Dean calls gays a vital force in campaign
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean told a group of gay andlesbian political activists yesterday that he wanted to "work side by side"with them to fight discrimination and wrest control of Congress from theRepublicans.Mr. Dean said their priorities should include unseating U.S. Sen. RickSantorum, R-Pa., whom he called "one of the most mean-spirited and corruptpoliticians in Washington.""And that says something," added Mr. Dean, a 2004 presidential candidate andformer Vermont governor, who delivered the keynote address to the conventionof National Stonewall Democrats. The three-day gathering on the Universityof Pittsburgh campus, held to provide members with political training,concludes today.The group has gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members and takes itsname from the Stonewall Inn, a New York bar police raided in 1969 forserving gay patrons. The ensuing violence fueled the gay-rights movement.Virginia Davis, spokeswoman for the Santorum campaign, said Mr. Dean'scomments reflect "what Bob Casey and the Democratic Party have become knownfor -- negative attacks and offering no solutions." Mr. Casey, the statetreasurer, is challenging Mr. Santorum in the November election.Mr. Dean said the Stonewall Democrats have made the Democratic Party"stronger, more inclusive, more courageous, more tenacious."He asked their help in reclaiming the House and Senate from Republicans,saying the GOP has masked its failures by dividing America with attacks ongays, immigrants and other minority groups. He cited the support PresidentBush and GOP congressional leaders have given to a constitutional amendmentthat would prevent states from recognizing same-sex marriages.The Constitution was written to guarantee basic rights to all Americans, notdeny them to some, said Mr. Dean, who as Vermont governor signed a landmarkbill giving gay couples nearly all of the benefits of marriage.The GOP touts "family values," he said, while Democrats "value allfamilies.""We are the party of small government and personal liberty," he said.Mr. Dean also faulted President Bush and congressional Republicans forissues ranging from the "Iraq mess" to the soaring cost of gasoline."Everything he said was absolutely true, correct, accurate," said Marty B.O'Malley, a Forest Hills councilman and supporter of the Thomas MertonCenter whose vest sported dozens of buttons lampooning Mr. Santorum.Ms. Davis, however, said Mr. Dean was off the mark. She said Democrats inthe past had stalled an energy bill to decrease America's reliance onforeign oil and asserted that Mr. Santorum, unlike his critics, had soughtsolutions to important issues.Mr. Dean didn't say how he believed Mr. Santorum was "corrupt." Ms.Davis said he may have been "throwing terms around" in an effort to link Mr.Santorum to ethics scandals involving other Republican officials.Yesterday wasn't the first time Mr. Dean swatted Mr. Santorum. In Pittsburghduring his presidential campaign, Mr. Dean sarcastically referred to Mr.Santorum as "nice, inclusive" after the Associated Press quoted the senatoras comparing homosexuality to bigamy, incest, adultery and polygamy.Mr. Dean said DNC operatives had been instructed to work with the gaycommunity and trained to discuss gay-rights issues with straight voters.He told the Stonewall group, "We need you to reach out to the straightcommunity."Jeremy Burnworth, a member of the Stonewall Democrats, said he was pleasedMr. Dean had recognized the group as a political force."We're thousands of people. He has a chance to utilize that."
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean told a group of gay andlesbian political activists yesterday that he wanted to "work side by side"with them to fight discrimination and wrest control of Congress from theRepublicans.Mr. Dean said their priorities should include unseating U.S. Sen. RickSantorum, R-Pa., whom he called "one of the most mean-spirited and corruptpoliticians in Washington.""And that says something," added Mr. Dean, a 2004 presidential candidate andformer Vermont governor, who delivered the keynote address to the conventionof National Stonewall Democrats. The three-day gathering on the Universityof Pittsburgh campus, held to provide members with political training,concludes today.The group has gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members and takes itsname from the Stonewall Inn, a New York bar police raided in 1969 forserving gay patrons. The ensuing violence fueled the gay-rights movement.Virginia Davis, spokeswoman for the Santorum campaign, said Mr. Dean'scomments reflect "what Bob Casey and the Democratic Party have become knownfor -- negative attacks and offering no solutions." Mr. Casey, the statetreasurer, is challenging Mr. Santorum in the November election.Mr. Dean said the Stonewall Democrats have made the Democratic Party"stronger, more inclusive, more courageous, more tenacious."He asked their help in reclaiming the House and Senate from Republicans,saying the GOP has masked its failures by dividing America with attacks ongays, immigrants and other minority groups. He cited the support PresidentBush and GOP congressional leaders have given to a constitutional amendmentthat would prevent states from recognizing same-sex marriages.The Constitution was written to guarantee basic rights to all Americans, notdeny them to some, said Mr. Dean, who as Vermont governor signed a landmarkbill giving gay couples nearly all of the benefits of marriage.The GOP touts "family values," he said, while Democrats "value allfamilies.""We are the party of small government and personal liberty," he said.Mr. Dean also faulted President Bush and congressional Republicans forissues ranging from the "Iraq mess" to the soaring cost of gasoline."Everything he said was absolutely true, correct, accurate," said Marty B.O'Malley, a Forest Hills councilman and supporter of the Thomas MertonCenter whose vest sported dozens of buttons lampooning Mr. Santorum.Ms. Davis, however, said Mr. Dean was off the mark. She said Democrats inthe past had stalled an energy bill to decrease America's reliance onforeign oil and asserted that Mr. Santorum, unlike his critics, had soughtsolutions to important issues.Mr. Dean didn't say how he believed Mr. Santorum was "corrupt." Ms.Davis said he may have been "throwing terms around" in an effort to link Mr.Santorum to ethics scandals involving other Republican officials.Yesterday wasn't the first time Mr. Dean swatted Mr. Santorum. In Pittsburghduring his presidential campaign, Mr. Dean sarcastically referred to Mr.Santorum as "nice, inclusive" after the Associated Press quoted the senatoras comparing homosexuality to bigamy, incest, adultery and polygamy.Mr. Dean said DNC operatives had been instructed to work with the gaycommunity and trained to discuss gay-rights issues with straight voters.He told the Stonewall group, "We need you to reach out to the straightcommunity."Jeremy Burnworth, a member of the Stonewall Democrats, said he was pleasedMr. Dean had recognized the group as a political force."We're thousands of people. He has a chance to utilize that."
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
