Let love rule
While we're on the subject of inconvenient truths, let's face up to this one: it's time for the Democratic Party to stop being chickenshit about gay marriage.
The Party's platform has been five-fold:
Almost everyone knows people who are gay, and anyone with a conscience couldn't look them in the eye and tell them that they have a good reason to deny them the right to marriage.
Look, we've lost two elections by campaigning as moderate Republicans. Let's energize people to listen to their better angels, not finessing our platforms like the tweezers in a game of Operation.
So, how do you frame this unduly controversial topic?
First, let's remember that spin usually comes in two flavors — how you frame the other guy's platform (concrete and negative), and how you frame yours (thematic and positive).
If anyone thinks that's dirty pool, let's see how the other side does it: anti-abortion people call their opposition "baby killers," while calling themselves "pro-life."
When discussing Bush's policies, "gay-bashing," "bigoted," and "hate mongering" are on the subtle end of what one might call this dehumanizing endeavor.
For our position, I think "freedom of marriage" has a nice ring to it, so to speak.
You know in your heart that the day will come when separate and unequal treatment for gays and lesbians will be looked upon as the shameful behavior of a benighted age.
If we're not going to follow our conscience, what's the point of being a Democrat?
The Party's platform has been five-fold:
- Shoot a friendly smile toward the gay community
- With muffled indignance, denounce the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment
- Whisper something about civil unions
- Mumble that you, personally, think marriage should be one man and one woman
- Spend half a second feeling guilty for selling out the gay community
Almost everyone knows people who are gay, and anyone with a conscience couldn't look them in the eye and tell them that they have a good reason to deny them the right to marriage.
Look, we've lost two elections by campaigning as moderate Republicans. Let's energize people to listen to their better angels, not finessing our platforms like the tweezers in a game of Operation.
So, how do you frame this unduly controversial topic?
First, let's remember that spin usually comes in two flavors — how you frame the other guy's platform (concrete and negative), and how you frame yours (thematic and positive).
If anyone thinks that's dirty pool, let's see how the other side does it: anti-abortion people call their opposition "baby killers," while calling themselves "pro-life."
When discussing Bush's policies, "gay-bashing," "bigoted," and "hate mongering" are on the subtle end of what one might call this dehumanizing endeavor.
For our position, I think "freedom of marriage" has a nice ring to it, so to speak.
You know in your heart that the day will come when separate and unequal treatment for gays and lesbians will be looked upon as the shameful behavior of a benighted age.
If we're not going to follow our conscience, what's the point of being a Democrat?
Labels: framing, gay issues, Russ Feingold
posted by Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy at 12:09 AM
6 Comments:
At the very frigging least, someone could be standing up for the 10th Amendment-the Chimperor sure as hell won't stand up for the Constitution.
I personally would like to see the Government get out of the marriage-definition business and let consenting adults come to whatever civil arrangements they may choose for themselves.
*Brilliant* post.
I agree.
Just 2 years ago one of my best friends did tell me to my face that I should not be allowed to marry my b.f. because "marriage has always been between a man and a woman."
He is no longer one of my best friends.
The Democratic party definitely makes it seem that they support gay marriage, but when confronted, they wimp away a bit because deep down, they seriously don't support it. They just need the votes to win. They just need a topic to debate with the Republican party.
For 2008, we need to elect a Democratic nominee that will stand on his grounds and continue supporting the rights given to us as humans.
For those who are properly cynical about the state of the American enterprise, yes, "let America fulfill its destiny of being the greatest, most honorable country in the history of our planet" is more aspirational than fact-based. I have a dream of a better country, and a dream it remains.
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