The Green Party doesn’t own my loyalty any more than the Democrats or the Libertarians. I think you’re hung up on the “viable 3rd party” idea. I don’t care if a candidate is viable anymore, I simply care that they are the candidate in any given race who best represents what I care about and my stances on the issues.

Frankly, if the Democrats can’t win back the progressive voters and keep playing to the moderate middle, they don’t deserve to win.

I’m still on the search for the answers to this. I tried the Green Party, but in Utah (and apparently other places in the nation) there is too much infighting and splitting amongst the activists that make up the party, which weakens their ability to be a viable 3rd party.

I’m really at a loss about what to do. Most liberals I know practically worship Obama. I’m willing to admit he’s a lot better than Bush, but I’m frankly tired of the “lesser of evils” strategy in politics. I’ve thought ’til my brain hurts about how to move the Democrats back to being leaders for the oppressed and haven’t really found any answers.

I believe that while any person is oppressed, we all are. As a woman I feel a strong connection between equal rights for women and equal rights for LGBTQ people. We have so much in common, and our enemies are really the same.

But why bring up injustice done to African Americans in California, criticism of Mormons in the government, and “disparaging” comments about marriages involving teenagers and first cousins by a group of outspoken voices in response to this blog? To the points I am making? Your comment about not attending the Prop 8 protest suggest that you, in fact, are using “injustice” done to another group as an excuse not to support ending injustice done to another.

Do not judge us by John Aravois (who is not a favorite among progressive activists, anyway).

I’m thinking about the gay white people who were harassing their African American counter-parts after Prop. 8 because the measure had more support among African American voters than white ones. I’m thinking about John Aravois declaring my grandfather a “pedophile” and “child rapist” because my grandmother got married at 16, and demeaning the marriages of first cousins (legal in several states, including NY and VT). I’m thinking about the folks who are saying that Mormons shouldn’t be allowed to work for the government if that entails Mormons dealing with issues on which their religion takes a stance. (Didn’t JFK already have to deal with this one? is it just that Mormons are fewer than Catholics so it’s easier to target them?)

I am finding that certain actions taken that purport to be on behalf of the cause just come across as unfair bullying. I couldn’t go to the anti-Prop. 8 rally held in NYC after the amendment passed — because it was held outside the Mormon temple and I have friends who attend it. Let’s try to keep the movement clean of racial and religious bigotry, and stick to pressing the issues themselves.