THE 4 WHITE ELEPHANTS OF THE APOCALYPSE

Surely that is preferable to sucking on one of the Republican's sugar-teats in the hope that it will lead to re-election. Democrats would be more respected by the electorate if they ignored the syrupy threats of the Bush propaganda machine.

Face it, people. The Bush gang never admits to or acknowledges mistakes. Whatever criticism comes their way they duck and let it fly right on by. Then they stand there all syrupy smiles, sympathy and advice for their critics.

When the elephant is directly challenged by an especially brave or principled Democrat leader or journalist, it simply turn the question back on the questioner, claiming they have a mandate from the voters. They are nasty bullies!

They have saddled the donkey with four apocalyptic crimes that they claim voters have identified as the reason they do not like and will not vote for Democrats. These are: reproductive rights, gay marriage, religion, and patriotism.

The Democratic leadership seems to have fallen for this crap, hook, line and bridle. The elephants ride roughshod over the government and the media pelts Democrats with elephant dung.

* Teach the developmental science of the human animal and they accuse you of being anti-religious, so they insist on teaching "intelligent design" [a weasel word for creationism]. Advocate for stem cell research and you become one of the ungodly and hate Jesus.

* Insist on better equipment for the troops and criticize how unprepared the Bushies were for the Iraq war and you are unpatriotic - a traitor who brings down the moral of the soldiers and comfort to the enemy.

* Defend the rights of gay couples and you are undermining marriage and fostering child molestation.

* Insist that the best medical care for women must include legal abortion and discover that god does not allow reproductive rights for women.

Recently the donkey leadership is making noises about finding common ground with the elephants on abortion. They still have not learned that to the elephants, common ground means doing things their way.

These leaders advocate the election of a senator in New Jersey who is against abortion because of his religion. They defend this by saying he is sure to be elected. Their brains have been washed and scrubbed by listening to the elephants raving about litmus testing.

If they stopped to think, they would find that most voters would support candidates who are against abortion, because everyone is. That does not mean that everyone who is against abortion would deny it to others. There is the crux of the whole matter.

The Democratic leadership needs to find the "common ground" that exists within its own Party. It must re-identify with President Clinton's "abortions should be safe, legal and rare."

Ignore this "choice" and "life" debate which the elephants constructed. Talk instead about women's health. Let any potential Democratic candidate express that he or she would not have an abortion -- does not believe in it for whatever reason. But then he or she must pledge not to vote their religious prejudices that are harmful to women's health and welfare.

The donkey leaders must start kicking ass and stop being led around by the reprehensible rhetoric of the rychus. Democrats must either shut up or take the reins into their own hands to recapture their share of media attention and start coming across as honest to the rank and file in the trenches.

William Shakespeare said, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."

OR ESPECIALLY TO ANY WOMAN.

gapperserve@peoplepc.com

2005-012

Copyright 2005 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: gapperserve@peoplepc.com.