Roemer lashes out : "Republicans have a big tent; why can't we?"

[truthpusher]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/16/roemer.dnc/

Roemer lashes out in DNC chairman race
Memo criticizes candidate's opposition to abortion rights

Sunday, January 16, 2005 Posted: 3:53 PM EST (2053 GMT)


Tim Roemer:
"Republicans have a big tent; why can't we?"


ST. LOUIS, Missouri (CNN) -- The campaign for Democratic chairman turned contentious over the weekend when Tim Roemer lashed out at criticism of his views on abortion and accused opponents of negative campaigning.

The candidate told a gathering in St. Louis that he wanted to have "a conversation" on issues but that he is "having trouble doing this because of negative campaigning and litmus tests."

His voice rising, Roemer added, "I like a good fight. But don't put my arms behind me. Give me a chance to talk about my values. And don't litmus-test me."

(snip)

Roemer aides said he was angry over an opposition research memo being circulated in Washington and Democratic circles that outlined his voting record, which sometimes did not follow party lines. Aides said they did not know who wrote the memo and whether it came from a rival for the party's chairmanship.

more here:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/16/roemer.dnc/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I don't think the Repukes have a big tent

look what * did to gays. Look at what he's trying to do about choice. The ONLY reason he has a few moderate spokesmen in the ranks is so that the repukes won't look as extremist as they really are.

[Eloriel]

6. You're right: NO Big, Tent, just Big Authoritarianism

(not to mention hypocrisy, as roguevalley points out in Post #2). You either accept the Party line, philosophy and agenda or you can fuhgeddaboudit.

And I've got another answer for Roemer: Being the Big Tent nowadays just takes us further to the right, and if we get any further to the right, we're off the cliff and cease to exist any more.

[spanone]

71. Eloriel you hit the nail right on the head!

:bounce:

[Sticky]

7. I totally agree!

I just posted the same thoughts in another thread. Republicans are the narrow-minded, tunnel-visioned fear mongerers.....it reminds me of inbreeding. Maybe it's okay for a couple of generations but soon they're all walking around talking to themselves and drooling.

[Autobot77]

19. "...they're all walking around talking to themselves and drooling."

In a few generations? Hell, it seems like they're already drooling and talking to themselves.

[Warpy]

33. The only thing that got anybody into that tent

was their trumpeting of tax cuts.

Sure, those tax cuts were bait and switch for 95% of us.

However, the Democrats are offering working people exactly NOTHING.

If that twit wants anybody to bother visiting his tent, he's going to have to offer something besides the business as usual that's been killing them.

[Piperay]

38. That is exactly what I was going to say

it's a BIG lie not a big tent. If they really had a big tent I might have stayed a repuke, Raygun made it perfectly clear that he didn't want moderate repukes like myself and my family. Don't think I'm not glad I left the repuke party but nevertheless I was not welcome in their 'big' fucking tent.

[Demeter]

44. Roemer's Drinking KoolAid (100 Proof, No Less)

Please put this man out of our misery and pick Dean.

[DemBones DemBones]

67. Bush** isn't the Republican Party, though. Roemer has a point in that

there are pro-choice Republicans (Giuliani, Schwarzenegger, Pataki all come to mind immediately and are all pro-choice Repubs despite being Catholic.)

Quick, name three nationally-known pro-life Democrats. . .

chirp, chirp

[MattBaggins]

80. Pro Life Democrats? thats easy

All of us

[fob]

109. Seconded

And nice job, btw.

[Zhade]

111. BRAVO!

Nice riposte!

[chomskysright]

117. And Pro-Family too!!!

[chomskysright]

118. get some new freakin language Roemer and.....

stop salivating for the big tent which is nothing more than another set of bait and swtich (let the anti-choice come in and feel welcome) so that they can then crank up their 'fetuses in distress' movies....

fuck him.

[booksenkatz]

91. The very concept of "pro-choice" *IS* a big tent concept

I have Dem friends who hate the idea of abortion and would never choose to have one, they think that too many women use it for contraception (:eyes:) BUT they agree that it's important that the choice is left to every individual woman. I have 2 Dem friends who are all for zero population growth and think that no one should be having children at all, and that abortions should actually be encouraged whenever possible. Most of the Dems I know are in between these 2 positions.

Choice itself is a pretty big tent, if you ask me!

[truthpusher]

92. Seems like a lot of solidarity in the Dem party on this issue...

...I wonder if this issue will be big enough for Tim to switch sides?

[Tansy_Gold]

129. Yeah, it kinda makes ya wonder, don't it?

Maybe ol' Timmy isn't really one of us after all, and only wants to drag us into a different big tent?

Screw him.


Tansy Gold, angry

[MaineDem]

95. Excellent point!

One that our Leaders need to embrace and push!

[Zhade]

112. Remember the march last year? 1.2 million women? Some REPUBS, even!

So yes, you are 1000% correct.

[MaineDem]

114. I was there

I remember the Republicans For Choice group.

That whole event made such an impression on me. I'll never forget it.

[Zhade]

115. Well, there you go. Proof that CHOICE DRAWS CITIZENS TOGETHER!

Good for you for marching, btw!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

140. Sen. Blanche Lincoln is one,

and I know she is part of a group of Congressional Dems who are pro life.

[gorbal]

81. Well there are allot of people in it

The Republicans aren't afraid to be seen with their wacko far-right contingent, in fact they embrace them.

[roguevalley]

2. so, we're going to match their rhetoric with rhetoric of our own?

they only SAY they have one. As for giving up on our principles for some cockamamie notion that we can win that way, NO WAY! Roemer needs to go.
Does he sound defensive or what? Wrong time to be a go along to get along dem I think.

[chomskysright]

119. pro-family; pro-child; AND pro-choice

[bemildred]

3. "Don't judge me by my record". nt

[KittyWampus]

31. That's What I Am Puzzling Over. How Is Circulating His Actual Record

'Opposition Research'?

It's not like Dems are digging up something sordid from his past.

[SharonAnn]

4. Sure, and we should be pro-corporate and anti-labor, and

pro-health care industry and anti-patients, etc., etc.

Roemer doesn't understand that women consider their reproductive rights to be non-negotiable. If you don't support them, you don't belong leading the Democratic Party.

[proudbluestater]

127. SharonAnn, EXACTLY! My body is NON-NEGOTIABLE

[NC_Nurse]

5. What Republicans could he be referringg to?

The ones I know don't have a big tent at all. They like to pretend they do but I think most people see through that charade.

Didn't they just try to blackball Spector because of his pro-choice views? Who is fooled by the token moderates/gays/people of color that they march out at their convention?

Gimme a break! :shrug:

[Jim Sagle]

8. Earth to Tim: "Fuck off, RNC filth!'

[Zhade]

39. While we don't always agree, this is dead-on.

And nice quote, too!

[paineinthearse]

9. Roemer can

...stuff his big tent up his arse. If he wants a big tent, he can officially switch parties. I'm more aligned with the traditional values as outlined by Kennedy last week at the National Press Club speech.

[welshTerrier2]

10. where the "big tents" overlap ...

voters get no choice (pun intended !!) on the issues ...

[JDPriestly]

11. Does Roemer oppose the Constitution?

I can see how someone could favor placing reasonable limitations on the right to choice, but how can anyone oppose it? The Supreme Court has ruled that choice is a constitutional right. Government officials have to swear to uphold the Constitution. Does Roemer think that means he only has to support the provisions he likes?

As for the argument that the right to choice is not explicitly stated in the Constitution -- that puts a lot of rights in danger, like the right to attend racially integrated schools, the right to racial intermarriage and many more. We Democrats should not start down that slippery road. Compromise is not possible on that issue.

Mind you, I agree with those who want the government to do everything it can to help pregnant women so they are not forced to choose abortion for economic, health or emotional reasons unless it is necessary. I think that is the platform that Democrats should adopt on this issue.

[sunnystarr]

32. I'm for Dean but I have to agree with Roemer on his point ...

The party should be inclusive. We have had Dems who voted for the war. We have Dems who are pro-life. The important thing is that the Party's platform is agreed on and that the platform is supported. I don't believe that a personal position on one or two issues should disqualify otherwise qualified and talented candidates. Certainly support for the Party platform in that position should be understood.

[progressivebydesign]

47. While I agree the Party should have many voices.. the LEADER

should reflect the majority of those voices. He's welcome to stay in the party as a Democrat, but his views fly in the face of 90% of Democrats.. that is troublesome.

[dsc]

76. No they don't

around 1/4 of Democratic voters are fuctionally pro life.

[JDPriestly]

85. As I said, what difference does it make?

Roemer's personal opinion about abortion is irrelevant. If he believes abortion is wrong, he may say so and may support measures that encourage women to choose not to have them.

What is relevant is Roemer's stand on the criminalization of abortion. I have just learned that he has pretty consistently voted for limitations on the right to choose. He does not seem to understand that women must have the right to take responsibility and make medical decisions about their own bodies without the interference of the police or the government. That is the fundamental civil right that is at stake.

Analogy: Most men do not have vasectomies. Some don't believe in them. But very few men would put up with the government telling them whether or not they may have vasectomies. Same for taking Viagra. Men want that right. Women want the same right with regard to decisions about their own reproduction.

Democrats support civil rights in general and the right of women to control their own bodies in particular. Sounds like Roemer is way out of sync with the vast majority of Democrats, especially women. He doesn't have to leave the Party, he just shouldn't lead it. We have better candidates.

[dsc]

93. My point was that the poster claimed

merit aside, that his or her position is held by 90% of Democrats. That is false. The correct number is closer to 70%.

[Cheswick2.0]

120. link?

[Zynx]

122. About a quarter of pro-lifers voted for Kerry.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html

[Cheswick2.0]

125. Thanks but this is not the information to support dsc

he said that about 30 percent of democrats are anti-choice.

[dansolo]

12. Ask Colin Powell how big their tent is

He was just a figurehead who was completely and utterly ignored, even though he was more correct when he was not parroting the Administration line. Is that what Roemer really wants?

[DireStrike]

13. Roemer: We need to be like the Republicans.

There, he's finally said it himself.

The only ones doing litmus testing are US, and we have no voice in who gets to be DNC chair. So calm down, Timmy.

[Just Me]

14. WTH is he talking about? Our tent is several times larger.

What is he talking about? :shrug:

EVERYONE is invited under our tent. We just refuse to allow any one group/individual more power over any other group/individual.

It's called "democracy",...where everyone participates and no one RULES.

[punpirate]

18. Despite what he's saying in the letter...

... this is not about a "big tent" where other views are accepted. I'm sure there are any number of Democrats who are anti-abortion, and accept the party's official position on it.

What Tim-boy really wants is for the Dems to change their platform.

Period.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. A Zell Miller wannabee?

Guess he's hoping to be one of Sean's favorite Democrats.

[Solly Mack]

16. He can stop whining now

Last thing the DNC needs is someone acting the victim and playing poor put upon me.

[Dr Fate]

17. We dont want Bush enablers in our tent.

Ass kickers, not Ass kissers.

Plain spoken, blunt, agressive, stout-hearted TRUTH-TELLING, capital "D" Democrats need only apply.

[journalist3072]

20. Roemer

Roemer clearly isn't the right person for the job of DNC Chairman.

If Democrats should have learned anything from 11/2, is that it didn't help us to run as Bush Lite.

And if he isn't willing to stand up for a woman's right to have control over her own body, then he needs to go to the dark side and join them.

[The empressof all]

21. I smell a set up

I'm suspicious of this guy. He's whining already! What's he gonna say when he doesn't get the job? Bet you any amount of money that we're gonna hear about how this is just further proof as to how out of touch the party is with America.

Give me a break.

[Lucille]

84. Seems like he's auditioning for a job at Fox News

Does he really think the way to get the job is by bashing other Democrats? Are we supposed to think it's a coincidence that he echoes the rw talking points on the party?

I agree. It seems like a set-up.

[Straight Shooter]

22. And the name of the Democratic Big Tent -- ta da!! -- Republican Lite.

Sorry, Roemer, you're not even close to understanding what it's all about. Not. even. close.

[rainbow4321]

64. When will it stop??

And at what point do we stop having to give up our beliefs?? I can see it now...."Gee, anti choice didn't work in 2008, lets now go anti gay..Oops anti-gay work in 2012, maybe now we should be pro-invade-a-country-for-no-damn-reason".

Roemer can in "the tent" if he wants, but there is no way in hell he deserves to be running the tent!!

[AmerDem]

23. "Republicans have a big tent"...?

Is this nitwit kinding? The party that hates, "queers" and "baby killers" is all of a sudden the party with a big tent?

I think Roemer is a closet puke. Nothing else adds up.

[brentspeak]

24. Because he's not pro-choice, he should be dismissed?

Abortion rights are NOT a traditional Democratic cause. Somebody within the party codified into the party platform back in the 70's, but it certainly wasn't the average American Democratic voter who did so.

No way in the world would I want Roemer to be crossed off the list of acceptable DNC heads based solely on his opposition to abortion.

[janx]

28. It seems times have changed...

Republicans didn't insist on merging religion and government back in those days either.

[bettyellen]

35. oh say it already... that's because you agree with him

otherwise you'd snap out of it and accept those against choice are a tiny minority here.
deal with it. the party would implode without women and progressives who support choice wholeheartedly.

[xxqqqzme]

43. well. I DO!

Roemer is ANTI-Choice and yes, choice IS traditional to the democratic cause. The Democratic party is not about dictating what U can or cannot do w/ your body or how U & your doctor reach medical decisions. It is NO ONE'S business.

The California DNC delegates held an open forum yesterday in LA. 85 people spoke B4 the time expired. 2 people praised Fowler, 2 people supported Rosenberg. The other 81, including me, urged them 2 elect Howard Dean. There were 4 issues that loomed large in the 2 minute speeches - 1. the invasion of Iraq was wrong and there should B Democratic voices shouting it @ every opportunity; 2. the environment is being trashed and there are no Democratic voices defending it; 3. the has 2 be verifiable voting - why isn't the Democratic party all over paper trails? and 4. CHOICE is a fundemental right and why is the Democratic party waffling? If the Democratic party does NOT staunchly, loudly and unrelentingly support CHOICE, I will find a party that does.

[Maat]

50. Thanks for the report.

I have a question, xxqqqzme. After the DNC delegates heard these speeches, what was their reaction? Did they acknowledge our concerns, and say they would help?

[bettyellen]

56. thanks and well said.... except remember we need paper ---

ballots not just receipts...
you can't have a real recount w/out em!!

[brentspeak]

74. There was no major concern over SS or job outsourcing?

No talk about the huge deficit? Health care?

Was this the well-off,latte-drinking Democratic crowd? I can't relate.

[Cheswick2.0]

121. wow, now there is a flight to judgement

first you assume there was not talk of these issues and then you decide the people were well off and thus, must drink latte. ROFL

[TankLV]

51. Honey, CHOICE is a core basci value of the Democratic Party.

WE will fight with our lives if necessary to keep it so.

If YOU don't want an abortion, or don't "believe" in abortion - then DON'T HAVE ONE!

I don't believe in abortion either so I won't have one! - but I won't tell another human being what she can or can not do to HER body!

GET THAT THRU YOUR THICK SKULL!

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren Stupidity]

78. currently abortion is considered a right,

as in a constitutionally protected human right. "Somebody within the party" didn't "codify it into the party platform back in the 70s", the supreme court recognized that abortion is protected by the constitution. The Democratic Party continues to fight to protect basic human rights, at least sometimes. Roemer should go home and figure out if he supports human rights or supports the state usurping even more of them.

[Bouncy Ball]

25. The REPUKES have a big tent?

No honey, WE have a big tent. But it's not THAT huge. If you are anti-choice, then yeah, of course a lot of Dems are going to have a problem with that, that's a shocker to him?

Maybe he should go get in the repuke's "big" (tiny) tent.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. Ask Chris Smith, Arlen (my balls in a purse)Spector, and some of the other

Repukes who did not tow the line how big the Repuke tent is? Christie Todd Whitman comes to mind also. I am sure the list is a lot longer than the list of Democrats who have been cut out of the Democratic Tent.
I think he should be considered ineligible just for making a remark like that. If he thinks that the Republicans have a "Big tent' his judgment has to be very questionable.

EDIT: Isn't this the guy who was attending and encouraging others to attend some kind of symposium sponsored by that right-wingnut Scaife?

Weren't these guys called collaborators during WWII?

[Tansy_Gold]

130. Ask Jim Jeffords

n/t

[Pithy Cherub]

27. Wow! Who took his graham crackers and marshmallows...

He's welcome in the tent - just not welcome to design the tent.

[porkrind]

29. "Republicans have a big tent; why can't we?"

It's simple. Republicans only care about control and power, other than that, they have no issues. They have a big tent because they will accept anyone into their ranks that will support their goals of empire and aristocratic dominance. They will also accept and support groups that can be easily manipulated by lies. They are Straussian, in that they will say any outrageous lie that will keep them in power, all the while keeping their true goals hidden.

We need a progressive, populist, pro-labor DNC chair, not a republican plant.

[ananda]

30. Go Dean!

If the Democratic party doesn't get its act together and go with Dean for DNC, I will leave the party.

Sue

[WorseBeforeBetter]

138. That's what I tell James Carville...

everytime I get an e-mail asking for more money.

[Maat]

53. That was very well-put, porkrind.

n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

34. Don't you just hate it when your past sets the course of your future?

Face it, Tim, you will be judged by your voting record. If you had aspirations to the Chair you should have been taking that into account all along.

Perhaps you were, you just thought that we would keep going right and wanted to be on that train. Guess what? You were wrong.

Big tent Republicans? Where does he get these ideas?

[bettyellen]

36. Angry his VOTING RECORD is getting out? Ha!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

55. Yeah, I think that is very telling that he's angry it "got out".

[Zhade]

37. Roemer is more than welcome to be in the party.

Just not in a leadership position - not if they want to keep good liberal, progressive women from bolting.

[Piperay]

40. Instead how about we have a huge massive

voter drive and take in all the disenfranchised and let them have a say instead of that little clique that runs the DLC and everything else. x(

[PassingFair]

41. Sounds like...

"Roemer aides said he was angry over an opposition research memo being circulated in Washington and Democratic circles that outlined his voting record, which sometimes did not follow party lines. Aides said they did not know who wrote the memo and whether it came from a rival for the party's chairmanship."


It came from his VOTING RECORD.

[Tansy_Gold]

132. "which sometimes did not follow party lines."

Um, excuse me, but if a person wanted to be the leader of the party, wouldn't that person be the most likely to almost ALWAYS follow party lines?

If he's not following THIS party's lines, which party's lines is he following and why isn't he in that party????


Tansy Gold, angrier

[w4rma]

42. And it's BS like this that is why I don't want him as chair.

Why would Dems want someone in a LEADERSHIP position who is disloyal enough to the Party that he's going to attack the party's voting base like this in his own campaign. When he says he "likes a good fight", it appears that he only likes to fight Democrats and will bend right over for Repukes.

Stick a fork in this whiner. He's done.

[Canuckistanian]

45. Big Tent? 'scuse me?

He must be talking about the Republican Party on Ceti Alpha 4.

[uncertainty1999]

46. They don't have a big tent -- they have a deal with the devil!

The fiscal conservatives have been exploiting the social conservatives in hopes of getting their tax-cutting, social program-gutting agenda passed (tax cuts ... check! Medicare .. check! Social security...), while the social conservatives only do so in hopes that the Republican party acts on their issues (Ashcroft .. check! "partial-birth" abortion ban .. check! Govt dissemination of mis-information about reproductive medicine and devices .. check!). Truth is, both sides could give a rat's you-know-what about the other beyond convenience. Hardly seems like a deal worth emulating.

[TankLV]

48. No, you fuck Roemer! - CHOICE IS the "big tent".

It's YOUR extremist religious zealot views that would BAN abortions that DESTROYS that "big tent".

Fuck yourself!

"They won't let me discriminate and force my beliefs on all of you" boo hoo hoo.

Yeah - you're such a "victum" you fuckwad!

[JerseygirlCT]

63. Great point! Pro-choice folks are certainly not forcing abortions on

anyone.

Choice is the big tent.

[DemBones DemBones]

68. Just forcing any Democrat who wants to get ahead politically to

support unrestricted abortion. Those of us who think abortion is ethically and morally wrong are supposed to vote GOP or keep quiet in Democratic circles.

[Warren Stupidity]

79. abortions are already restricted

which makes your point: forcing any democrat who wants to get ahead politically to support unrestricted abortion a strawman argument.

The anti-choice forces seek to restrict all abortions. For example the 'partial birth ban' did not even include exceptions for rape, incest, or the womans survival, the latter point being why every appeals court so far has pronounced it an unconstitutional piece of shit.

[sonicx]

82. John Kerry isn't for unrestricted abortion...

opps!

[JerseygirlCT]

96. No, you're supposed to make your personal choices based on

your personal beliefs, and respect others' rights to make their own personal choices.

There isn't an easy answer to the abortion issue -- much as many anti-choice folks would have it that way. When you choose to view the fetus' life as paramount, there is a woman's life that is being placed in second place. It's such a highly personal and difficult decision that the only qualified person to make that decision is the woman involved.

[Maven]

106. Kick

:kick:

[Cheswick2.0]

116. What restrictions do you want in place that are not already there?

Here we go again, huh? Women should give up fighting for their civil rights so you feel included. Why?

[Cheswick2.0]

124. no, they are just supposed to accept that people will not vote for them

no one is obligated to vote for someone they disagree with.

[catzies]

139. Say it loud, say it proud

CHOICE IS THE BIG TENT.

:)

[truthpusher]

65. right you are! n/t

[Malikshah]

49. Look up Clueless in the dictionary

Two pics

* and Roemer

Can this guy be any more stupid? Big tent with the RNC???

We have to stand for something or we'll fall for anything.

[Zynx]

123. While Roemer is generally a bit too conservative for me...

It is obvious that the Democrats are not connecting with voters. Why, if our positions are so popular, are we continually getting our asses handed to us?

[proudbluestater]

128. Because we don't own 80% of the voting machines?

Because there are too many unscrupulous Rethuglican secretaries of state? Because it doesn't matter who votes, just who counts the votes?

[Tansy_Gold]

133. Maybe it's because the Dems in the past couple of cycles have

been sending mixed messages. Too many Dems are trying to be puke-lite. And too many voters aren't as well informed -- just bombarded with media shit -- as we on DU are to make the distinction.

Almost half the eligible voters didn't go to the polls on 11/2. That means either they didn't care or they didn't think it would make a difference. Or both.

There were a lot of people who honestly did not know where the Dems stood in 2004. The anti-war protesters were Dems, mostly, but Kerry was for the war???? It was that kind of internal flip-flopping that left the less-informed confused. And they stayed home. Or they voted without really knowing why. Or they voted for boooosh because at least they knew where he stood.

When a jerk like Roemer gets up and says, "Hey, we need to be more like the winners and kiss up to the people who voted for them and ignore the people who voted for us," that jerk has to go.

For those who are anti-choice, let me put it this way:

If abortion is the single over-riding issue for you, more important than the economy, the environment, civil rights, human rights, the war, and everything else, then you go right ahead and vote your conscience on that single issue. And if that means you want to be a puke, you go right ahead and be a puke.

The reason the Dems are the big-tent party is because we don't travel on single issues. We're able to make compromises and to see that we can give a little on one thing and take a little on another, so that ALL benefit.

But for anyone who thinks that a little blob of tissue is "a pre-born baby with all the rights of a full human being because God said so," I say patooie. For anyone who thinks the unborn ALWAYS trump the born, I say patooie. Get your religion off my body, off my daughter's, off my daughter-in-law's, off my sister's, off my nieces', off my cousins', off my mother's, off my mother-in-law's, off my aunts'. Get the picture?


Tansy Gold

[Malikshah]

137. Because you listen to the MSM

And the dems over the last 10 yrs have allowed others to frame the debate.

Roemer does the same.

If it hasn't worked since the 94...it aint gonna work now.

[dogman]

52. When did they give their chair to Ghouliani or Ahole?

Let him speak to the convention. What's that?

[rainbow4321]

54. If they would bother to pitch part of the tent in a red state...

then maybe it would make a difference who got under the damn thing.

Instead, they write us off and then wonder "what happened???". IMHO, they will get out of the red states what they put into them. WHY wait til a year before the prez election and say that that have to save their money to go around to the blue states and battle ground states? Can they not spend the whole 4 years between elections giving red state Dems support? Hell, even The West Wing recently introduced a character who is a southern (Texas) Dem who is supposed to run for the prez office...which means the show's writers are giving more attention to red state Dems then the REAL Dem party!
17 TX counties went blue on Nov 2nd (read it somewhere here on DU)...and that is with no attention given to TX Dems by the national folks...El Paso County, Travis County (Austin), and those down at the Tex-Mex border, just to name a few. Dallas County was 2% away from turning blue, Harris County (Houston) was around 45% blue. Again, no thanks to the DNC. Dallas County elected a Dem Hispanic lesbian for county sheriff!! You can't tell me it was shrub's people/base who got that woman into office!
How many lost elections will it take before the DNC understands this??

[Sandpiper]

57. Roemer wants two Republican Parties

Tim, Tim, Tim.

Why vote for Repub-lite when you can vote for the real thing? That's why Dems keep losing.

[Rose Siding]

58. Oh, that's what we need in a chairman

Someone to slap us around for being Democrats. Good plan! When facing adversity, strike out at the group :eyes:

[sundaybloodysunday]

59. Who care about "his values" ?

I thought politicians were suppose to represent the people and not themselves? It is bad enough some of the dems want to switch the party's views on Abortion and now we have these neocons in dem's clothing pushing their values over the people's? Where is Dean when we need him?

[Gloria]

60. Time to make calls, people....tomorrow....I'm calling my

Senator, the Gov's office (the seedy Bill Richardson in my case), and anybody I can think of.

NO NO NO to this guy

[MaineDem]

89. You'd be better off contacting your DNC members

Check with your state party as to who they are.

For the most part, Governors and elected officials in Washington don't get to vote.

There was a link here to the DNC roster a while ago. Maybe someone can post in again.

[Dr Fate]

61. Because "moderates" & "swing voters" did not bust their asses in 2004.

REAL, ACTUAL, LIBERAL DEMOCRATS were the ones who but their lives on hold, opened their wallets, raised your cash & knocked on your doors for you.

Is that answer enough?

[Tansy_Gold]

134. What you said, Dr. Fate!

AMEN!

[JerseygirlCT]

62. He really doesn't get it, does he?

The GOP "big tent" only expands enough to provide an opportunity for window dressing when they need to win over a few moderates. Then they bring out their token pro-choice guys.

The Democratic party believes in women's rights. This should not be a question. Can a Democratic candidate not believe in abortion? You betcha! Then said candidate should refrain from seeking one. Can a Democratic candidate not believe in keeping abortions safe, available and legal? No way.

[AndyTiedye]

66. Repubs Have a Big Tent, But It is Full of Elephants

anyone else gets trampled.

[kodi]

69. this guy is bitchin' that politics is being played? another pitiful victim

.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

73. Yeah, he is whining a lot, isn't he?

If Roemer can't cope with the challenge of living up to his own record as publicised by the Dems, then the GOP machine would turn him into a quivering pile of Jello™ within 5 minutes.

He is too thin-skinned and narcissistic to be of any use to the Democratic party.

[buddysmellgood]

72. He wants us to emulate the Republican big tent? Does he want us to treat

him like a log cabin republican?

[leesa]

75. FU. Yet another appeaser. What does this idiot mean, "don't litmus test

me" How else do you choose a leader but to test him?

[Spiffarino]

77. Screw him and all his ilk

I'm tired of belonging to the Flavor-of-the-Month party. I want action. I want truth. I want opposition to that which is wrong for America.

If you don't like what we stand for then become a Republican, Tim.

Big tent my #$%@#$#&*$ &*#@!

[sonicx]

83. Um...50-60% of the country is pro-choice!!

(And yes, there are disagreements about abortion after 1st trimester...)

[98geoduck]

86. Sounds like Timmy has got a case of Tent Envy....

His personal problems shouldn't interfere with his professional life though...and he should quit trying to bring the party down to his standards.

[AnnitaR]

87. I will leave this party if they put in an ANTI-Choice chair!

This is one issue that is just too damn important to me.

Hey Timmy boy: You like the Pukes big tent so damn much why don't you camp out over there and leave us the hell alone!

Whiny little prick aint he?

[joanski01]

88. Now I understand why Roemer

got put on the 9/11 Commission. Republican Lite?

[RetroLounge]

90. Fuck Tim Roemer.

Just what we need, another Appeaser and Appologist.

Can someone please find me a Democrat?

RL

[markus]

94. If the DNC chooses someone like this on the "values" excuse

it will be time to split the sheets.

There are other outlets for political activity between now and then. And we should begin to look at running primary candidates against anyone who supports this, regardless of their prior voting record.

I will give not one damn dime to the DNC or my state party or to a candidate that supports this nonsense.

It's just an attempt by the flailing DLC wing to try and maintain their pre-eminence, in light of the complete failure of their timid, GOP-lite approach.

[American Tragedy]

97. Then why don't you go join that BIG TENT, Roemer?

Bitch, bitch, bitch. The Republicans have a big tent?

Dammit, I have had it! I can't believe he had the nerve to say something like that.

[Megahurtz]

98. Roemer is just another Repuke in disguise

and he needs to get lost.:hurts:

[Megahurtz]

99. Yeah, like a tent in the Big Top

Bozo!:silly:

[Mitt Chovick]

136. Yeah, like a tent in the Big Top

Send in the clowns :)

[springhill]

100. I don't care if he is pro-life.......

or anti-abortion, whatever you want to call it. However, I do have a problem when they try to legislate what I think about the issue and how I might deal with it. Now, if he is for making it illegal, there is no place for him as the head of the DNC.

[Riding this Donkey]

101. Tell Roemer

if he thinks the re-puke tent is so big show us their pro-choice chair!

[Maven]

107. EXACTLY. n/t

[MisterP]

102. shaddup! you look like Puddy!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

103. rOEMER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE REPUKE'S BIG TENT HE'S BEEN IN IT FOR YEARS

:puke:

[wildwww2]

104. What about the loyalty oaths that had to be signed to see Bu$h before

the stolen election. {the last one} Roemer lies enough to be a Republican he should fit into their big tent fine. Just make sure he signs the oath first. And good riddance to the "moran".
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Brooklyn Michael]

105. Psssst.....Hey, Tim....

"Republicans have a big tent; why can't we?"

Ummmmmm....because the Republican's "Big Tent" is a complete and utter charade, devoid of any substance and only dusted off and used as a flimsy prop at national conventions and Northeast GOP fundraisers?

This guy must NOT, under ANY circumstances, be allowed to represent Democrats!



“People say I am ruthless. I am not ruthless. And if I find the man who is calling me ruthless, I shall destroy him.” – Robert F. Kennedy

[Maven]

108. I can't BELIEVE he actually repeated one of their bullshit slogans...

...as though it were common knowledge.

Dirtbag.

[fob]

110. This guy cedes fucking INCLUSIVENESS to the most divisive party

EVER and expects to LEAD the DNC?

Give NO ground. I heard an interview with Gov Mark Warner on AAR over the weekend and he did a similar thing. When asked by the host about the talk that the Democratic Party needed to move to the right in order to get back to the center, the guy said YES! That puts him in a GIANT HOLE in my opinion as far as a 2008 candidate.

Just so he knows for next time, here is the correct answer; NO!

And to elaborate; The Dems don't need to move to the right or to the center to be mainstream, we ARE mainstream as is. The Democrats DO need to work on getting their message out to counteract the RW-misinformation that paints us as far-left whackos so they can claim to be moderate mainstream centrists, but that would be lies!

My.02

[David Zephyr]

113. Roemer's "Big Tent for Bigots" Strategy for the Democratic Party.

What a fucking dim bulb this jackass is.

First of all, the Democratic Party IS the INCLUSIVE PARTY. That's the very reason that the Republicans' Lee Atwater had to come up with the marketing term "big tent" to at the very least try to give an impression that the GOP was not narrow and bigoted.

And now this fuckwad actually states the "Republicans have a big tent; why can't we?"

The Republicans DON'T have a big tent, but have apparently convinced Tim Roemer that they do.

This stupid statement alone should disqualify him from any leadership role in the Party.

Jackass!

[Cheswick2.0]

126. The CONVERSATION IS OVER

It has been for 30 years. We aren't going backwards Tim. You got elected as an anti=choice candidate, but this is the big leagues now. The national party won't survive with a anti-choice DNC chair. .... cause women will walk.

[Tansy_Gold]

135. Women will walk. . . .

. . .. and this one's got her boots on already.


Tansy Gold, speaking only metaphorically because she is barefoot (but not pregnant!) by choice

[bobbyboucher]

131. He sounds like a whining Repube.

What a parrot, can't he come up with anything better?

[izzybeans]

141. I agree that the repukes don't have a big tent.

though it must feel that way. The party of Lott, David Duke, and John McCain might make it seem big. But just becuase McCain has to put up with biggots doesn't mean the Dems should emulate the republican strategy of allowing in defrocked Klansmen. Our Tent is bigger, but not big enough for Roemer.

[truthpusher]

142. exactly.