Pubdate: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 Source: Illinois Times (IL) Copyright: 2000 Yesse Communications Contact: PO Box 3524 Springfield, IL 62708 Fax: 217/753-2281 Author: Larry A. Stevens GORE TO BLAME IN FLORIDA To the editor: I fail to understand how voting for a candidate who supports the death penalty, the war on drugs and corporate globalization could ever further the cause of progressivism. Al Gore and the rest of the Democratic Leadership Council have made their careers proving they don't want or need the progressive vote. If the Democrats suddenly find that they can't win without the progressive vote, they're simply going to have to try to find a way to earn it. One in three African-American men of voting age in Florida are forbidden to vote thanks largely to Al Gore's drug war. It looks like Gore and the Dems arrogantly overlooked this factor in their political calculus. Democrats should stop blaming progressive voters of good faith and conscience for the failure of their own rudderless, self-defeating politics. Larry A. Stevens, Springfield - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk