Attention '06 candidates and wannabes ....... the word this time is ......

[Stinky The Clown]

"Abortion"

All the other issues swirling about will be secondary. As gay rights was a huge wedge issue last time, abortion will be this time. That stupid-assed vote from the nuts in South Dakota will be the match that lights the fuse. That case will never reach the supremes, but it will be the ammunition the right wing hate mongers and religiously insane will use against our side in this election cycle. Even here in supposedly blue Maryland, our state legistature nutjobs submittied a similar bill that, mercifully, never got out of committee. But it sure did get local air time.

Now, here's a simple fact:

The majority of Americans want American women to have the ability to make their own choices in private.

That is a fact.

Your 'talking point'?

Point to your opponant and say in clear, unwavering and unambiguous words and intonation: "He will vote to take away your right to make your own health choices. I will preserve it."

Black and white.

Say it.

It feels good.

And its a winner.

[wryter2000]

1. I like the way you put it.

"He will vote to take away your right to make your own health choices. I will preserve it." Not abortion, not choice. Health choices. Or how about "health decisions"? That has a Terri Schiavo ring to it.

See, I do hang out in places other than C&B sometimes. :)

[jean]

3. fewer syllables might make it easier to say and grasp ...

[CGrantt57]

2. Sorry, you're incorrect.

The wedge this time is "gay adoption."

Look up how many states have ballot initiatives to ban gay adoptions and which of those states are "battleground" states.

Karl Rove knows abortion is a dead issue with the court loaded their way. Gay adoption is the 2006 target.

Bank on it.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. I disagree ......

That will be background noise. First, adoption, overall, is not a front burner issue. Second, they used the gay card last time. Third, abortion is their holy grail. And with the now-packed religiously insane suprme court, the religiously insane citizens can smell the blood in the water and like sharks, they're about to go into a feeding frenzy.

[CGrantt57]

7. That will be background noise.

Nope. Gonna be front-burner in those states where Bushco and company are losing ground because of the egregious f*ck-ups in Iraq, the ports, and elsewhere.

When you're losing your base because you're hopelessly incompetent, you draw them back by making them afraid that gays adopting kids will turn all those beautiful little babies into rod sucking freaks.

Where bills are being drafted or discussed: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.

[1932]

9. All the wedge issues are background noise. The real center are more

powerful emotions, like "who's going to keep you safer?" vs, "aren't we all better off when we're all better off?"

[bananas]

5. Isn't it supposed to be immigration?

Wasn't there a leaked Rove memo or something that said it would be immigration?

[pstans]

6. "no one is for abortions"

The way to frame the issue is that no one is for abortions. That we should everything we can to reduce the number of abortions by reducing poverty and teaching sexual education. Point out that the number of abortions has risen since Bu$h has become President than when Clinton was President. Then point out that you will let you make your own health care choices and not the government.

[1932]

8. I thought it was "fear"?

[blondeatlast]

10. This issue can make the voters see why SCOTUS is so crucial, too.

The political and social ramifications are pretty easily understood framed around this one.

Still waitimg for the DNC to put you on the payroll.

You're a genius, you really are.

[blondeatlast]

11. One "Greatest" vote here--anyone else? nt

[derby378]

12. The word you're looking for is "Tyranny"

Nero refers to the government as "my government." And that includes the spectrum of denying you any health choices.

Tyranny. As in, I'm against it. Make that your focus.