Gay community gave Dean an early boost

WashingtonPost ^ | 01/02/04 | THOMAS B. EDSALL

[Pikamax]

Gay community gave Dean an early boost

By THOMAS B. EDSALL Washington Post

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's record-setting fund-raising first took off in large part because of an outpouring of support from the gay community.

With just one exception, every fund-raiser Dean attended outside Vermont in 2002 was organized by gay men and lesbians, as were more than half the events in the first quarter of 2003, Dean advisers say.

"The early foundation of Governor Dean's presidential campaign -- both in fund-raising and organization -- was built by the support of the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community around the country," said Dean finance director Stephanie Schriock.

The gay community "was the first to recognize Dean's strength of character after his leadership on Vermont's civil union legislation, and because of that, they were the first to open up their homes for events and ask their friends and colleagues to give money to this endeavor," she added.

This early backing provided a foundation for Dean to expand his core support to include voters opposed to the Iraq war, angry at President Bush, embittered by the outcome of the 2000 election and discontented with what they saw as a Democratic Party establishment without backbone.

[COEXERJ145]

Oh boy. Dean has the support of around 2% of the population.

He's going to win for sure. /sarcasm

[InvisibleChurch]

i'd bet that dean is going to let loose with some anti-homosexual gaffe someday

[Slings and Arrows]

Gay community gave Dean an early boost

A little push from behind?

[Az Joe]

Did a little "scouting of the enemy" a while back in Phoenix. Went into Dean headquarters. First person I ran into was obviously gay. Make no mistake about it, the gays have found their candidate and they wil push him on the rest of us if they can.

[doug from upland]

The gay community is apparently trying to stick it in America's rear. They are not going to get away with it. Let them waste their money and have their pink nominee. He is totally unelectable.

[sine_nomine]

Don't underestimate their political power.

[Jorge]

Don't underestimate their political power.

Don't underestimate their ability to alienate more of the electorate than they attract in national elections.

[blackbart.223]

"A little push from behind?"

Dean might like that. In fact, he probably does.

[Dallas59]

Deans early "Gay" Years...

[A CA Guy]

There behind Dean all the way you think?

[A CA Guy]

There = They are

[ijcr]

A queer eye for the angry guy....what a reality show, coming soon to national television this year.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

With just one exception, every fund-raiser Dean attended outside Vermont in 2002 was organized by gay men and lesbians, as were more than half the events in the first quarter of 2003, Dean advisers say.

This is going to be a very interesting primary season.

[Michael Barnes]

Don't underestimate their political power.

Do what many of us have been doing, don't bow to their minority interests. Don't bow to their deviance. Don't bow to their lies.

Will people in your immediate area be astounded by your convictions? You bet. Will they come around to the "straight" thinking folk they should be? Couldn't tell ya.

But I can tell you this, every day you lay down and let the homosexual lies and deceit go unchallanged, you let "their political power" rise. Don't do it.

FWIW, I will admit, it's hard in "Corporate America" to stand by your convictions, but I'm certain you can find a way. I did.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Normally, you wouldn't get this kind of reporting about a Democrat candidate but they're desperate to lose Dean.

Piling on Dean*** As Howard Dean consolidates his lead in primary states, his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination are dropping their gloves.***

[Spell Correctly]

Reason # 56,264 to not vote for Dean.

[sheik yerbouty]

They made a great effort to prod Dean.

[Caipirabob]

Their agenda is well planned. The first part is to infiltrate major organizations at the highest levels and then issue policy. Churches, corporations and government are targetted. We see the results so often such as Disney, the Episcopalian Church, and Dean's Vermont among other things. This, plus as unmarried "profressional" males, they have a large disposable income (until they get sick) and lots of free time when they aren't "shacked up" in a public bathroom.