Dean: More Gay,
Minority Leaders Needed
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, November 19, 2006
HOUSTON -- Howard Dean said
the Democratic Party needs to look beyond its dated goal of getting gays and
minorities a place at the table and instead work toward getting them on the
ballot.
''We've got to share power, not just responsibility, from now on,'' Dean told
about 200 people Saturday at the International Gay & Lesbian Leadership
Conference, an annual gathering of gay public officials.
Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said little about
issues such as same-sex marriage or civil rights, and instead addressed broader
Democratic agendas such as raising the minimum wage.
Flush from big Democratic gains in last week's elections, Dean emphasized that
the ''new Democratic Party'' reaches out to all citizens, even those less likely
to vote for them.
The downfall of the ''old Democratic Party,'' he said, had been its acceptance
to represent half the nation.
''We've got to take the attitude: Everyone's our boss,'' Dean said.
He then outlined the issues he believes the party should focus on now that
Democrats control Congress, including increasing college financial assistance
and passing an energy independence bill.
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