The Big Tent Party
From an SDDP Release:
Pierre, SD
Both the South Dakota Democratic Party and the South Dakota Republican Party held their state conventions last weekend. While the Democratic Party passed a ‘Unity Resolution’ (see below) the Republican Party adopted a resolution supporting the controversial anti-abortion bill, HB 1215. The aftermath of such a move has been considerable.
On Wednesday, former state Senator Clarence Kooistra changed his party affiliation to Democrat. Two Democratic candidates for the legislature, Scott Heidepriem and Rebekah Cradduck were also former Republican legislators who found room in the Democratic Party for their views.
Republican convention delegate and resolution committee member Sam Kephart yesterday announced his displeasure with the Republican Party’s increasing radical direction in an opinion column. Mr. Kephart had tried to introduce a resolution that ‘gave breathing room to moderates’. The resolution was overwhelmingly defeated.
(From the Rapid City Weekly News 6-28-06 ‘Little Hope For Moderation in the GOP’- Sam Kephart)
In response to Mr. Kephart’s op-ed and the contrast between the two party conventions, South Dakota Democratic Party Chairwoman Judy Olson Duhamel made this statement:
“The South Dakota Democratic Party truly is the big tent party, a fact reaffirmed at our successful state convention. I encourage all South Dakotans uneasy with the status quo that puts a narrow focus on personal social issues and ignores the meat and potato concerns of education, health care, and good paying jobs, to give us a chance to lead by voting for Democrats in November.”
South Dakota Democratic Party Unity Resolution
WHEREAS, The South Dakota Democratic Party is united in the purposes of creating a better South Dakota for all of its people and electing Democratic candidates to government at all levels.
WHERAS, the South Dakota Democratic Party is united in our recognition that Constitutional Amendment C, pertaining to the definition of marriage, as well as Referred Law HB 1215, pertaining to the prohibition of the abortion procedure, are matters of personal conscience and personal faith.
THEREFORE LET IT BE KNOWN, We encourage Democrats to study thoroughly and reflect carefully on each, and we further encourage Democrats to vote as their conscience may dictate.
The Big Tent Party
Pierre, SD
Both the South Dakota Democratic Party and the South Dakota Republican Party held their state conventions last weekend. While the Democratic Party passed a ‘Unity Resolution’ (see below) the Republican Party adopted a resolution supporting the controversial anti-abortion bill, HB 1215. The aftermath of such a move has been considerable.
On Wednesday, former state Senator Clarence Kooistra changed his party affiliation to Democrat. Two Democratic candidates for the legislature, Scott Heidepriem and Rebekah Cradduck were also former Republican legislators who found room in the Democratic Party for their views.
Republican convention delegate and resolution committee member Sam Kephart yesterday announced his displeasure with the Republican Party’s increasing radical direction in an opinion column. Mr. Kephart had tried to introduce a resolution that ‘gave breathing room to moderates’. The resolution was overwhelmingly defeated.
(From the Rapid City Weekly News 6-28-06 ‘Little Hope For Moderation in the GOP’- Sam Kephart)
“…I left the convention seriously questioning whether I wanted to remain in the party and continue to contribute my time, money, and ideas.”
“What kind of mixed message does that send? We love you now, but when the party groupthink takes over, there’s only our way or the highway.”
“In my opinion, the Republican tent, in reality, isn’t very open at all.”
“Despite my personal Waterloo on the convention floor, the biggest loser of all was the voice of moderation.”
In response to Mr. Kephart’s op-ed and the contrast between the two party conventions, South Dakota Democratic Party Chairwoman Judy Olson Duhamel made this statement:
“The South Dakota Democratic Party truly is the big tent party, a fact reaffirmed at our successful state convention. I encourage all South Dakotans uneasy with the status quo that puts a narrow focus on personal social issues and ignores the meat and potato concerns of education, health care, and good paying jobs, to give us a chance to lead by voting for Democrats in November.”
South Dakota Democratic Party Unity Resolution
WHEREAS, The South Dakota Democratic Party is united in the purposes of creating a better South Dakota for all of its people and electing Democratic candidates to government at all levels.
WHERAS, the South Dakota Democratic Party is united in our recognition that Constitutional Amendment C, pertaining to the definition of marriage, as well as Referred Law HB 1215, pertaining to the prohibition of the abortion procedure, are matters of personal conscience and personal faith.
THEREFORE LET IT BE KNOWN, We encourage Democrats to study thoroughly and reflect carefully on each, and we further encourage Democrats to vote as their conscience may dictate.
posted by DC at 2:17 PM
2 Comments:
When you get right down to it, everything is a matter of personal conscience. Why bother taking a stand on anything?
The problem with 1215 and C is they are taking issues of personal conscience and making them the laws of the land. That's my problem with this statement. I wish we could have come out with planks anti-1215, and anti-C, but then acknowledge that some differ and they are still welcome in the party. It wasn't to be, and I am not happy, but I will live with it. This is a year for Dems to band together and change things. It may even involve joining with disenfranchised Republicans and maybe even bringing them into our tent--in the end we can do a lot of good.
BUT LET'S STILL WORK TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!
If we don't even if we win it's simply not worth it--I would hope we've learned that from the awful experience of the moderate Repubs: It's a pyhrric victory in that they have this much power in their party but lost their soul on the way.
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