Republican Wing of Democratic Party?

Open letter to U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein:

I too believe that Bush's handlers cynically fanned the foul flames of homophobia in order to win the Presidency on Nov. 2.

(I'm not saying that Bush or Cheney or Karl Rove are personally homophobic; merely that they don't let conscience get between them and victory.)

In response to this "Homophobia Election",
I published articles at IndyBay.org;
including a prediction that this particular dirty trick
probably won't work again in 2008.

[ http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/11/1703436.php ]

That's small comfort,
but it's healthier than your public response.

You chose to say publicly what some Democrats would say only in private, concerning the same-sex marriage movement:
"The whole issue has been too much, too fast, too soon."

By saying this publicly, you rub salt into the wounds of queer Californians -- not just those who wish to marry, but also those who don't.

And you insult the mayor of San Francisco, just as you earlier insulted our SF district attorney.
(Why? Are you planning to turn your U.S. Senate seat over to Arnold, and run for state or local office?)

As California's highest ranking Democrat, it's your duty to unify and console and inspire California Democrats -- not to increase their pain.

Here in SF, our queer center is politely asking you to be nice.
But I'm not asking you for anything,
and I won't be polite.

Your public behavior shows that you just don't care about comforting and unifying and leading the queers, progressives, civil libertarians, and Democrats of your own state.

Instead, by inciting factionalism, you show that you prefer to demarcate and lead a splinter group --
THE REPUBLICAN WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY of California;
best symbolized by an elephant wearing a donkey mask.

Don't expect to get another vote from this undersigned queer.
I can't vote Republican, but
I can surely vote Green and/or Libertarian, as a protest.

People may say I'm wasting my vote on candidates who cannot win. But in my queer opinion, the bigger waste would be to support a conservative politician who has betrayed the principles of freedom, equal rights, and democracy.

Forgetting you forever,

Tortuga Bi LIBERTY,

SF, CA
Friday, 5 November 2004
...................................................................


PS: Here's the appeal, mentioned above,
from San Franhattan's queer center:


--- SF LGBT Community Center <info [at] sfcenter.org> wrote:

> Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004
> From: SF LGBT Community Center <info [at] sfcenter.org>
> To: <seniornude [at] prodigy.net>
> Subject: ACTION ALERT - call Senator Feinstein today
>
> The SF LGBT Community Center
> ACTION ALERT
> Call Senator Feinstein Today
>
As expected, the story line developing around this
year's election is that it was a referendum on morality,
and in particular, a vote
against the LGBT community.

Hate letters are filling the web.

> Newsweek will report next week that Bill Clinton's
advice to John Kerry was that he should publicly
support anti-gay amendments in
one of the eleven states. [sic?]

> When will the Democratic Party learn [that]
it will never lead by simply mimicking
the policies of the opposition?

Do not let LGBT Americans
be thrown aside and sacrificed for political gain.



> "The whole issue [of gay marriage]
has been too much,
too fast,
too soon."
U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein


> Call Senator Feinstein and tell her
you expect her to fight for you and your families.
The Republican Party has long
used bigotry to move forward.
This was their strategy to win the South
and it is their strategy now.
Ask Senator Feinstein what she is doing for you.
>
> San Francisco Office [of DiFi ]
> 415-393-0707
>
..............