Some Democrats Backing the Party From a Distance

[Manix]

<snip>

The Democratic convention may have been a love fest of unity and enthusiasm for John F. Kerry and John Edwards, but many Democratic candidates in conservative parts of the country were keeping a distance from the national ticket, its agenda and the whole spectacle here in the hotbed of liberalism.

Some of the party's most promising U.S. Senate candidates in the South chose to stay home and campaign rather than hang out in Boston with national Democratic leaders. Many have staked out positions on such issues as gay marriage and gun ownership that are to the right of Kerry and Edwards. Their campaigns are emphasizing their independence from the national party.

"Being at the convention in Boston, the symbol of Massachusetts liberalism, might put them on the defensive," said Merle Black, a political scientist at Emory University who has studied Southern politics. "They have more to lose than to gain by appearing at the convention."




LA Times

[2Design]

1. they need to get over it.....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. And moderate Repubs will do the same thing to Bush

How many want to be seen with Robertson on the stage? Wonder if the press will replay his incendiary statements around 9/11 as he leads the invocation?

[thebigidea]

3. with the exceptions of Daschle and Bowles...

honestly, does a national audience recognize or even care about the others mentioned?

Was the convention really missing that Rep. Brad Carson magic?

I'm a complete political junkie and most of them were unfamiliar to me.

This just looks like the typical piss-on-your-parade stuff we can count on from the "liberal media."

Who cares what GOP drones think about these people not attending? Will John Ashcroft get to sing "Let the Mighty Eagle Soar" at the RNC?

No? Well, I guess we should bitch relentlessly about it.

[sandnsea]

4. They are stupid fools

This is the chance for southern Dems to create a united Democratic Party by reminding southerners that patriots come from the north too, that this country was founded by patriots who were liberal enough to THINK of a whole new way to live, to THINK that each person could have personal freedom. It's a chance for them to turn the focus from stupid issues that alot of southerners truly don't care about and talk about jobs, education, health care and real American values like family, work and opportunity. So if you're reading this and living in the south, call your local Dem group and tell them this chance to unite our country won't come around again.