Should an Otherwise-Progressive Against Marriage Equality be Dem Party Chair?

[lowkell]

http://bluevirginia.us/diary/11134/virginia-lgbt-dems-call-on-central-committee-to-oppose-dwight-jones-for-dpva-chair

[yourout]

1. Gotta go with NO. Equal rights is a cornerstone of Dem beliefs(at least this one).

[Scuba]

2. +1

If we can't even stand for equal rights, we got nothing.

[RC]

3. Otherwise Progressive? How can that be, if he is against Marriage Equality?

There has to be other things wrong with this guy, if something as basic as Equality for All makes him uncomfortable.
Why do we need an opposition party, if we include them on ours already?
So, No.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. Nope, it shows a lack of rational thinking and good judgment...

[bigwillq]

5. No (nt)

[karynnj]

6. How effective is he - in running the party and inspiring people

to work for candidates?

If he is only PASSIVE in his disagreement on equity AND he concedes it is and should remain the current law, then IF he is better running the party - and mobilizing support, then he should remain.

Note the number of conditions. I wonder if his lack of support might be that he is older, knows no one whom he KNOWS is affected and that he has not moved with the times through the incredible change in the last 30 years on this. That might signal that he is out of touch with one group of people who often form a huge part of local activism - the young. If THAT is true, it is as big a problem as his reluctance to move on this issue.

If he actually seems connected to the young volunteers, I wonder if a young (?) gay couple could speak from the heart to him on what this means to them.

[stevenleser]

7. No, not acceptable. nt

[polichick]

8. The prez was against marriage equality until a couple minutes ago...

A lot of DUers were cool with that.

[JoePhilly]

10. And yet its becoming legal across the country, and DOMA will soon be gone.

As is DADT.

For an anti-marriage equality guy, he's done a terrible job restricting it.

Which brings us to Virginia.

What's the state of gay marriage in VA?
Do we think this guy is truly against gay marriage, or taking a political position for expediency?
If a Republican wins, what will their position be?
Where does the legislature in VA stand currently?
What about the voters?

Some times the best way to move past an obstacle, is to go around it, rather than trying to go through it.

I'm not sure what the details are in VA, but I'd be looking into them if I lived in there.

[polichick]

18. Bullshit is still bullshit, no matter what excuses you make...

It wasn't cool for the prez to invite Rick Warren to speak at the inauguration. It wasn't cool for the prez to be against marriage equality when it was convenient. And it's not cool for Dems in ANY state to stand against marriage equality now.

Bullshit is still bullshit.

[Paladin]

9. Absolutely not. (nt)

[CTyankee]

11. Oy...

NO.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. That's so 2008.

The time has passed for such bigotry to gain endorsement among Democrats. We have as they say, been there and done that.

[winter is coming]

13. No. n/t

[Splinter Cell]

14. Yes

There are other issues in the world.

[daybranch]

15. While I favor letting people marry who they want

McAuliffe could be said to be an otherwise progressive when it comes to his support for Wall Street and big banks. So while I disagree with a stance regarding gay marriage, I wonder how string he is on issues like making the rich pay more in taxes, getting rid of loopholes, and protecting voting rights. I do not know him , but no one is perfect and if he will do what is best for the country on everything else, I would consider him.
LGT groups may understand that coalitions with groups that support democracy is in their interest and an entire focus on the injustices done and perceived can possibly slow their advance. The people are for equal rights, including gay marriage , and the quickest way to get those rights is often not a frontal attack on those who disagree with you but a strategy to bring in legislators who will let the people speak.

[KG]

16. 'Otherwise Progressive' LOL n/t

[Chan790]

17. I'd say "No."

I may not be the best person to ask, I believe that we need a litmus test on core Democratic issues to run for any office above municipal office.

I only make that exception because there are some places where it's hard enough to find Democrats to run and it doesn't matter f**k-all if Susie-Jane Schoolmom seeking a seat on the Regional School Board is a free-trader pro-lifer since nothing in her electoral role touches on trade policy or reproductive health.

But for a party-chair or Congress or statewide offices or the Presidency...litmus test them.

[dsc]

19. I have to say it depends on many things

chief of which is how well would he run the party, which would be his job? If he is good at running a political party and won't let his opposition to my marriage equality get in the way of his running of that party, then frankly let him run the party. It might keep him out of positions where he could actually make sure marriage equality didn't happen (such as courts).

[Arkana]

20. No.

Opposing gay marriage is a losing political issue now, especially among Democrats. Younger voters don't care and older voters who do are dying off. Putting someone in charge of the Democratic Party in a swing state like VA who doesn't believe in equal rights is like putting a fox in charge of guarding the henhouse.

[HappyMe]

21. NO!

"otherwise progressive" That's pretty damn goofy.