Time for Gays to Go Nader on Democrats

Fundraising boycott a good idea but doesn't go far enough
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 11, 2009 1:46 AM CST
Time for Gays to Go Nader on Democrats
Gay rights advocates march by the White House in Washington last month.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The two-party system gives gay Americans a terrible deal, and the proposed gay boycott of Democratic National Committee fundraising is a big step in the right direction toward changing the situation, writes Emma Ruby-Sachs. Cutting off funds to the party will push Democrats toward eliminating discrimination against gays and could lead to some real changes—but diverting those funds to third-party candidates would be even more effective, Ruby-Sachs urges in the Huffington Post.

Standing liberal candidates in close races on an "equal rights, populist platform with support for social services and equality under the law" would make the Democrats rapidly start paying attention to the votes on the left they've been taking for granted, Ruby-Sachs writes. "Ralph Nader tried this and managed to strike fear into the heart of major political parties for many years to come," she notes. "Let's play on this fear." (More Democratic National Committee stories.)

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