Source: Christian Science Monitor
DNC Chairman Howard Dean had a good "heart to heart" interview with David Cook from the Christian Science Monitor highlighting, among many things, the Dems' good fortunes leading into the November elections, and the country's strikingly similar desire for change like back in 1994.
The landslide effect that went from being a Democratic "wet dream" to a polling-supported reality:
On prospects for a Democratic wave sweeping over Congress in 2006:
"The first of two ingredients for a wave is here...people really want a change.... The second piece is that the Democratic Party has to be seen as the vehicle for change. That is my job, Harry Reid's job, Nancy Pelosi's job...."
The issues that will move to the front in the 2006 elections:
On the biggest issues in the 2006 election:
"The biggest issues of the election are character issues.... They are going to go to the president's and the Republicans' trustworthiness and honesty and their competence. And they are going to lose big on both those issues. After that we get to Iraq, we get to the economy, we get to healthcare."
The Dems' policy and official stand on the War in Iraq:
On the Democrats' policy on Iraq:
"There is a consensus that we cannot continue to have a permanent commitment to a failed strategy.... One, we are going to support our troops and two, you are going to see a...desire to resolve the situation...by turning this over to the Iraqis and bringing our folks home. The only thing that is left up to some modest differences is what the timetable is."
And the one I liked the most--the comments on religion and politics:
On religion and politics:
"The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics."
He makes a killer point here.
Many fundamentalist-based churches are crossing that line between being a church and a political-based organization. If you want to rally the extreme right vote for the Republicans from the pulpit, then fine, but you lose your tax exempt status.
In life, you cannot have your cake and eat it, too, so why should churches be exempt from this?
I think it's a bit creepy and theocratic when famous mega-church pastors like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson use their TV time or Sunday services to advance their own political agendas. I thought these guys were supposed to do God's work.
Telling your church that if they don't vote Republican, they will go to Hell and be sinners--how is that doing the Lord's work?
It is controversial, but right on the point, Howard.
And the final item, a so-called Democratic party "slogan" in the 2008 election:
On Democrats' slogan in the 2008 election:
"One of our slogans is probably going to end up being 'tough and smart.' Because what the Republicans have done is tough and not very smart."
This could be a little better, I think.
How about, "You guys had enough yet?" or maybe, "We aren't half as corrupt as the other guys!"
My preferred slogan though, and the one I enjoy the most as I voted for the smart one, is from Senator John Kerry after the 2004 presidential election, "I told you so!"
The above quote couldn't be any truer given what we know now.
Tags: [Howard Dean], [DNC Chairman], [interview about upcoming election and Democratic position], [Democratic slogan for 2008], [Kerry: I Told You So!]
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