Neumayr on the Democrats' con job

George Neumayr etches a sterling analysis of the latest attempt by Democrats to paint over their problems as a political party, including the elevation of slap-happy crank Howard Dean to the chairmanship of the DNC. A sample:

Bill Clinton, a veteran con man who knows that words aren't enough to dupe people, had advised Kerry to support state propositions against same-sex marriage. Willing to oppose gay marriage in word but not deed, Kerry was spooked by Clinton's advice and declined it. Dean will be an even harder pupil for Clinton to train. If Kerry couldn't plausibly oppose gay marriage -- since he hailed from the liberal state that had made it an issue in the first place -- how much more difficult will it be for Dean? As governor of Vermont he signed the first same-sex civil unions bill in the country, and made that a prominent selling point during last year's primary.

Like satire sprung to life, the Democrats lost an election (primarily) on gay marriage, abortion, and de facto pacifism, then proceeded to make their loudest voice a failed candidate who most visibly carries that baggage -- an off-putting blowhard who has said "I can be our first gay president," oversaw abortions as an executive board member of Planned Parenthood, and said Osama bin Laden is innocent until proven guilty.

Dean's clumsy paint job of policies that had alienated the country didn't even hold up on his first day as chairman. Betraying dismay and puzzlement, the Washington Post reported that one of the incoming chairman's first acts last Friday was to meet with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus. If Dean is opposed to gay marriage, he must not have informed Gloria Nieto. She told Dean "how she married her female partner in Massachusetts last year, and says she hopes that her community will always be respected within the Democratic party," reported the Post. "To which Dean walks out from behind the podium and envelops the woman in a big hug. He is crying himself. 'That's why I'm a Democrat,' he says."