Reports From Democracy Bond Rally

Last night, Howard Dean held a rally in Boston for Democracy Bond holders. Unfortunately, I was unable to go, but Daily Kos user mem from somerville was there and wrote a diary with her report with a couple of pictures. She also had this to say in a comment:

He continues to say "we can do better". He will fight in 50 states. We gotta do something for health care. No surprises, but he's definitely still in there swingin' for us.

In addition, the Boston chapter of Billionaires for Bush was there and they have some great pictures of the event. Here is their take on Democracy bonds:

The fundraiser was built on the idea of Democracy Bonds, a monthly pledge of a small amount of money to support the Democratic Party. The Billionaires discovered that not only did the bonds have a disclaimer saying they would not have any monetary rate of return, they are not even tax-deductible! Apparently, the money donated would just go into the DNC's efforts to put a Democratic candidate in every race at every level nationwide. What kind of investment is that??!?

Did anyone else go to the rally and care to share your take on it?

Dean on Mass Dems Platform Change

I hate to open this can of worms again, but the Herald has an article today where they briefly interview DNC chair Howard Dean, who will be in Lowell this weekend for the Democratic platform convention. Dean, who like Senator Kerry opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions, had the following to say about the proposed changes to the Massachusetts Democratic party platform:

Dean refused to take a stand on the support for gay marriage in the state party's platform - a plank U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) called a "mistake." Instead, Dean repeated his view that each state should sort out the controversy, saying Bay State Democrats "ought to be able to do what they want at their own convention."

That's all I wanted from Kerry -- not an endorsement of marriage equality, but an acknowledgement that the delegates at the platform convention had a right to add whatever language the majority of them wanted.

Even if Kerry had said that he disagreed with the plank and would vote against it were he able to go to the convention and that he wouldn't change his position regardless of any changes to the state party platform, that would have been fine. Instead he implied that the delegates to the convention -- myself included -- were out of touch with the "broad view" of state Democrats. Even if he is right (and I don't believe he is) that is not something a sitting Senator should say about his most loyal supporters. If there's any confusion, that is why I am upset with the Senator.