Pledge to Republicans (and all Americans)

Subject: A Pledge to Republicans

A Pledge to Disheartened Republicans

We know Republicans are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week's election. Republicans are worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place they don't want it to go. The 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. Republicans are in a funk, and it is understandable.

Thus, here is the Democrat's Pledge to Disheartened Republicans:

1. Democrats will always respect Republicans for their conservative beliefs. Democrats will never, ever, call them "unpatriotic" simply because they disagree with them. In fact, Democrats encourage Republicans to dissent and disagree with them.

2. Democrats will let Republicans marry whomever they want, even when some consider that behavior to be "different" or "immoral." Who people marry is nobody?s business. Love and be in love -- it's a wonderful gift.

3. Democrats will not spend Republicans? grandchildren's money on personal whims or to enrich friends. It's their checkbook, too, and Democrats will balance it for them (like Clinton did).

4. When Democrats soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, they will bring their sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. Democrats promise never to send their kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.

5. When Democrats make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, they promise that Republicans, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of their ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect their loved ones, Democrats will make sure those advances are available to Republican families, too.

6. Even though Republicans have opposed environmental regulation, when Democrats clean up our air and water, they will let them also breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.

7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, Democrats will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. Democrats will protect everyone.

8. Democrats will never stick their nose in people's bedrooms or their wombs. What people do there as consenting adults is their business. Democrats will continue to count a persons? age from the moment they were born, not the moment they were conceived.

9. Democrats will not take away hunting guns. If people need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then they really aren't much of a hunter and should, perhaps, pick up another sport. Democrats will make our streets and schools as free as they can from these weapons and they will protect everyone's children just as they would protect theirs.

10. When Democrats raise the minimum wage, Democrats will pay Republicans' -- and their employees -- that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, Republican women will get that wage, too.

11. Democrats will respect religious beliefs, even when Republicans don't put those beliefs into practice. Democrats will let people in other countries know that God doesn't just bless America, he blesses everyone. Democrats will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism -- starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.

12. Democrats will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. Democrats will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And Democrats promise you they will go after the corrupt politicians on their side FIRST. If Democrats fail to do this, you need to call them on it. Simply because they are in power does not give them the right to turn their heads the other way when their party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.

The Democrats promise all of the above to Republicans because this is their country, too. They are every bit as American as Democrats are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one.

We are all Americans.