Howard
Dean: A fighter who will show us how to win
January
19, 2004
By dsc
Editor's
Note: To mark the beginning of the primary season, the
editors of Democratic Underground solicited articles from
our members in support of the eight Democratic presidential
primary candidates. Publication of these articles does not
imply endorsement of any candidate by the editors of Democratic
Underground.
I
was a Gore man in 2000. I know many people found Gore uninspiring.
I know people thought he ran a lousy campaign. But I am not
one of those people. I think Gore ran one of the best campaigns
in modern times and would have made a great President. But
our country was robbed.
The next three years have been like the movie, The Lion King.
We went from the benevolent and wise rule of President Clinton
to the maniacal rule of President Bush. Like Scar, Bush took
over in a coup. Like Scar, Bush invited the hyenas to feed
upon the land. Like Scar, Bush has laid waste to our country.
What was once a place worthy of pride has become a barren
wasteland. What was once a peaceful land devoted to expanding
the circle of life has become a militaristic nation devoted
to invading the Middle East. Like Pride Rock we are in need
of a savior.
Our Democratic party has been like Simba. It has wandered
in the wilderness singing Hakuta Mikata while the country
has been laid waste to. It has been paralyzed by fear and
blame manufactured by the treasonous Bush and silly philosophizing
by the Timon's and Pumbaa's of our party. Like Simba, it has
been lead astray. And like the denizens of Pride Rock we are
in a nightmare without end.
Like Rafiki, Dean is knocking some sense into our party.
He is showing us our inner Mufasta and the way to prosperity
and power. If we want our party to return like Simba did then
we need to follow Rafiki's advice like Simba did. The citizens
of our country need us like citizens of Pride Rock needed
a resurgent Simba.
Clearly I have taken this analogy as far as I can. And yes,
I know it is a bit overdrawn. But Bush really is much like
Scar. And our country really is much like Pride Rock. And
we really do need a resurgent Simba. We really can't afford
another term of Bush. The hyenas need to be sent home. And
Dean is best positioned to do this.
Dean took on one of the most contentious issues of our time
in 2000. Giving gays and lesbians the same relationship rights
as their straight siblings was a boldly risky move for a man
who would later run for President. When I was growing up the
idea I could have anything like a marriage relationship was
literally unthinkable. I believed myself doomed to a life
similar to that in Crusing or worse one of utter aloneness.
Thanks in part to Howard Dean, a gay person who graduates
in 2018 will have never lived in a time during which the thought
of a gay or lesbian couple having those rights is unimaginable.
This is an important issue. It involves serious things and
serious people. It is no accident that civil union certificates
are looked upon as a holy grail in the gay community. It is
tangible proof that we are real citizens with real rights
that are taken seriously.
Dean treated us like adults. He told us the truth that full
gay marriage made him uncomfortable. But then he fought like
Hell for us. He took on the forces of darkness that helped
bring about the desolation of our country. They tried to take
back Vermont and instead Vermont took them out. Even with
leftist challenge Dean got half the vote and a 5th term. Dean
risked his career to give a people a right so fundamental
that it is hard to think of a person without them as a full
citizen. Then he beat the forces of darkness and cemented
our rights. He was a real friend and deserves our gratitude.
But this isn't a mercy vote. As impressed as I am with his
granting those rights I am more impressed with the fact he
won. I know about the ruthlessness of gay rights opponents.
I know that no lie is too low, no tactic too base, and no
act too hypocritical for the alleged Christians these people
are. Dean had to campaign in a bullet proof vest. Something
he doesn't often tell people but it is true. Dean will beat
these base people.
His record is one of fiscal discipline combined with social
and governmental liberalism. Fiscal discipline is necessary
in our times. We can't return to the prosperity of the Clinton
era without a return to the fiscal values of the Clinton era.
Dean's record is one of fiscal sanity and creating jobs in
Vermont. While the nation was being turned into a barren wasteland
by the current administration, Vermont has run like a well
oiled machine. Where the current administration created debt,
Dean created surplus. Where the current administration has
created uninsured Dean has created insured. Where the current
administration had created joblessness and despair, Dean has
created wealth and prosperity.
Like any governor, Dean has a record to run on. The comparison
of that record with Bush's will win this race for us. And,
not only that but Dean will fight back and has experience
doing so. He, and his supporters, won't let the distorting
demagogues of desolation run amok. We won't let these people
win the way they did last time. He showed us that in 2000
and will show us that again.
Dean is a true friend, a real winner, and will be a great
President.
For more information about Howard Dean, please visit www.deanforamerica.com.
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