Posted on 05/11/2006 9:13:31 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has angered supporters in the gay and lesbian community by stating that his party opposes gay marriage.
Appearing on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s program "The 700 Club” on Wednesday, Dean declared: "The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That's what it says. I think where we may take exception with some religious leaders is that we believe in inclusion, that everybody deserves to live with dignity and respect, and that equal rights under the law are important.”
Dean, however, "misrepresented” the party platform, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which has returned a $5,000 contribution from the Democratic Party in a protest over Dean’s remarks.
According to the blog PageOneQ, the Democratic Party’s actual platform reads: "We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits and protection for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush’s divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a ‘Federal Marriage Amendment.’”
The Task Force’s executive director Matt Foreman said in a statement: "Governor Dean is wrong about what the Democratic platform says about marriage equality. Disturbingly, this is not the first time he has misrepresented this important and affirming plank, and he has been asked before to correct the record and to cease making these misleading statements.”
In an effort to drum up support in the Christian community before the 2006 midterm elections, Dean also stated on the show: "One of the misconceptions about the Democratic Party is that we're godless and that we don't have any values.
"The truth is, we have an enormous amount in common with the Christian community, and particularly with the evangelical Christian community.
"One of the biggest things that Democrats worry about is the materialism of our country, what's on television that our kids are seeing, and the lack of spirituality. And that's something we have in common."
Dean even tried to downplay the Democratic Party’s traditional strong pro-choice stance, saying: "I think what we have in common with the evangelical community is that we ought to have a lot fewer abortions than we do. The abortions have actually gone up in the last few years. We should have far fewer abortions ... we ought to make sure that there's not just abstinence, but family planning used to get rid of abortion, and that is something that we share.”
Asked if it is important for Democrats to tap into the evangelical community to win in 2006, he responded: "I think it's important, and I think it's a good idea for the Democratic Party.” But if Dean’s comments were designed to garner support from evangelicals, they no doubt alienated many in the gay and lesbian community.
In his statement, Foreman said: "Governor Dean’s record on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues since becoming DNC chair has been sorely and sadly lacking.
"In light of Governor Dean’s pandering and insulting interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, we have decided to return the DNC’s recent $5,000 contribution to us.”
Keep talking Dean
Please, God, never let Gov. Dean leave his job as head of the DNC. Amen.
Dean is a psychopath and a compulsive, manipulative liar. In other words, a democrat.
I thought that abortions had gone down.
This is good cop/bad cop.
Dean opposes homosexual marriage until he supports homosexual marriage.
This is the BS line Kerry used. Marriage for homosexuals in all aspects EXCEPT the use of the "m" word.
This exchange is pandering to the homsexuals and an effort to speak red state. Dean is a liar becaue the democrat party DOES support homosexual marriage.
Just look at Mass.
Just look at CF.
Just look at homosexual explicit sex clubs in the public schools.
(is dean still looking for Osama at DNC fundraisers?)
Leaving Dean begging for scraps from the consumer-nonproducers at D.U. & Kos.
The Dems are looking for BIG BLOCKS. Gays isn't it. Abortion is no longer it.
Immigration IS IT. Old people are it....people like my mother who still thinks Roosevelt runs the party and totally ignores the issues.
LOL...is this some lame attempt at pandering to conservatives or what?
"We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families..."
How on earth does a Gay or Lesbian couple create a family?
What a laugh.
I think Dean has finally lost it if he thinks anybody can take him seriously on this statement.
Heard thru the dark side that there is major fighting between the DNC Chairman (Howard Dean) and the leader of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (Rep. Rahm Emanuel) over Funds and how it should be spend. Apparently Rahm Emanuel thinks Dean is spending money like water. Heh heh!
About ten minutes ago local L.A. radio news reported that Dean has recanted and says he mispoke.
Flip, Flop
Lie 'til you drop.
"Immigration IS IT."
Hillary was on Fox news this morning saying she thinks we should build a wall!
At least the DEM's are paying attention to what the population is saying. (Not that I believe anything she says)
Donation FROM the DNC? Thats not a donation ITS A FREAKIN BRIBE!!!!
Dean is a lying sack. I remember the first couple of "debates" in the 2004 election cycle. They were WAY early in the summer of 2003 and the media was covering them feverishly. At a time when we were fighting terrorists around the world, Dean challenged John Kerry and said he was not "brave" or "courageous" enough to openly support gay marraige - right in the opening minutes of the debate. I knew that no matter what the early polls said, this was going to be an albatross around the dems neck.
what about,
a marriage between,
a man and a woman,
plus,
another man, and a chimp,
and a refrigerator?
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