Democrats Attack Dean

Re “Opponents Lob Few Shells at Dean on War,” Jan. 7: I’ve followed the success of the Democratic Leadership Council in pushing the Democratic Party rightward for more than a decade. It has done an impressive job of making most Democrats virtually indistinguishable from the Republicans on a wide range of important issues.

Now the ironically named Progressive Policy Institute, a stalwart DLC “think” tank, wants to take it one step forward by pushing its centrist hacks to attack Howard Dean on the one issue he has staked his reputation, and integrity, on: opposition to Bush’s bloody war on Iraq. Why, they’re moving the Democrats so far to the right that Karl Rove won’t need to do his job!

Why worry about the endless series of lies that Bush peddled to get us into an illegal war that has turned the majority of the world against the U.S.? The important thing is to win at all costs. Undoubtedly the millions of people who don’t vote because they don’t see any difference between the two major parties will be very inspired by this brilliant strategy.

Ben Terrall

Altadena

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Re “Dean Hasn’t Got a Prayer in Dixie,” Commentary, Jan. 6:

James Pinkerton takes Dean to task for talking openly about his faith, saying that Jesus said we should say our prayers in private. What? Tell that to the evangelicals, like Bush, who insist there should be open school prayer and prayers at public events. Pinkerton admits that Bush has used his alleged religious beliefs to win votes, as when he went to Bob Jones University in South Carolina, professing his faith after being clobbered in the 2000 New Hampshire primary by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Dean is right to try to reach Southerners by attempting to diffuse the religious issue and informing them they have been hoodwinked by Bush to give him their votes because he claims to believe in Jesus, thus enabling him to see to it that the rich get richer while they are without decent-paying jobs, health insurance or quality education.

George Magit

Northridge

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Pinkerton’s sneering that Bush’s supporters prefer a theocracy to a democracy shows that he shares Dean’s disconnect with religious Americans. Americans who support the Judeo-Christian basis for our republic’s laws have the greatest of respect for our democratic process. Indeed, it is the forces of secularism that use unelected judges to overturn popular sentiments against sodomy and in support of the public recognition of God. Perhaps Pinkerton should concern himself with those who would impose an “anti-theocracy” on our nation.

Aaron Smith

Carlsbad

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I enjoyed Pinkerton’s article, and I largely agree with his conclusions. A more interesting article might have been one that considered John Edwards’ chances in Dixie.

James W. Talley

Shelburne Falls, Mass.

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Re “Clark Offers ‘Simple’ Yet Sweeping Tax Reform,” Jan. 6: Bravo, Gen. Wesley Clark! You’d certainly have my vote. However, we shouldn’t think that Clark’s proposed tax plan is a revolutionary idea (specifically that families earning under $50,000 pay zero federal taxes). Under current tax laws, many of our nation’s millionaires manage to avoid paying federal taxes.

Richard Lukose

Carpinteria