I'm a big fan of Dean, but he has one teeny-tiny problem going into the Democratic primaries- his ardent pro-gun positions. Although this may in fact help him among conservative Dems in W. Virginia, Penn, etc., he's going to get killed on this issue in New York, California, and Illinois. Other than that, good luck, Howie!

Frankly-- I think progressives should get over their attachment to gun control. Not that it doesn't have marginal effect on gun deaths, but it is clear that economic opportunity for the poor is a far better corrective for crime and desperation.

And I'd rather have those pro-gun working class voters with us for economic justice than over with the GOP getting sucked in on "cultural issues" like gun rights.

So that doesn't hurt my impression of Dean

Nathan,

I completely agree with you on this issue. However, there are millions of Democratic voters in big cities (NY, Philly, Chicago) who are firmly gun-control, and will continue to be. As a result, I don't see how Dean can win the primaries in these states based on his pro-gun views. Even if you and I respect him, it doesn't mean that the Democratic base will do likewise.

I think most progressive voters in the Democratic primaries are more passionate about health care than gun control. So if Dean is seen as more progressive on health care issues, I doubt his position on guns will hurt him there. He may lose a few fiscally conservative soccer mom types, but he could become the consensus labor candidate if he plays his cards right-- the unions would love to find a candidate that please both their gun nut members and their lefty members. Dean could be the ticket.

to me, a pro-gun progressive is not necessarily an oxymoron.

personally, i am in favor of gun control laws, but i am not in favor of eliminating guns. although i doubt that most people don't think like me, i don't think it's an either/or proposition: no guns at all versus unlimited access to uzis. like every other question in life, it's a matter of degree, and where we draw the line.

so if i lived in new york, i'd probably vote for dean.

i meant, i doubt that most people DO think like me. mea culpa.

so shoot me.

I am a progressive and a avid gun collector. I think his stance on "gun control" is spot on and I wish more Democrats would come on board.

Hmm... on the gun control issue and Dean, my ardently pro-gun control mother watched him on Meet the Press, and while she was somewhat distressed by his pro-gun views, she seemed to get the impression that this was largely a political stance, taken to keep the Democrats from losing pro-gun votes, and she was impressed that Dean would be so forthright about saying that. (I didn't see the show, so I don't know if that's what he said)

Anyway, I just thought I'd throw that out there, for what it's worth.

Sad to say, Dean's real Achilles heel is his support of civil unions. Karl Rove knows perfectly well that all he has to do is run a single ad with bearded men in wedding dresses, and Li'l George will be safe for 4 more years.

Vaara: What swing voter worried about gays is considering voting for the Dem? I guess some, but in a high turnout race where relative energy matters less, I don't see civil unions being too great an achilles heel. Plus, while I do NOT buy the liberal media bias story as told by the mainstream and right, I do believe that national opinion leading media ARE left of center on social issues such as civil unions. Bush will see a lot more inquiry into AWOL, Harken, and the like from an otherwise quiescient national media if he or his allies demagogued this issue.

I agree, I wish the Dems would back off of gun control (I have no intention of getting rid of mine). I am hoping that Dean or Kucinich make a big push to get the Democratic nomination. If Lieberman would happen to get it, I would go Green or write in.
I think that both gentleman actually believe what they say and can actually talk without parroting the "party line".

I agree, I wish the Dems would back off of gun control (I have no intention of getting rid of mine). I am hoping that Dean or Kucinich make a big push to get the Democratic nomination. If Lieberman would happen to get it, I would go Green or write in.
I think that both gentleman actually believe what they say and can actually talk without parroting the "party line".

As long as Democrats push gun control, I will vote Republican. The radical gun control agenda over the past 20 years has made me a single issue voter. I voted for Bush in 2000 for no other reason than Gore's outright persecution of gun owners. I'm very pro-labor and my beliefs are more in line with Dennis Kucinch than Bush. However, I will continue to vote Republican as long as this gun control kick continues. I wish Democrats would give swing voters like me a choice and focus on labor relations and domestic policy. I wish Democrats would get off the gun control obsession and leave the Second Amendment alone.