Kerry welcoming Dean to fray, but controversy could follow

[question everything]

(snip)

But Dean's comments already have drawn fire for Kerry.

On Tuesday, Dean suggested that Bush's decision to send troops to Iraq appears to have contributed to the Spanish train bombing that killed more than 200.

Shortly after his comments in a conference call with reporters, the former Vermont governor issued a statement clarifying his remarks, saying there is no justification for terrorism and that he was simply repeating the connection made by an alleged al-Qaeda spokesman who claimed responsibility.

(snip)

"I think Kerry should be real careful with Howard Dean," said University of Vermont political scientist Frank Bryan, who has known Dean for 20 years. "Howard Dean is best when he's talking off the cuff often about his ideas and perspectives, but it got him in trouble in the campaign and it could get Kerry in trouble."

(snip).

Kerry generally avoids directly comparing his decorated Vietnam War service with the president's lack of combat experience overseas, but Dean was quick to make the distinction in a conference call with reporters this week.

(snip)

"I will do everything I can to help John Kerry beat George W. Bush in 2004, to revitalize grass-roots democracy, and to move America in a better direction," Dean said in a speech in Seattle yesterday.


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040319/news_1n19dean.html

[acmavm]

1. I have no problems with Dean speaking out about what is really going

on in the world because of the bush* administration. In fact, he may just say some things that need saying that wouldn't otherwise be said. (That's a rather convoluted sentence, isn't it?)

Anyway, I was a Clark supporter, but in a lot of ways I recognize that Dean brought a lot of 'truth' to the nomination process just because he was willing to speak plainly about controversial issues. At times he went overboard, but what the hell? It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.

[Born Free]

2. Dean is NOT a Washington "insider"

Dean tends to say things the way he see them, and many politicians and corporate elites don't like that bluntness.

[Malva Zebrina]

3. Kerry needs the energy of Dean

it is notecably absent.

[depakid]

4. Dean is Dean and Kerry is Kerry

So what's the problem here? The right wing media, of course.

Bush has countless surrogates on every single channel on damn near every single radio station and newspaper in this country making statements so outrageous that they ought to shock the conscience of ANY reasonable and sensible person, irrespective of their political affiliation. Yet are these people ever tied to Bush? Is Tom Delay ever really called to task for what he says? Nope.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that every statement by Howard Dean or Michael Moore will be tied to Kerry by the so called "mainstream press," or in bylines pawned off as "analysis" by the likes of Howard Kurtz and Ronald Brownstein (among others).

One can only hope that it backfires- as it did with Peter Jennings.

[jaysunb]

11. Excellent Post !

Right on target :toast:

[cybildisobedience]

13. I agree

Excellent point, and that's just an example of the talking point that Kerry's campaign could use. He could say, "Look, does George Bush agree with everything everyone of his supporters says, every time? Gov. Dean has his own opinions. I don't tell him what to think or say, and he doesn't tell me what to think or say. I'm glad for his support."
End of story. Don't get dragged into this distracting make believe "scandal."

[patricia92243]

14. What is this about this Peter Jennings thing?

[question everything]

16. In one of the debates

Peter Jennings wanted Clark to comment on Michael Moore's label of Bush as AWOL. (Moore was a Clark supporter). That's how the whole Texas national guard thing got into the front pages.

[nomaco-10]

5. Kerry can't have it both ways this time....

as he has so often done in his political career. He can't embrace Dean's support one minute then "distance" himself the next when Dean tells it like it is. If I know one thing about Howard Dean, he won't put up with it. I'm sure this presents a real dilemma for Kerry.

[bemildred]

6. What a pantload.

We sure don't want any of that controversy, do we?
Why goodness, the electorate might get their panties
in a twist, and who knows what might happen then?

[sendero]

7. Just when you think....

... Kerry's learned something, you have to wonder again.

To me, this should be a godsend to Kerry, he can get out some strident words without saying them himself.

I hope he doesn't go into timid mode because that will not win this election.

[Maat]

8. I agree, guys (and gals)(actually, friends).

I would like to see a dynamic Democratic party in which diverse viewpoints are welcomed. I wish Kerry would quit denying this or that. He's got a lot to proud of. For example, so what if he was at a meeting with a prominent Black Panther 30-some-odd-years ago, as I understand it, Kerry stood up for his beliefs (and discouraged any violence against politicians). Kerry is about speaking his mind. He needs to be open about that.

[Maat]

9. I also would like, as an ex-Deaniac...

to see Dean speak his mind openly. When he and Kerry disagree, or when Wes Clark and Kerry disagree, all any one of them needs to say is..."We agree about most things, but disagree on a few points." That is what the Democratic Party is all about.

[MercutioATC]

10. The point is that Dean stated an obvious truth and Kerry disagreed.

Kerry's fine when HE'S making the argument, but he seems completely weak when other people initiate. Find me ONE thing in Dean's statement that's questionable, and I'll back off, but is Kerry expecting to reap the benefits of Dean's monsterous support base with statements like this?

Weak...

[54anickel]

12. Maybe Dean can withdraw his endorsement and free-lance....n/t

[wabeewoman]

15. APstory

and they have moved to the dark side...

[Voltaire99]

17. With Kerry calling Zapatero wrong...

to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq, he very much needs someone to his left to run a little anti-war smokescreen for him.

That's Dean's job right now. Coincidentally, he repeated the charge tonight on Bill Maher's HBO show, correctly pointing out that ignoring Bin Laden in order to depose Saddam was a fateful error by Bush that made the recent terrorist attack possible.

Bush is guilty of gross dereliction of duty. If Kerry weren't so compromised by his one-upsmanship with the president on Iraq, he would be saying so. But the obvious is eluding Kerry as he tries to sell himself as strong on defense.

Check out Jeffrey St. Clair's weekend column on the matter at Counterpunch.com.

[Khephra]

18. I want to give you a big hug after that post.

I was sitting here reading the prevous posts, wondering what I should say. YOU said it all for me. Thanks!