoring American jobs.

So who is Verich backing in November? George W. Bush, says Verich, a Catholic whose decision is based in large part on moral and cultural issues rather than lunch-pail economics. "Most Ohioans support an amendment to ban flag burning, but not Kerry," Verich notes. "Partial-birth abortion? Many of us believe it's immoral, and Kerry voted against a ban on that ugly method. And 65% of Ohioans believe in capital punishment." Kerry supports the death penalty only for terrorists.

Verich is just the sort of social conservative that President Bush's campaign strategists want to win over -- or discourage from voting entirely -- when they launch a cultural offensive in several crucial swing states. The goal is to drive a wedge between Kerry and fence-straddling voters by making his "Massachusetts values" more important than Bush's record on job creation and the deficit.

more...

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_20/b3883046.htm

[noahmijo]

1. I love all 3 (God, Guns, and Gays)

Well I'm a Catholic so of course I love God. This "Catholic" is clearly out of touch with the world today and I wouldn't give him a second glance.

A good Catholic loves and respects all people, and doesn't support passing laws that would endanger women even more.

I love guns, although I support gun control and background checks, still guns are a hobby for me.

I love Gays because they're fun people to hang around with. They always make me laugh and they're usually in a good mood. I don't understand why straight guys don't like gay guys.

I mean c'mon the more gay guys the more girls for you dopes!

[Radical Activist]

2. This is why the Dem message should be...

economic populism. Kerry is liberal on the social morality issues and moderate on the economic issues. Its too bad so many Democrats are afraid to be economic liberals. That's the best chance of winning in the south and rural midwest. The DLC has it exactly backwards.

This is really the new southern strategy. Repigs previously used racism to get poor southern whites to vote against their economic interests, and now they use evangelical bigotry.

I just ask people if they care more about the gay couple down the street screwing eachother, or about George Bush screwing you!

[Zynx]

4. Yeah. We have to stop pushing our social values down others' throats.

It is deeply offensive to a large number of people and prevents us from obtaining a real majority.

[fujiyama]

5. What social values?

You mean those of tolerance and inclusion?

Those of allowing women to choose what to do with their bodies?

Sorry, I'm not interested in compromising all these "offensive" values, just to win the votes of some intolerant morons.

[mrgorth]

9. Agreed.

That and educate people about the partial birth stuff. People are out there thinking that women are just deciding last minute.

[eridani]

10. Exactly right.

They'd stop caring quickly enough if the Dems stood more strongly for the bottom half of the income distribution. If they stay similar to the rethugs economically, then divisive cultural issues are the only ones left.

One of my Kucinich flyers--

THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD STAND FOR AN END TO EXPORTING AMERICAN JOBS

We can have bilateral trade agreements conditioned on workers' rights, human rights, and environmental quality principles. This would provide security for American workers and for workers worldwide. Enough of telling displaced manufacturing workers to learn computers, and then sending those jobs away too. Nobody wins the race to the bottom!

With all the talk we’ve had about ‘electability,’ why continue to ignore the one issue which has the most appeal to so many people who are otherwise conservative?

The issue that I believe will put the Democratic candidate right over the top will be his condemnation of NAFTA/GATT, free trade, and his pledge to end our participation in the World Trade Organization. If he wants to win by a comfortable margin, all he has to do is that. The massive number of red states that voted for Bush last election will turn to blue, and he will waltz into the White House like a halfback who strolls untouched into the end zone. End of game. –Carl Worden, conservative Christian columnist for the Sierra Times, Bush voter in 2000.

BRING THIS ISSUE TO BOSTON!
CAST YOUR CAUCUS VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH!

[QC]

11. Amen! When the parties are so similar on economic issues

it makes cultural issues the main difference between them. Then people figure, "Hey, neither party is really looking out for me, but at least the Republicans won't take my guns ."

It's time for Democrats to start fighting back in the class war.

[corporatewhore]

12. Becareful of your wording Are you saying you want a Neoliberal?

ya know for liberalizing trade and such?
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Paul.Treanor/neoliberalism.html

[NEOBuckeye]

3. You really think voting Bush can help Youngstown? HA!

I'm sorry, this Verich guy in the article may be a fellow Ohioan, but he's a damned fucking idiot. Your city is the shame of the state -- a certified mob-owned cesspool whose biggest achievement in the past decade was watching 15% of its population flee for their lives. Industry is non existant, and you have a better chance of getting hit by an airborne semi than landing a job outside of McDonalds. And all you're worried about is a flag-burning amendment? WHAT THE FUCK?!

This guy wouldn't have a clue about what really matters, even if George W. Bush himself draped a towel over this guys head and urinated in his face. Unbelievable.

Forgive my reaction. But I am really appalled by the simplistic level of thought in this country right now.

[GOPBasher]

7. I love your post!

You really captured how I feel, lately. Why are so many people so stupid? :shrug:

[farmbo]

6. That Verich a**hole has a $100,000+/yr job from the GOP..they bought him!

He was appointed by GOP Governor Voinovich of Ohio to the state Employee Relations Board in 1999... a $100,000+ "no show" job where he only has to show up for a couple of hearings a month.

Anyone who knew him as a state legislator will tell you he was a lightweight, poser Mommas Boy.

Good Riddance...And get the word out about Verich's GOP blood money!! He's formed a group in Ohio calling itself "Ohio Democrats for Bush".

We haven't heard the last of that skumbucket.

[dsc]

8. I didn't know about the job

though it would have likely been Taft doing the appointing but same thing. Voinovich was out of office on Jan 3, 1999.

[DrFunkenstein]

13. Whole New Meanings For "Pistol Packing" and "Bible Thumping"

Even "the deepest divide" takes on new resonances in the world of non-sensical double entendres...