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Tue 2 Mar, 2004 11:46 am
washingtonpost.com Highlights
GOP plans votes to put Democrats on the spot
Gay rights, abortion and guns to highlight candidates' positions
By Jim VandeHei and Charles Babington
March 01, 2004
Republicans plan to use Congress to pull Sen. John F. Kerry and vulnerable Democrats into the cultural wars over gay rights, abortion and guns, envisioning a series of debates and votes that will highlight the candidates' positions on divisive issues, according to congressional aides and GOP officials.
The strategy will be on full display today, as Kerry (Mass.) and Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), the leading Democratic presidential candidates, plan to interrupt their Super Tuesday campaigning to fly to Washington for half a dozen votes on gun legislation, including liability protections for gun manufacturers. Both men oppose the liability bill, placing them in their party's majority even though some prominent Democrats -- including Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) -- support the bill.
A top Edwards aide said the senator is "not thrilled" to be voting on gun control one week before southern states such as Texas hold their primaries. Kerry, who has missed every Senate vote this year -- plus several key votes last year -- canceled a Florida campaign event tonight to be on hand for the gun votes, several of which are expected to be close.
Steve Elmendorf, a senior Kerry adviser, said of the strategy by congressional Republicans and the administration, "We just
GOP-Grand Oil Party
These people are dispicable and not worthy to be in the positions of power that they are in. They should be on trial for treason.
The 10 republicans who voted for the AWB extension better not be planning on being reelected. Prix.
I am glad that the issues of guns and gays have been brought up. I think the more people hear beyond their knee jerk reactions the more they will see that the issue of gay rights to marry is just that (gays right to marry) and the more they hear that liberals are not against people owning guns, just against military guns and assault weapons and criminals owning guns. We shouldn't be afraid to take on issues if we believe in them. If we answer them then we can get on with issues that effect our daily lives. If we don't they can keep bringing it up. The abortion issue I don't think will get them anywhere. Despite what people say I think on that issue party lines really don't matter too much.
Attacking your opponent creates the wonderful opportunity of avoiding revealing what your own platform is. It's a wonderful tool for aristocrats to exploit to get into power with a carte blanche...Americans should be demanding that a politician be restricted to talking about himself and his own plans, instead of the plans of others. Such a "rule" would go far to cleaning up the corrruption in the system.
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