My family agrees, something is missing.

[Lizz612]

My mother and I talked about this last night and again today.
We haven't heard anything about reproductive rights, we haven't heard anything about homosexuality. We have heard little about poverty, and little about the environment.
My father agrees and I do too. Something seems to be missing.

Bill Richardson is on my TV saying that "We don't want this convention to be defined by wedge issues."

Thoughts?

EDIT: I'm watching PBS, we don't pay to get more commercials, my father wants to smash the television half the time anyway.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Yes, I agree

Choice, poverty, and the environment should be brought up.

[Sydnie]

2. I think they are saving the "good fight" for the debates. eom

[RoyGBiv]

24. They have been...

No offense personally, but I'm starting to get irritated by this criticism that should be directed exclusively at certain media coverage. of the convention. I've had the good fortune to be able to watch this entire covention, every single moment of it.

Every issue has been addressed. Impassioned speeches have been given. Firey words have erupted from the mouths of people who are sick and damn tired of the way the boy king has trampled all over this country we love. Standing ovations have been given. Tears have been shed.

You won't see that on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc. But don't blame the Democrats for it.

[JohnKleeb]

27. I am not blaming the dems for it

I am pretty satsifed with the convention, I am just agreeing with Beth, because I know those issues are yes in fact being interrupted by the media.

[RoyGBiv]

32. Okay...

But there was an implicit assumption made that the issues had not been addressed when, in fact, they have.

I must go party now. The Kerry daughters have me all worked up. :-)

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Lizz612]

43. Here's my problem.

"But there was an implicit assumption made that the issues had not been addressed when, in fact, they have.
"
Have they been adressed when they know that there will be more than just us policy wonks watching? Have they been adressed by people important enough to not be talked over?

The Democratic leadership knows that this is a commercial affair. They need to plan accordingly.

[RoyGBiv]

51. Yes...

They have been addressed in prime time. Beyond that the leadership had no control.

[CaTeacher]

3. If those are "wedge issues"

then I am way out of touch. I thought people cared about things like poverty and the environment. It sounds like we are giving up the issues that we are strongest in--for what? If this is an attempt to get the voters who are in the middle--I think they care about these things too. It is a repug talking point to call these things wedge issues--and we are fools if we listen to the repugs and give up on these issues.

I am SICK of hearing move to the right, move to the right.

[never_get_over_it]

4. Barney Frank spoke today

about gay lesbian and transgender rights and Kewsi Enfume and I know I butcherd the spelling of his name spoke on Choice - and several people have spoken about the environment

[gasperc]

35. fear not, we'll get GUNS, GAYS and GOD from the GOP lovefest

:silly:

[RodneyCK2]

5. PBS mentioned this...

saying something to the effect that this is the most scripted convention ever. The overall tone is set toward the swing voters and the swing states, ie more moderate in tone. It is a shame, but this is what needs to be done.

We already have the democratic vote. We need the swing vote to win and hopefully, a few Republicans (if that is possible).

[freetobegay]

6. I must be watching a different convention.

On edit: It's not what they are saying, but how they are saying it.

[mdmc]

7. chicks, gays, poor folk, and crunchies

are all either with us or against Bush.

[Lizz612]

56. I want some prime time acknowledgment

I want someone with real omph to look at the camera and say those code words that tell me, yes you have backed us up all the way, you marched in DC 1 million strong and we are not going to forget that.
I'm scared about my rights and I want to be reassured that you know that and I want to know that you know I'm afraid.

[jdj]

70. Tereas Heinz-Kerry's speech was WAY FEMINIST and

extremely pro-environment.

In fact I was shocked at how feminist it was, it's been far too long, but you're right, they did not mention abortion. They have been having the women talk about women, but abortion and gay rights, not so much.

[Not Me]

8. Homosexuality will be brought up next month

and (I think) so frequently and self righteously that it will turn people off. It happened two weeks ago in the Senate...but they still don't get it.

[Dookus]

9. huh?

So far I've seen Barney Frank, Cheryl Jacques, and Tammy Baldwin speak. I heard an impassioned speech about choice today.

You're just not watching closely, I guess.

[Lizz612]

13. Tell me when those were

We don't have cable. We just have the PBS primetime coverage, and they talk over half of it.

[RoyGBiv]

10. How much of the convention have you watched?

I've heard speeches on all that.

[liveoaktx]

11. Maybe you've missed some of it-Robert Kennedy Jr gave a GREAT

speech about the environment, can't remember which night. I've also heard speakers in the afternoon talking about poverty, opportunity, etc.

[KoKo]

12. Lyndon Johnson has not been mentioned for Civil Rights Act and the

War on Poverty. Tonight they skipped over him as if Vietnam had not existed except for the Swift Boat folks. :-(

[Cleita]

14. Don't worry about this as you will be hearing plenty about those

issues at the Republican Convention. It's all they've got. I applaud the DNC for not providing any fuel to their digusting smelly wedge issues fires.

[Lizz612]

20. As my mother put it

"Throw us a bone." She thinks women voters are being taken for granted. She just wants it to be acknowledged that I and 1 million other women marched in April.

Just say some phrases that let us know you know we are behind you, please? Is it too much to ask?

[KittyWampus]

22. Watch Cspan. It's Not DNC's Fault You Missed These Issues

and the speakers who mentioned them.

[Lizz612]

44. Yes I think it is

The DNC should know that this is a commercial affair, and that not everyone can afford cable!

[Pachamama]

15. If your watching CNN - your right...they haven't shown much....

CSPAN atleast has shown more and there have been some presentations where environment and women's issues have been brought up...but you wouldn't have seen it on CNN...

Homosexuality - well, they won't talk about this because your not going to win many moderates or undecideds in Mid-America that way....but if you look closely - there are a lot of Rainbow signs with Kerry's name on it...

[JohnKleeb]

18. shes watching PBS

so that makes sense.

[seabeyond]

16. it is in a lot of speeches

since going to cspan i am also seeing how selective even cable has been on showing a speech. since being on cspan today, i have heard all the stuff. it is all there. just not being shown

[JohnKleeb]

17. Beth, youre missing some because youre watching PBS

but its not been explored in depth on CSPaAN either. Actually though, I have some seen some on poverty.

[Renew Deal]

19. I have heard about it all.

Part of the problem is the coverage. It sucks unless you are glued to cspan.

[Walt Starr]

21. SUMO WEDGIE!!!!

[Lizz612]

23. Thanks

That is so effin helpful... :eyes:

[blm]

25. This election is going to be won on national security. Thank undergod we

have someone who can win on national security who has a great record and great policies for all the issues you are concerned about.

The issues you mention have been covered by other speakers on day one, two and three, especially wonderful was Robert Kennedy on the environment.

[Bluebear]

26. Barney Frank spoke earlier actually

[Dob Bole]

28. Which is a good idea....

The Democratic Party is also divided on these issues. I think there has been a good bit of talk about poverty though- maybe I was just interpreting something vague that they said in that manner.

[Lizz612]

29. People!

Not everyone has cable! Sheesh....

[RoyGBiv]

30. Go Here - Link

There are videos of speeches you may have missed here.

http://tinyurl.com/62ajb

[lanlady]

31. you're right

Between Vietnam and Iraq there's no time for anything else.

[Lizz612]

33. Oh Alexandra gave my mother her bone!

"control their bodies"
Hmm sounds more like a tiny ear bone to me...

[tabasco]

34. Alex Kerry just mentioned it.

'nuff said.

[WilliamPitt]

36. I have been in this convention for four days

and have heard probably 100 speeches. Half of them have been about what you are talking about. Unless you watch the whole thing, you'll miss them.

[JohnKleeb]

38. she doesnt have CSPAN, that could have something to do with it

[Lizz612]

39. EXACTLY!

How many people are watching the whole thing?
How many women, even those for whom abortion and reproductive rights are glued to CSPAN? How many people can afford to be glued to CSPAN the whole time?
The convention is a commercial affair now are we reaching the target audiences?
Can they please just throw us a bone? Alexandra is nice, but she's not an official.

[WilliamPitt]

47. How many people ever watch the whole thing?

[Lizz612]

54. Most of DU it seems

*wide eyed* Jeebus....

Not you Will, but others, Jebus.....

[Bake]

37. Barack Obama mentioned "gay friends in the red states"

The overall message has been inclusiveness for ALL.

Bake

[EstimatedProphet]

40. They need to present a positive face right now

If they come out in a negative fashion the media will go off about how the Dems are all divided and negative, and drown the campaign with it.

[Lizz612]

46. I'm not asking for negative

I'm asking for an acknowledgment that gays and lesbians are part of his base, and that women who care about their right to have an abortion are they're base. Acknowledgment is what we want.

[Selwynn]

41. Where have you been then?

I've heard about all of those things.

[Lizz612]

50. I've been

working, and doing chores. But even if I had the time, its not even on PBS until primetime. And even the PBS commentators talk over a good deal of it.

[alarimer]

42. At least not in prime time

Where most people can see it. All the prime time speeches seemd geared towards swing voters. I am sort of disappointed too; I can't be home watching C-span all day. Plenty of people don't have cable. But I guess this is the choice they have made to try and get those all-important "swing" voters.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

45. Barney Frank was on talking about

GLBT rights for quite a while today, did you miss him???

And did you miss the NAACP president talking about choice and reproductive rights?

The environment? I've heard it mentioned quite a bit.

What's the deal?

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

48. We still have Kerry's speech coming up

although it's true, they are missing those issues

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

61. HA! Told you!

Kerry's speech blew the hell out of those issues

[trof]

49. You missed Barney Frank this evening?

Carried the gay banner high.

[ProudGerman]

52. woah now

Instead of jumping Lizz's case for not watching TV all day long the past few days because for one thing, she couldn't have watched it even if she wanted to.

Look at it from her perspective, because its very close to the perspective of those we are trying to get to vote for us. Primarily those who have distorted views on what we stand for. The similarity I'm talking about is when these people watch, the same time as her, the prime time evening coverage. Lizz has only watched the coverage when these people are most likely to watch, and she gets the impression that there is next to no coverage of these core issues.

In Primetime, not much is being said to bear out actually what we really stand for on those core issues. So their distortion stays in place. They think we have some sort of hidden agenda, to make GLBT some sort of supercitizen with special rights. A little emphasis on this issue during primetime, when these people are watching, would help alot to clear up this right wing spin, that we only want equality and nothing else. Its the same with the other issues she mentioned in her original post.

I think she has a point.

[dflprincess]

53. Sharpton did say it's not the government's job to worry about

who your in your bedroom with - it's the government's job to worry about there food eat in your kitchen.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

55. You must be watching something other than CSPAN.

[Lizz612]

67. Umm... yes.

I edited my post at 08:31 CST according to the time stamp to include the red disclaimer that I was watching PBS as we cannot afford cable.

[Lorien]

57. Edwards and Obama talked a lot about poverty

but I certainly agree with you about the rest of the issues. The environment is an issue that I feel is VERY urgent, and I've barely heard it mentioned.

[SoCalDem]

58. The questions you must ask yourself are these...

Did you know that your Mom loved you, even if she did not wake you up 3 times during the night to tell you??

Will the republicans be "good" for any of those issues??

Will the democrats pay attention to those issues, even if they are not broadcast from a loudspeaker??

We have arrived at a point in time where we too must accept on faith that no amount of trumpeting wedge issues will serve us well..

If WE controlled the media, we might be in a position to lead the way. but for now, we have but one goal.. We must get to a position of power FIRST...and THEN we can set about changing things that need to be changed..

The republican echo-chamber will be working at warp speed to drive those wedges into every brain in the country.

We start out the competition on "defense", so although we must prepare for the onslaught, we do NOT control the agenda..

There is no need to set a trap for ourselves..there will be plenty of time for traps that they will set for us..

[Lizz612]

69. Answers as best I can muster....

No, but when its my birthday she says it and it means more, and she says it when she knows I'm upset and she says it when she's proud of me. The convention is the birthday, Bush is the monster under the bed that scared me, and the march on April 25th was better than any A+.

No, and we know it.

Yes, and we know it.

These are not just wedge issues, they were real issues first.

I wasn't asking for much, I wanted someone to acknowledge that we are here, and we're voting for Kerry, and we are afraid of our rights to abortion and condoms and to love who we love are going to be taken away. I want some one to say, "I know you are there, I know you are scared, I am not going to let them do that." But I will settle for a big wink and a smile. I know that when the monster comes out from under the bed you will run it off, but promise me again, now when it matters, that you will.

Its a loyalty that I don't want taken for granted. Even wives have to tell their husbands from time to time "I'm still here for you." I want my party to say "We are still standing up for you."

I think I got the wink and nod, I hope I got it, it felt like I got it.

[Lizz612]

59. OH KERRY!

*SWOOOOONS*

[Media_Lies_Daily]

60. Welcome home!

[Lizz612]

63. Thank you

He did it.
He said what I (and my father and especially my mother) needed to hear.
He even said science, it surprised me so much, I jumped a little.

[LSK]

62. the gay issue is a republican tool

Republicans use that issue to avoid real issues. Kerry talked about this in one of the last primary debates.

[Lizz612]

64. Oh, thank you for that.

Thank you for belittling it. Thats what we need to hear, your issue, your way of life, your fight to love who you love is a republican tool. Thats so useful.

It is an issue, I don't mean the marriage thing even. I can wait for that, portable civil unions I can wait on. But the intollerance and the bigotry and the hate, I cannot wait for those to end. Some of my peers really can't and choose to end it. A few have had it ended for them. Yes they are using it as a wedge issue, but it is still an issue.

[GirlinContempt]

65. Republican tool?!

Republicans use that issue to avoid real issues?!

The fact that someone believes that it isn't a real issue proves to me how 'real' it is. And it frightens me to think that it's being ignored for those very reasons.

[union_maid]

66. It's all been there

Been watching it on CSPAN with no commercials. I've only been watching from about 7 PM at night because I work during the day, so what I've seen is mostly primetime and I've seen all that addressed by various speakers. It's not missing, the coverage is missing it, but that's not their fault.

[Lizz612]

68. See you are missing my point

I try to watch all of what PBS showed all the nights, but even they talked over some of it. It doesn't help that the PBS station here showed it on the weaker of their two signals.
My point is that if my mother and I, who in our wonkiness watched nearly all of it missed the mention of these issues, what does the person who watched even less think of what happened at the DNC? Does it look to them like we no longer take the strong stance we did on birth control? Does it look like have abandoned the GBLT community?

Well shit it doesn't really matter now, Kerry said some great stuff. I wanted more, but I always do.

But that doesn't mean I didn't have a valid complaint before, and it doesn't excuse you from missing the fact that :cry: I don't freakin have CSPAN!