How Democratic chairman Howard Dean is hurting his own party

[question everything]

SignOnSanDiego.com

Political liability

How Democratic chairman Howard Dean is hurting his own party

By Robert J. Caldwell
June 19, 2005

(snip)

Statements like "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for," and "they all look the same, it's pretty much a white, Christian party," and "There's some things you (evangelical Christians) can't possibly agree with me on, such as civil rights for all Americans," and "Republicans...a lot of them have never made an honest living in their lives," and "(Republicans) are mean, they are not nice people," and, on Republicans and Democrats, "this is a struggle of good versus evil, and we're the good" can only be called deeply divisive.

(snip)

That explains the marked reticence of Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and White House political guru Karl Rove to rise to the bait of Dean's assaults. They recognize that Dean's bombshells are accomplishing two things that greatly favor Republicans. First, Dean's bombast is alienating red-state moderates, swing voters and social conservatives without whom Democrats cannot win national elections. Second, Dean is further aligning the Democratic Party with its MoveOn.org wing of activist liberals; which is ideologically well to the left of the American electorate's center of gravity and, thus, too small to win elections. No, the most telling critiques of Dean and his blowtorch style come not from the GOP but from Democrats.

Prominent Democrats, including Senators Joe Lieberman, Joe Biden, Dianne Feinstein, Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Representatives Harold Ford and Steny Hoyer, former Kerry running mate John Edwards, former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, former DNC Chairman Bob Strauss and even such liberals as Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank are saying, in effect, that Dean doesn't speak for them.

(snip)

In a recent essay in the DLC's magazine, Blueprint, From and DLC President Bruce Reed laid out their compelling case that only a centrist Democratic Party can win national elections. Implicit in their critique: Dean's red-meat, liberal partisanship would lead the Democrats to defeat, again. From and Reed began by noting, "Since Roosevelt, only two Democratic (presidential) candidates in 15 elections – Johnson in 1964 and Carter in 1976 – have won a majority of the popular vote for president. Only one Democrat – Clinton in 1992 and 1996 – has won election and re-election to the White House."

(snip)

"Without its conservative wing, the Democratic Party is increasingly America's liberal party...That puts a particular burden on Democrats. The reason is simple: For half a century, there have been more self-identified conservatives than self-identified liberals in America. In 2004, for example, 34 percent of voters identified themselves as conservatives, while just 21 percent called themselves liberals... Among married people with kids – whom Kerry lost by 19 points – only 16 percent identify themselves as liberals... the 12 red states where Kerry came closest to winning show an average of just 18.6 percent liberals, 36.2 percent conservatives, and 45.2 percent moderates.

(snip)


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050619/news_lz1e19liabil.html


Caldwell is editor of the Insight section and can be reached via e-mail at [e-mail]

[bemildred]

1. Dean is trying to make the party stand FOR something.

Jellyfish liberalism loses, as the last 40 years show.

[question everything]

16. FOR what?

Just bad mouthing Republicans - even if true - is not going to attract more voters. It is important to position us as an alternative on specifics: health care, secure jobs and retirement. We know that most voters care about these issues, they just don't know that this is the Democratic party platform. And we need to tell them this and we cannot accomplish this by just attacking the Republicans. Who care what they are? What is important is who we are.

[bemildred]

18. Bad mouthing Democrats seems to work great for Republicans.

Do you remember Willie Horton? I do. Politics is a contact sport, what is all this "We ought to kiss our opponents" crap? Should we give them money too? Howard is addressing the issues you raise, and others, you should educate yourself.

[bullimiami]

2. ShutUpSanDiego

you diseased right wing stronghold.

worry about your own party, your filthy lying traitorous thieving murdering fascist leaders who you drool over. you sycophants.

leave us alone.



Caldwell is the RIghtwing editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune's Sunday Insight section and author of such gems as...

Don't Expect Vets to Rally Around Kerry
by Robert J. Caldwell, HUMAN EVENTS Posted Apr 5, 2004


Let Ineffective 'Assault Weapons' Ban Expire
by Robert J. Caldwell, HUMAN EVENTS Posted Jun 9, 2003

Bombings in Turkey show moral bankruptcy of war protesters
By Robert J. Caldwell
Copley News Service

War on terror is being won
By Robert J. Caldwell
Copley News Service

[question everything]

17. That's true

the San Diego Union Tribune is a right wing one, even though it had excellent editorials about DeLay and others that were praised here.

But in this story he basically "copied and pasted." We know that many Democratic leaders distanced themselves from Dean; we know that Dean said these things... and I did not read of whether Dean said, after dissing the Republicans: but this is what we are and what we are going to do.

And... sad to say, the stats are hurting but true about how we won Presidential elections, even if we can find excuse for each election.

[Mass]

3. Who is this guy?

Another republican telling the dems what to do?

[struggle4progress]

30. Dead, maybe?

[struggle4progress]

31. Looks like a wingnut to me:

Here's one of his poisonous little screeds, providing a recap of Swift Boat Liar talking points --
Don't Expect Vets to Rally Around Kerry
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=3486

[ixion]

4. but statements from rethugs, such as, 'anyone who questions the president

during war time is giving aid and comfort to the enemy (a.k.a: TREASON).

But apparently it's okay for them to call us names, and slander us, and accuse us of falsehood. :grr:

[dogday]

5. The Thing About Dean and Rove...

It does not matter what anyone in this party says or does, the Republican Smear Machine always finds something. So whether Dean is speaking the Truth or not, they find a way, remember the "I had A Scream Speech"?

Just another way of trying to keep Dean down and I for one hope it does not work. Although I am in favor of bringing Americans together regardless of party because I feel that is where our true power lies, not in Republicans, not in Democrats, but in Americans....

[Mythsaje]

6. The only reason

there are more "self-identified conservatives" than "self-identified liberals" is because there's a great deal of confusion as to what the terms mean anymore.

I think this administration has revealed the whole "fiscal responsibility" stuff to be flat-out lie.

Dean's on point. I think he needs to be MORE vocal rather than less so. Keep them on the defensive, Dean. Keep hitting 'em 'til they fall down.

[Jade Fox]

10. Agreed. The Right has made Liberal a dirty word, so....

whose going to want to claim it?

I think Americans are desperate to hear the truth.

[patdem]

13. The 'reluctant Bush responder' proves that is an impossibility!!!!!

The exit poll results are because more people who love * are too afraid to self-identify...yet here they say there are more people who are self-identified conservatives? I guess they just use whatever gobbly goop they can when it convenient for them? Shy bushbots but proud conservatives? :shrug:

[question everything]

15. Inter sting comment

this is why it is important for us to get the message about what we stand for - specific facts - and not just what they are not.

And... this holds for Dean, too. To attack labels to the Republicans as a whole..

What bothers me about Dean is not that he attacks the Republicans, but that he does not offer positive alternatives.

As with every area, it is not enough to negate something or something; what is important is to offer clear alternatives. With specifics.

[deacon2]

28. Messages like this?

http://www.usnewswire.com/

WASHINGTON, June 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- With the president's lame duck status looming larger than ever, DNC Chairman Howard Dean said President Bush was facing a test of his leadership and called on him to condemn Karl Rove's desperate and divisive attempt to help the Republicans regain their political footing:

"Once again, Karl Rove is going back to the most reliable of his cynical political attacks: dividing the country over the war on terror. Americans deserve more than this kind of outrageous cheap trick. Unfortunately, given the miserable failures of Bush's foreign policy, its no wonder Rove would launch this desperate attempt to deflect from the real issues and distort what Democrats say than admit what Republicans have done.

"Since September 11, 2001, Democrats have been urging the Bush administration to prioritize equipping our troops to win the war on terror, capturing Osama bin Laden and securing the homeland. So, it's no surprise that Rove's comment highlighted the Republicans' rhetoric and not their record.

"The Democratic Party's unified commitment to protecting this country, supporting our troops and honoring our Americans who have died in the war on terror has not and will not ever waver.

"For the good of the country, it's time for President Bush to show some leadership and unequivocally repudiate Rove's divisive and damaging political rhetoric."

-------------------------------

At long last, a DNC Chairman with the requisite huevos.

[question everything]

29. Great! Yes, perfect

He attacks the individual for specific acts, not paints all the Republicans in one brush stroke.

[ooglymoogly]

7. go dean...tell it like it is

f*k the nazis and the horse they rode in on

[Burried News]

11. Keep Chewing them up Howard

And string the attacks closer together so they don't have a chance to breathe. Let them choke in the dust trailing behind you. The party needs energy and one of the few who can generate it is you. You aren't running for President now. They can't take the hickory dickery doc.

[Cassandra]

8. The San Diego Union...

is a very conservative paper. I can't say I trust their "insight" much other than if they criticize their "dear leader".

[Nite Owl]

9. He's framing this as

liberal vs conservative and that isn't what Dean is doing. It's the people vs power and what is in the interests of the ordinary American. When you do it that way most people are really Dems. The repukes just have nothing to offer.

[Jim Sagle]

12. Dean RRRRRAWWWKSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Puzzler]

14. actually...

... the GOP and their attack dogs think Dean is dangerous... to them. Think about it: everything Dean's said over the past couple of years has turned out to be true. With a record like that, no wonder they want to take the man down.

-P

[Upfront]

19. Dean Speaks For me!

Howard Dean has yet to say one thing that was not true, unlike the Rethug hero B###. If we have to sell out our values to win, fuck it! Go Dean!

[Johnny Noshoes]

20. Here here

[TankLV]

26. Dean speaks for me to.

Durbin did not.

Neither does the fucked vichy dem DLC.

[bitchkitty]

21. Puhleeeeeeeeeze.

Howard speaks for me. He's not afraid to speak his mind - what a refreshing change from the DINOs.

[Larkspur]

22. If Dean was doing the RNC's work, then Rove wouldn't have had to go on

Hardball to attack liberals (and implicitly Democrats) as traitors and cowards.

Rove's desperate attempt to use 9/11/01 to continue to send "Red" meat to his base, just shows how much success Dean is having rallying ordinary Democrats and left-leaning Independents, and Bush's incompetence is turning sober Republicans away from him. They may not vote Dem, but they may not vote Repub either in 2006 and 2008.

[Bridget Burke]

23. A bit of background....

Here's an article by Caldwell printed in "Human Events: The National Conservative Weekly"

www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=3486

Caldwell is apparently a Vietnam vet. The article is a retread of the "Kerry betrayed Vietnam vets" crap we heard so much last year.

Here are some gems from his home paper:
www.copleynews.com/1cns/features/caldwell/

We're winning the war on terror!

[CAcyclist]

24. My Letter To R. Caldwell:

Dear Robert Caldwell,

I think we progressives will do better to ignore advice from the opposition:re:the Republican Party and its apologists.

I, for one, am very proud of Howard Dean and look forward to the gloves coming off. We've been pissed on and spat at long enough.

[TankLV]

25. Bullshit.

Pure and utter crap.

But thanks for spouting DLC and repuke (that's redundant) talking points.

With a policy like that, it will unsure us mainting the great "successes" we've enjoyed for the past 3 election cycles and more.

But I guess you enjoy giving the repukes another free ride for more terms and control of what little we've still got now.

[cyberpj]

27. I like Dean. But I wish he would be outrageous with proveables...

Name calling and alienating non-white, non-evangelical Repubs doesn't do anything and makes Dean look silly.

If he's going to be outrageous for attention then be outrageous with remarks about:

Election Fraud (which DNC also doesn't seem to support)
Illegal War
Napalm and Depleted Uranium
Torture and Abuse
Halliburton Bribes
DeLay and Abramoff
and many others

Let him rant about things that NEED more attention in the news!

[struggle4progress]

32. If the hate spewing from shit-for-brains Rs and their moron Pretzeldent ..

.. hasn't hurt the R party, I don't see how a little bit of convivial joviality from Dean could be tearing the Ds to shreds.

Maybe Robert J Caldwell should clean his nose with a power drill ...

[Elidor]

33. Oh, boo hoo! Dean is a partisan politician!

Get a clue, Caldwell: that's what we pay him for.

[IndianaGreen]

34. I think all of this DLC propaganda has gone by the wayside

since Karl Rove accused Democrats of being in cahoots with bin Laden and Rep. Hostettler referred to Democrats as Christian bashers.

We are at war against Bush and everything he represents, and there is no room for appeasers or Quislings!