Is it wrong to still support Dean?

[bigwillq]

There's been a lot of talk of unity and division within the Democratic party. Now that Kerry is the likely nom, many think we all should throw our support to Kerry.
I am still sticking with Dean although his chances are slim. Is this wrong? Am I dividing the party by not backing Kerry just yet?
Let me know what you all think. Thanks.

[spooky3]

1. no, it's NOT wrong!

Stand by your man.

[poskonig]

2. Not yet.

But pretty soon, we are going to need millions to attack Bush, not ourselves.

[gyopsy]

9. Sounds right...

Support Dean now but be ready to switch over to Kerry (or maybe Edwards) later.

[bigwillq]

No doubt

I will be there to support the DEM NOM, no matter whom it is.

[janx]

29. Remember what Dean is about : Restoring our Democratic Republic

When he said he was from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party, he wasn't only quoting Wellstone.

He is hell bound and determined to restore our country to the country of, by, and for the people--the one it was intended to be.

The federal government and the political process are so out of kilter now that I don't know if we can do this in just a couple of years, but he's in it for the long haul. So am I, and I hope you are too.

[ewagner]

3. Hell no you're not wrong

Stick with whomever you believe in, that' what I'm doing and so should everybody else.

After the primaries.........I'm ABB all the way.

[bigwillq]

8. Yes, after the primaries it's a different story and then I'm

ABB too!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

4. Until the convention, support your man.

You should feel free to support whoever you want right now, but
after we nominate the 44th President in Boston, we should be united
as ever to fight the reich!

[jpgray]

5. Nope. I still supported Kerry when he was in the shitter

At least Dean folks have safety in numbers. In the old days, almost every primary thread bashing Kerry had about 15 people agreeing with the main poster, and about a dozen others tweaking the one Kerry supporter who showed up to defend him. :D

[NightNurse]

23. How I remember that time, JP.

Simply dreadful. With well known semi-best selling authors of some renown chastising old friends . It was bleak. But it makes today twice-as-tasty!:toast:

[democratreformed]

6. No, no, no, no

I would still be supporting my candidate if I still had that option. And, I still plan to vote for him in the primary b/c I don't forsee my vote changing anything.

[Tweed]

7. Kind of....

No, just kidding! Support Dean to the end!

[Anwen]

10. Hell no.

You should support the candidate you want to be your future president. Don't feel pressured into supporting the front-runner, just because "everybody else is doing it." :)

[fearnobush]

11. Until Dean withdraws, it's not wrong to support him.

A Clark supporter myself, Howard Dean is a good man. ABB will prevail and Dean will support that cause.

[janx]

43. Until he withdraws? Nope.

We're supporting him all the way through the primaries.

[Lisa0825]

12. No, it's not!

I'm still with Dean, too. I've had my moments, wavered about what to do. But I still believe he is the candidate that spokoe for ME, and I'll still vote for him in my primary and attend the caucus for him, even if he does drop out. And I hope that he'll still be a force in the party no matter what.

[Catholic Sensation]

13. hell no

It's like asking a Falcons fan if supporting the Falcons is wrong after Michael Vick injured himself, therefor killing the entire season for the Falcs. Even if Dean doesn't get the nomination, he'll make a damn good DNC chairman or other top official in the democratic nominee's cabinet :)

[bigwillq]

51. Good post..It's always cool when there's a sports analysis

thrown into your post. This sports writer understands that loud and clear. Dean all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lefta Dissenter]

14. I'm voting for Clark tomorrow

so who am I to suggest you should bail on your candidate? :hi:

[ewagner]

19. hehehehe

I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of Clark votes in Wisconsin tomorrow.........

[Jackpine Radical]

36. And my vote will go or Dean

in WI tomorrow too.

Then, after he loses and withdraws, I'll probably climb on with Kerry just to get the agony over with & prepare for November.

[Tweed]

21. hahaha n/t

[Padraig18]

15. No, it's not wrong.

We each made the individual decision to support Howard, and the decision to support another candidate should also be individual. Let no one pressure you, either way.

:hi:

[MaggieSwanson]

16. Not in the least. n/t

[NoPasaran]

17. If it's wrong

Then I don't want to be right.

The doctor is in until the convention. Then ABB.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. No

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

20. Like Rumsfeld would say.....

There are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns. What I do know is that I still think if not Kucinich then it should be Dean. If neither, then since Lieberman is out. I can safely say any of them will do.

[janx]

22. Of course it's not wrong. These are the primaries. Stick

with your candidate throughout the primary process. That's what they're FOR.

After that you can decide what you will do in the general election. Only 25% of the primary vote is in. We still have 75% to go.

[MrSlayer]

24. No, He's still in it.

You should stick with your guy until he drops out. Then you will have to decide whether or not to throw your support behind one of the other guys. If you are ABB you will eventually have to come to Kerry in my opinion. He's going to be the nominee barring something catastrophic. I think you should follow your heart but I would rather see all the momentum and money go toward getting BushCo out instead of squabbling among ourselves.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

25. Absolutely not...

and those who would suggest such a thing frankly wear on my one nerve.

Primaries are a time to vote who you want to represent you, period. I will be voting for someone who doesn't stand a chance in hell of winning, but that is the right the women and men who fought for my right to vote afforded me.

And NOTHING will keep me from expressing that right.

After the primaries is another story.

[LWolf]

26. No.

Absolutely not.

No, no, and no.

It is right to make your choice based on the candidate you feel will do the best job moving the country the direction you want to go.

Don't let anyone marginalize the rest of the nation. There are plenty of voters out there who haven't had a primary yet. Why should the early primaries be deciding their votes for them?

:grr:

[argyl]

27. No.Just remember,ABB in the General Election.

xx

[Castilleja]

28. Of course it is not wrong!

You should support the candidate you like, all the way till the end! Don't let someone lay a guilt trip on you simply because you will not bend to their will.

[Donkey007]

30. Absolutely not.

I am still going to vote for Clark in May. *Laugh* So far down the road, huh? Stick with your candidate if thats what makes you happy. GO FOR IT and GOOD LUCK!

[mzmolly]

31. Hell NO. Support Dean as long as he's in. I am...

:hi:

Additionally, it isn't over yet. Last time I checked Kerry had a way to go before this thing is wrapped up.

[gottaB]

32. You are right to stick by Dean

I do believe that Gov. Dean and his supporters should be respectful of the many voters who have chosen Kerry so far, and be mindful of the likelihood that Kerry will in fact win the nomination.

But I think you should back whichever candidate you think is best.

[For PaisAn]

33. No, it's not wrong

The primary election is to vote for who YOU want as the Democratic nominee. Once the nominee has been selected at the convention, then decide if you will back that nominee.

[library_max]

34. No. Support whoever you want.

The time for unity will be when we have a nominee.

Bashing and cheap shots are always destructive, no matter who they're against and no matter who is in front. But just supporting a candidate of your own choosing in the primaries? Of course you should.

[eissa]

35. Not at all

I still have my avatar up, and will do so until Dean drops out. I am ready to support Kerry, but I feel I owe it to Dean to show my support; he was there for me when others in the democratic party were silent. Plus, unlike some endorsers, I don't abandon ship when the going gets rough.

[diamondsoul]

37. Not no, but HELL NO it's not wrong. n/t

[genius]

38. The primaries aren't over yet. No reason for anyone to quit.

I am just getting tired of all the attack postings.

[liberalpragmatist]

39. No

n/t

[BruinAlum]

40. No, you're not wrong

Stick by your first choice in the primaries.

In the general election, support the nominee.

[iamjoy]

41. Keep Going Dean!

I don't support Dean as the nominee, but I hope he sticks around. In fact, I hope most of them stick around because I think they have something important to contribute.

People accused Governor Dean of being an angry man, and I think he replied that we have a right to be angry about what is happening in our country. Good for Dean!

[WiseMen]

42. Absolutely NOT. The only issue what is best for taking back our country.

[ozone_man]

44. Not only are you not wrong,

but you are right! Dean is the only one who can lead us in the right directions. But even if he isn't nominated, the enthusiasm and interest in politics that he has generated is energizing the Democratic Party. I don't think they really deserve Dean, but he seems intent on being a party player. I think it's in the best interest of the Party to have a few powerful voices in the contest until the conventions, otherwise, people go back to sleep, and Kerry is not going to energize anybody. By the time the GE rolls around, we would be dead ducks.

[Ramsey]

45. Not at all

It is never wrong to do what you feel is right, what your heart tells you to do.

I'll be supporting Dean until he himself says he is no longer in the race.

[jansu]

46. The Media did it!

I just posted a link to how this take over has happened and why. It is called Why is Dean called Unelectable by the Media. It has a link to what happened. We need to get this out there. The people need to know that the powers that own the media have chosen for us, again! Do what you can, it is not too late! Take back our Democratic party and our Nation!

[boxster]

47. No. There's absolutely no problem with supporting Dean...

or anyone else, for that matter.

When we only have one candidate (the nominee), then it's time to rally behind the (D) flag. Before then, there's nothing wrong with supporting your guy.

[lojasmo]

48. Not wrong

You should support whomever you think is the best candidate. Kucinich people should suport him, Edwards people should support him, etc.

Even if Kerry gets the nomination. the only support I will give Kerry is my vote in the general election. I won't support him until he is the candidate.

I don't believe he is the strongest candidate, and I feel his votes over the last couple of years have been poor (when he has bothered to vote)

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

49. No

There's no big rush.

[sistersofmercy]

50. No not at all!

But when the nomination occurs, fall in line (if it's not Dean)! I will do the same.

[kaitykaity]

52. No. Without Dean, Kerry would still be hiding behind

the "me-too" pink tutu stand the Democrats took before 2002.

The Doctor has my loyalty to infinity and beyond because he made this race about my anger as an American and as a Democrat.

I'll vote for Kerry if he's the nominee, but my heart belongs to Dean.

[bigwillq]

54. I agree with you on two points....

1. "I'll vote for Kerry if he's the nominee"
2. "but my heart belongs to Dean"

Good post!!! Thanks!

[texasmom]

53. No!

You *should* vote your heart in the primaries. Period.

Also, personally it makes me feel good to see Dean supporters sticking with him. He's worked his heart out for all of us for a couple of years. I like the idea of his supporters staying by his side wherever it goes. That's called loyalty.

I say this as a Clark supporter who would never have deserted him.

[WillyBrandt]

55. Absolutely not: He's still running, the race isn't over

Two things:

1. If he's still running, and you still like him, you should support him. The race ain't over.

2. The unity stuff is BS. We're getting tons of free, great publicity b/c of the primaries. The longer they go on, the better.

[incapsulated]

56. Of course not!

You are not "dividing" the party by voting for your choice in the primaries and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!! :grr:

It's not over until someone gets all the delegates needed for the nomination, and that hasn't happened yet.

If Dean is your guy, vote for him!

[arwalden]

57. Support Whomever You Want.. It's The Primary Season!!

If you guy makes it... HOORAY! Congratulations!
If not, be adult about it and follow your candidate's lead.

-- Allen