This is one of the many reasons I prefer Dean

dsc

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Sun Aug-31-03 11:57 PM
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This is one of the many reasons I prefer Dean

I was at the Geagua County fair today. For those not from NE Ohio that is a rural, Republican, fairly wealthy, and quite conservative county. It has one county wide Democratic office holder (Sheriff) and not much else. I was at the Democratic booth for him and there was his stuff, Kucinich's stuff, and Kerry's stuff. So I took one flyer from the other candidates and sat down to greet people. Kucinich did pretty well with supporters there so his campaign should be happy. Dean did OK. But it is the flyers that I want to talk about.

Here in this rural, county which has an anti gay rep this is what Dean's flyers say on civil unions.

SUPPORTING VERMONT'S CIVIL UNIONS LEGISTATION FOR LESBIANS AND GAYS

"In some ways, this was a defining moment in my political career, You can always compromise when you are fighting over money, but there can never be a compromise when it comes to basic human rights. I never had the discussion with myself about whether or not this was a good idea for my political career. I knew I had to live with myself in or out of politics for the rest of my life, and that if I did not support civil rights for every American I would be just another competent manager rotating through political office, who never stood up when confronted with such a choice. I could be politically expedient or I could do what was right."

The headline is bold but not all caps on his flyer but I can't do that here so I used all caps.

In contrast this is what Kerry had on his.

PROTECT AND EXPAND CIVIL RIGHTS: John Kerry will provide leadership committed to civil rights, equal rights, and affirmative action - unlike the current Administration that does not even support a meaningful hate crimes bill. We need to finally guarentee that in America workers have the right to organize a union, women have the right to choose, and justice and opportunity belongs to everyone regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.

First Dean had whole sections devoted to the other issues raised in Kerry's paragraph. I do want to make that clear. But as a rural gay this contrast speaks volumes to me. Dean says he will fight for me where the fighting is hard. He will not be some fair weather friend. He also shows me the respect of telling these people, many of whom disagree on this issue, that he does believe I deserve these rights. For someone who was 25 before a national politician would even dare say gays should be given any rights this feels good. Kerry, on the other hand, has gays and lesbians as an after thought. We come at the tail end of a veritable laundry list of other things. It is easy to stand up for gay rights in MA but in Geagua county we are at the end of the list. I know this is symbolism and not substance. But Symbolism matters. I was close to tears to see that Arnold's park audience in Iowa cheer his stand on civil unions. Growing up gay in a rural area is tough. Every message we hear is that we are diseased or evil. Dean is taking on that message. That is one reason I support him in the primaries. He is doing that and no one else is.