Kennedy Warns Democrats Not to Be Republican Clones

[papau]

Like, does anyone on DU have a problem with Kennedy's call for expanding Medicare to provide health care coverage for all Americans, raising the minimum wage and expanding tuition assistance for students, particularly those who major in mathematics and science?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/politics/13kennedy.html

January 13, 2005
Kennedy Warns Democrats Not to Be Republican Clones
By ADAM NAGOURNEY

ASHINGTON, Jan. 12 - Senator Edward M. Kennedy warned Democrats on Wednesday not to become "Republican clones" in response to the party's setbacks in November, declaring that President Bush's victory was narrow and did not provide him with the mandate the White House has claimed.

In a defiant speech ushering in what is shaping up as a contentious legislative year, Mr. Kennedy accused the White House of using scare tactics to try to push through changes in Social Security, and pledged to fight them.

"The biggest threat to Social Security today is not the retirement of the baby boomers - it's George Bush and the Republican Party," he said.

"Never before until now has any president, Republican or Democrat, attacked the basic guarantee of Social Security," Mr. Kennedy said in a speech at the National Press Club here. "Never before until now has any president, Republican or Democrat, proposed a cut in Social Security benefits. Yet President Bush is talking not just about a cut, but an incredible 33 percent cut. We must oppose it."....."In the face of their tactics, we cannot move our party or our nation forward under pale colors and timid voices," Mr. Kennedy said. "We cannot become Republican clones. If we do, we will lose again, and deserve to lose. As I have said on other occasions, the last thing this country needs is two Republican parties."<snip>

[Cha]

1. And that's exactly what having

Dean as DNC Chair would insure doesn't happen!

It's weird that Kennedy even has to have this conversation..especially since it hasn't worked for four Freaked Out Years!

[blm]

2. There are centrists in the party who are quick to blame Kerry's liberal

record and positions as what is wrong with the party. They want to use this as a reason to push the party further to the center.

But, this perception is based on media lies that claim the Dems are out of touch with America. DON'T FALL FOR IT.

The Dem need to concentrate on only TWO issues to defeat the GOP and preserve democracy and that is to expose the GOP control of most of the media and the voting machines.

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1143837