GOP Chairman Criticizes Dean in Vermont

[UpInArms]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20031202_1676.html

WASHINGTON Dec. 2 — Republican Party Chairman Ed Gillespie on Tuesday went to Vermont Howard Dean's home state for the first time and criticized the Democratic presidential candidate for his stance on the war, comments about military pay and refusal to open his records.

The Dean campaign called Gillespie's speech to be delivered at a fund-raiser at Essex Junction a "pre-emptive attack," referring to the Bush administration's policy of striking a perceived threat early to avoid problems later.

"The fact that the Bush campaign is flying one of their top political operatives to attack Governor Dean in his hometown shows just how much they don't want to run against Governor Dean and his army of grassroots supporters," said Jay Carson, a spokesman for the former Vermont governor.

...more...

the pic on the link page makes a wonderful sight - Dean looks like he's having a great time :D

[wryter2000]

1. I don't care what those thugs say

They're scared of Dean. They're scared in general, but especially of a candidate who can raise millions in small donations.

[caledesi]

2. Yeah....just yesterday all we heard was how the repugs would

love to run against Dean. Yeah, sure, I believe that! I said a long time ago that the repugs were scared stiff of Dean.

[Demobrat]

5. A candidate who can raise millions

in small donations, and even worse, who's clean. If the draft-dodger, sealed records, abortionist bull is the best they can do, they are well and truly screwed.

[cthrumatrix]

12. agreed...who gives a flying crap what the GOP thinks of Dean.... I guess

this just confirms how much they are afaid of Dean

[Zynx]

3. This disproves all those who have said that Dean being pumped by the RNC.

As does the massive media attack on Dean today on Fox and a little on CNN as well.

[rumguy]

4. It focuses the attention on Dean and energizes his base.

It keeps attention away from Clark...

I think Dean can win, but I do think it's Dean they want to run against.

[Cocoa]

6. it reassures dem voters that Dean is electable

The Dean campaign's reaction is completely predictable, Gillespie just did Dean a favor.

Plus they're obviously holding back. The big guns for the general election are abortion and gay marriage, and whatever else they have on him that we don't know about.

[Code_Name_D]

7. But Clark is still the canadate the GOP can live with.

If we are to take back our contry, he have to discredit the GOP, there agenda, and tactics. Bush and others needs to come under scrutiny under warcrimes, or all of this WILL happen again.

But Clark is not that guy. The man prased half of the PNAC gang during the Lincone dinner address. Do you honistly beleive he would lift a finger to point it at Bush and the GOP? More likly Clark will give them a "gentulemns trial" where Bush gets to walk away with his honor and integrity in tact.

And that means none of his croneis have to sweat about having to me dragged off to trial. They will just become talk show hosts and talk on the think tank cercuite, writing books, and rasing money for the next Gen of neo-cons. Many will bide there time in the lap of luxury and influence, waiting for the next republican shill to be apointed.

Clintion beat Herbert Walker, and yet we are still here. Just beating Bush, will fail just as spectaculery. At best, Clark will only keep the seat warm for the next GOP dictator.

[canadacanabis]

11. dems , republican whats the diff

american polictics are a joke...it may seems from the outside so is canada, after all we have a 'marjuana party' (not in party whoohaa sense) the real goal for the next election should be electoral reform. i read an article recently about ballots in alabama (i think) where there were ballots with one name on them...doh! time for more alternatives and more representation in goverment down there. maybe the disinfranchiesed would actually have someone to vote for. in my next fed election i will be able to vote for a liberal (not democrat equivilant) Progressive Conservative (like the dems) Canadian alliance (kinda like republicans) Bloc Qubecois (sovernist quebecers) marijuana party, communist, libertarian, and many other independents....it gives people opportunity and forces issues in parliament....the real issue is reform!!! (including fundraising for elections (our PM was voted in last time in part to his promises for election fund reform...he was successful and there is strong limits on the amount allowed to be donated blah blah blah

[newyawker99]

19. Hi canadacanabis!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[coralrf]

13. Rubbish...

X-Ray has some serious problems. Rove wants to run against the guy contrary to what this thread initial post states. Rove has publicly stated that he wants to have Dean as Bush's opponent. He knows he can beat him soundly.


Will you Deanies please put something of substance out there about Clark and for God's sake not your unsupported opinion phrased as fact? Let me show you what I mean.

Dean cannot go after Bush's bullshit military history as ‘X-Ray’ has a pretty shitty one too. In Viet Nam the people used to use the phrase “Same Same” for things alike. Lets look at some “same same”

Dean voluntarily took his X-Rays from a private doctor that indicated he had a MINOR problem with spondylosus to a Military Induction physical.. He gave the films to the Doctor and asked them to consider his condition as sufficient for exemption from the Draft and therefore service in Viet Nam. When asked about this Dean said.."took a physical, flunked a physical". The MEPPS stations of the day did not X-Ray you and on physical exam Dean appeared normal. Without those films the guy would have been drafted and served. He went skiing with his condition so I don’t see humping the boonies impossible for him.

I too took a MEPPS physical and was drafted, I served in Viet Nam. I know exactly what "Rich Kid" Dean did, why he did it and there is nothing good to be said of it. His attempt to paint this incident as a simple 4-F ruling is tantamount to lie if not out and outright one. Sure Bush will not be able to beat Dean up on this but Dean will not be able to go after Bush’s AWOL, grounding from flight status and the like as it will open him to similar attack.

I don’t want a candidate handicapped like that. Your conservative Clark who will “frog march Ashcroft out of the JD" and will dump the Patriot act amongst other conservative plans has no such handicaps.

Dean has a severe problem in going after Bush’s secrecy and failure to make records available as he id doing the same scum bag thing and he is dumb enough to make that damn stupid remark about it.

See how it is done? You don’t just call Clark a conservative or a kleptomaniac because you "think so" you provide a few facts to support your claims. Facts..not fact based lies. There is a difference.

Go for it Deanies..your man has no chance. Not after the X-Ray bit. He is every bit the coward that Bush is and outside of his circle will be seen as such.

[kutastha]

8. Essex Junction

Three miles from me. I should stop by and count the Repubs. Shouldn't take long.

[xultar]

9. This will only strengthen Dean. n/t

[Debi]

10. Just how much....

of Bush's Gubenatorial record is 'confidential'? Funny how they igonre that part of the conversation. Dean said 60% of his record is public...Just ask Kerry, Gephardt, Clark...etc.

[coralrf]

14. Dean asked for his records to be hidden.

Let me say that again..DEAN REQUESTED THEY BE HIDDEN and then like a fool said it was to 'avoid political problems'.

Clark has a military record and one of a 4 star General. HE HAS ASKED THAT ALL HIS RECORDS BE RELEASED but unlike Dean who controls his records Clark does not. The Army will not release records that contain matters of strategy or procedure or State Policy. They will and have released all records about Clark the Man. We don’t have those records on Dean.

X-Ray can hardly be compared to Clark. Sure the Deanies will spew their nonsense but as of late it is ringing very hollow. Dean is the "Front Runner" the media say and I agree..he ran from the Viet Nam front to the slopes. Go Skiing X-Ray we need a victory in 2004.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

16. Dean will release HIS records when Herr Chimpster makes HIS records...

...public. Do you see anything wrong with that tactic? And just who HECK are you to tell anyone they can't win in 2004? I like Clark quite a bit, but he started late and he's got a lot of ground to make up to catch up with people like Dean that have been running for quite a while.

Here's my personal story about the 1969 draft. My number was 46, and I was finishing my first year in college. One night I told my Dad I didn't like college all that much and I was going to enlist in the Navy. I actually told Dad that I wanted to volunteer for one of those riverine patrol units because I wanted to see some action. I was incredibly naive, without a clue whatsoever. Dad reminded me that he had fought in WWII, and he didn't see any sense in me going to Vietnam. "Different war, no clear-cut objectives, and no exit strategy", he said. At that time he was a teacher and football coach, and he had coached some kids that hadn't come back. The conversation went on for several hours until he convinced me to stay one more year in school to see if I still disliked it. Well, it turned out I liked college quite a bit.

But in 1972 I was in a pretty bad car accident that got me reclassified 4F by my local draft board. I did exactly what Dean did...I took my x-rays to the draft board AS REQUESTED. The military doctor made the decision to reclassify me to 4F, just as the doctor reclassified Dean. The only difference between me and Dean is that I stayed another four years in college while he went skiing for 10 months. If he enjoyed the skiing as much as I enjoyed college, we're even. Are you going to make some ignorant disparaging remark about "draft dodging" to me, too?

I medically rehabilitated myself, earned two degrees, and enlisted in the Navy in 1976. I was a full Lieutenant when I got out five years later, having spent my last three years assigned to the Marines at Camp Pendleton. Got anything else to say about "draft dodging"?

And by the way...when did YOU serve?

[CWebster]

18. the army can hide whatever it wants under that cover

It is amazong how the talking points for Clark supporters are identical to what the Republicans spout?

Makes you wonder.

[san antonio]

15. About the same amount...

...from what I understand. At one time jr. had his records sent to his daddies presidential library at Texas A&M so they would potentially have 50 years of confidentiality. They've been sent back to Austin and the last I heard the amount that are available for review are in the 40% to 60% range.

[newyawker99]

21. Hi san antonio!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[newyawker99]

20. Hi Debi!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Skittles]

17. TYPICAL ROVE TACTIC

LIES TO KEEP THE BUSH TRIP TO IRAQ IN THE NEWS