Pro-Marriage South-Dakota Democrat Being Forced to Toe the Homosexualist Line

Democrats in Self-Destruct Mode CCXLIII

A story at Talon News today.

A rift has developed between the campaigns of Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Stephanie Herseth, the Democratic candidate for South Dakota's lone House seat over the issue of gay marriage.

A month ago, the Associated Press quoted Herseth as saying, "I agree with the president on this issue. Marriage should be between a man and a woman."

Her statement produced a strongly negative reaction from some Democrats, especially from inside the Daschle campaign. The Rapid City Journal reported that Steve Hildebrand, campaign manager for the Senate minority leader asked for a refund of his contribution to the Herseth campaign. No reason was given for the unusual request and requests for comment by Talon News were not returned.

A recent Associated Press story said that donations coming in through web sites had dried up, and Democrats were criticizing Herseth on the Internet. Ben Hanten, an executive board member of the South Dakota Democratic Party considered withdrawing his support until the candidate reassured him that her intent was to take the issue "off the table."

Others have not been as understanding.

Sam Hurst, a columnist for the Rapid City Journal wrote a blistering commentary in which he said, "Stephanie Herseth is too young and too bright to have lost her backbone. At an age when she should be known for brash idealism, she has chosen instead to pander to the dark voices of discrimination. Such is the cynical calculus of electoral campaigns."

Hurst said that at least one influential Rapid City couple canceled a fundraiser for her in disgust. Hurst noted that Herseth's stand puts her in direct opposition to the positions shared by Daschle and Sens. Tim Johnson (D-SD) and John Kerry (D-MA).

In a subsequent statement to the Rapid City Journal, the candidate said, "This is a difficult, deeply personal issue for many Americans. It is being debated in town halls, city governments, and living rooms across the country, so I see no reason why it should not be debated at the national level as well. That is what President Bush has called for, and it is why I did not object to his proposal."

She added, "I hope very much, though, that the timing of his proposal was not political because what we need in America today is more friendship and respect in politics and less divisiveness."

"There were some negative reactions," Herseth admitted. "Some were surprised and not very interested in hearing my rationale."

Despite taking a conservative position on gay marriage, Herseth remains one of the star candidates supported by the liberal, pro-abortion group Emily's List.

In 1996, the South Dakota legislature defined marriage as a union "between a man and a woman." Four years later lawmakers voted to respect any marriages conducted outside the state except those of same-sex couples.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News — All rights reserved.

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So, the South Dakota state government has twice in the past eight years defined marriage as between a man and a woman. But, to make it onto the national Democratic stage, this candidate must renounce what is, apparently, the will of the people of the state she would represent.

Alas, it might work. ISTM that Americans are notoriously, historically stupid for electing individuals to the Congress who will do their darnedest to subvert the will of their constituents as expressed through their local and state governments. It's our fault, folks, if we keep on doing so.

But Herseth might have been able to avoid this if she had avoided saying that she is supporting Satan Incarnate the president (as if she isn't supporting the American people and 5,000 years of Western civilization): she should have said, instead, that she supported the state legislature expressing the will of the people who elected them, and that she would not work against them in the Congress.

(Thanks, Ryan.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 03/30/04 06:20:24 PM
Categorized as Democrats in Self-Destruct Mode.