Note to all elected Dems in Washington: Get on the same fucking page this

[MelissaB]

week! Get your talking points straight and go get 'em! Conyers is busting his ass, and the Repubs always have their show down pat. Get ready for show time! I don't want to see any of this shit:

Democrats Criticize Dean Attacks on GOP

2 hours, 52 minutes ago

Democrats Joseph Biden and John Edwards are criticizing party chairman Howard Dean, saying his rhetorical attacks on Republicans have gone too far.

Dean has said Republicans never made an honest living in their lives and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence. DeLay has not been accused of any crime.

Dean "doesn't speak for me with that kind of rhetoric and I don't think he speaks for the majority of Democrats," Biden, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

While discussing the hardship of working Americans standing in long lines to vote, Dean said Thursday, "Republicans, I guess, can do that because a lot of them have never made an honest living in their lives."

Edwards responded that Dean "is not the spokesman for the party."

Dean is "a voice. I don't agree with it," Edwards, a former senator and the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2004, said Saturday at a party fundraising dinner in Nashville, Tenn.

Asked about Dean's remark about Republicans and honest living, GOP chairman Ken Mehlman told NBC's "Meet the Press": "I'm not sure the best way to win support in the red states is to insult the folks who live there. I think that a better approach might be to talk about the issues you're for."

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050605/ap_on_go_ot/democrats_dean

I'm so mad I can't see straight!
:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:


:rant:

[Armstead]

1. Amen

As I said in a related thread, if these clowns have a problem with Dean's rhetoric, they should take it to Dean himself, directly and quietly.

This waffling is why the Democrats are Number 2. Stop letting the GOP set the terms.

[MelissaB]

3. They have a big week coming up, and I don't want them to blow it.

They need to read the DSM and know exactly what it means and how to rebutt the Republican talking points immediately. I guess I'm asking that they actually plan and do their homework.

[acmavm]

6. Exactly! Dean's done more for the dems in his short time as head of the

DNC than any of these clowns have done during their entire careers. If they were such hotshots, the party wouldn't be such a joke. And Dean isn't doing anything that the repukes aren't. He's standing up and taking issue with the issues. I'd rather have a Howard Dean offending some whiny republican asses than another Terry McAuliff who never hesitated to sell out the party at the hint of controversy.

At least Howard's a fighter. (And this is coming from a die-hard Clark supporter.)

[ValentinoM]

46. We finally get someone who is not afraid to speak up..

... and our own so-called leaders jump ship! Well in this case, and a growing list of cases, Edwards and Biden et al, sure as hell no longer speak for me!

[Inland]

2. But if they don't criticize fellow Dems, they don't get on cable TV!

They've GOT to say something bad about democrats, or their are deprived of the precious two minutes of face time!

[shadowknows69]

45. valid point

sadly

[The Sushi Bandit]

4. Biden and Edwards dont speek for me - DEAN DOES!!!!

Biden is ties to the military industrial complex and Edwards is too wet behind his ears to know where this party needs to go.

GO DEAN!

[Wright Patman]

9. An ambulance is rushing to the scene

of the wreck known as the Democratic Party. Edwards is chasing it.

Biden is going to wait a while to see how things turn out. But he's got his hearse warming up.

Dr. Dean is the only one trying to treat the wreck victims, i.e. all of us.

[MelissaB]

29. LMAO!

:rofl:

[bahrbearian]

41. I love that !

[lonestarnot]

34. Dean speaks for me and my family!

[Snotcicles]

5. Like the rest of us Dems they get one vote for chair

and should cast it quietly.

[ken-in-seattle]

7. Well he did not say "many" or "most" so what is the problem?

In my experience I find that there is a core of truth to the statement. That is the yardstick the religious right are held to by the pundits.
It matters not that Cheney and his chimp conflated Osama and Iraq to the pundits because the words used were designed to imply rather than to state fact.

I have a few more. I am pretty sure I have never known a real estate agent who made an "honest" living. Legal? sure. but Honest? gimme a break.

And newspaper editors were never known for honesty either. Denver was built by the big lie from their first newspaper editor. No one in his right mind would have settled there from back east without the lies of silver strikes and gold published knowingly by the editor of the rocky mtn news.

I am also pretty sure honesty had nothing to do with the great hereditary fortunes of today whether or not the generation currently spending them has ever worked or not.

[MelissaB]

8. Yahoo just updated the article! Check this out...

The aricle stays the same until after this paragraph.

While discussing the hardship of working Americans standing in long lines to vote, Dean said Thursday, "Republicans, I guess, can do that because a lot of them have never made an honest living in their lives." Dean said later his comments did not refer to hard-working Americans, but rather to the failure of Republican leadership to address working-class concerns.

.....................................................................

Responding to Dean's initial remark, Edwards said Dean "is not the spokesman for the party."

Dean is "a voice. I don't agree with it," Edwards, a former senator and the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2004, said Saturday at a party fundraising dinner in Nashville, Tenn.

Democratic Party spokeswoman Karen Finney said Sunday, "At times we may have disagreements in our party, just as Republicans have disagreements, but as Democrats we are unified in our efforts to get our country back on track."

Asked about Dean's remark about Republicans and honest living, GOP chairman Ken Mehlman told NBC's "Meet the Press": "I'm not sure the best way to win support in the red states is to insult the folks who live there. I think that a better approach might be to talk about the issues you're for."

[tnlefty]

10. When I saw that I was very glad that I didn't shell out the $750.00

bucks it would have cost for my family to attend the Jackson Day Dinner as I would have been pissed. Forgive me, but I don't know why Edwards didn't just say no comment. We don't need that kind of shit in this state.

[Snotcicles]

11. The only fault I can find with Dean is

he has to slow down, and remember when republicans are in the room you have to go slow and draw pictures.

[tnlefty]

12. *snarf*

lol!

[understandinglife]

13. Bush and his fellow neoconster criminals have gotta just love it...

.... when Edwards and Biden spew on one of the very few Dems who is actually willing to focus everyone on the evil that the current Republican party has adopted as its creed, mission statement and operational approach to everything from health care to its imperialistic pursuits.

Edwards and Biden owe Dean an apology. Period.

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. I agree!

Pronto! and IN PUBLIC!

[Snotcicles]

17. yep

:thumbsup:

[barb162]

19. Democrats are refusing to learn how to play the united political

party and we will continue to lose elections. How often do you see pugs attacking other pugs

[Cleita]

20. Not only to Dean but the rest of us whom he speaks for.

Sorry John Edwards if he doesn't speak for you, he sure speaks for the rest of us more than you ever did.

[understandinglife]

27. Agreed. Here's my email to Biden: (anyone have an address for Edwards?)

Subject: Senator you owe Dean and us an apology

Dear Senator Biden,

Mr Dean has been appropriately specific about the vast evil that currently pervades every aspect of the Republican Party - the party of war criminal Bush and all his neoconster buddies.

Here's what I've suggested Senator Kerry do tomorrow:

"Good evening Senator,

On Monday, June 6, 2005, when you stand in the US Senate and speak to the issues of the "Downing Street minutes," I request that you also announce that you are going to lead millions of Americans to oppose Bush and his neoconster regime and bring them to justice.

On Wed., June 1, 2005, you asked the question "Is there a way to break through?"

Yes, Senator, a way exists to break through the corporate media's suppression of the truth about Bush and his fellow neconsters and all the lies, atrocities, damage to America and its Constitution, and destruction of civilization that they have perpetrated since Dec 9 2000.

Specifically, you should join with Congressman Conyers and urge all your fellow Democrats (and any honorable Republicans) in the US Congress to halt business-as-usual until a comprehensive, non-partisan, multi-national investigation of how Bush started his war on Iraq is underway, AND AN EXIT PLAN AND TIMETABLE TO REMOVE ALL US NATIONALS FROM IRAQ HAS BEEN ADOPTED.

Senator, you and your colleagues have made very little of the vast support you have within America and the world to stop Bush and his fellow criminals and begin the process of rebuilding 'America' -- the one that ceased on Saturday, Dec 9 2000.

Peace and thank you."

I urge you, Senator Biden, to take a similar stance regarding the crisis.

Thank you,

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[Stinky The Clown]

14. From your keyboard to God's ears

If only .........

Repugs on message

Dems on .... what? All different sides of the same issue.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Why the hell did those 2 say what they said NOW?

Tomorrow Kerry is going to the Senate floor with the DSM and ALL our Dems need to be UNITED and ON THE SAME PAGE! Really, this shit pisses me off.

[rateyes]

18. Thank goodness we have somebody like Dean

in this party--who doesn't feel the need to check with Biden or anybody else on whether or not its OK to speak the truth. BTW, being new to DU, and discussion groups in general, can anyone tell me what n/t, and "kick" means in a message? Would appreciate a reply. Sorry to be a novice.

[Amonester]

22. Welcome to DU :-)

:hi:

n/t is short for no/text

kick is used to "bring back up" a thread to the top of Page 1 for giving it a better chance to be read by more readers (because as new threads are being posted, the one you want to keep "up" gets to Page 2, and there are so many great threads that get too little attention from Page 2 'til the end).

PNAC 101:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1826665

[rateyes]

24. Thanks for the information and

for the welcome. You people are GREAT!

[RC]

23. n/t means no text in the message area

eom means end of message. If either are used they should be in the subject line.

Kick is used when you don't have anything to say and want to increase your post count. (Sue Me!)

[rateyes]

25. Thanks to you, too, RC!! n/t

[Just Me]

21. Biden & Edwards aren't attacking Dean, the media still does TWIST shit.

I'll give both Biden and Edwards a ring. However, I will beat the shit out of the profiteering media controlled by the corporacrats who HATE HATE HATE the likes of Dean whose words ring true with ALL Americans.

It's the media, stupid!!! :bounce:

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. No, Biden said what he said and Edwards said what he said

and there's no media spinning their words. I heard Biden with my own ears. He SAID Dean was not helping the Democrats with his "rhetoric". He said it. :grr:

[Gronk Groks]

26. Why do we always eat our own???

Hell, these are politicians! Delay answering with, "I haven't seen the remarks in context" or "I have to investigate that". Talk to Dean behind close doors and off the record. Make sure he said it and if its off the mark tell him to tone it down!

Don't we have ANY loyalty to the Party?

[BigBearJohn]

28. Pisses me off too. Fuck Biden. Edwards might not run in 2008

[MelissaB]

31. The pisser to me is that i really like Edwards. I just want these guys to

be on the same page this week with the DSM. This is too important to screw up.

[lonestarnot]

35. I really like him too, but I can't be putt'n up with this shit!

[oxbow]

32. STOP THESE BASTARDS IN THEIR TRACKS!

Contact your local media and tell them and anybody who was actually AT THAT SPEECH would know that Dean was talking about the GOP leadership, not the rank and file Republican voters.

Here is my excahnge with the reporter who wrote the WP piece about this:

I wrote the Ombudsman at WP first:

As a regular Post reader, I must take issue with the June 3 article Dean Accuses Bush of Not Protecting Pensions http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/02/AR2005060201847.html

Dan Baltz writes that:

"In a statement, Republican National Committee press secretary Tracey Schmitt charged Dean with engaging in an angry diatribe, saying the comment "makes it clear that Dean's priority is to generate mudslinging headlines rather than engage in substantive debate."


I was present for that speech, and if your journalist was too, he would have known that Dean made it very clear there that what Democrats really need to do is to offer real solutions, and not just tell the American people what the radical right is doing wrong. I am very disappointed by this weak attempt at balance, where both sides are given equal space to express themselves, but one side is lying. A journalist's job should be to critically examine the claims of both sides, not just be a transcriber.

This was the reply I got:


Our ombudsman passed on your message about my article and I wanted to try
to answer your criticisms. First off, I was at the speech and listened to
it in its entirety and reread it later in the day. It's true that Gov. Dean
said several times that the Democrats must have real solutions of their own
and not just criticism of the Republicans, but on the issue he hit Bush
hard -- pensions -- he did not lay out a real Democratic alternative. He
mentioned making pensions portable, as I put in the piece, but did not
offer this as Democratic policy. As you know from being there, much of what
he did in that speech was criticize the Republicans. I also take issue with
the idea that somehow the Republicans were given equal space. I believe the
Republican response was given one paragraph in the 10-paragraph story.

Best regards,
Dan Balz



So I wrote him back too:

Thank you for writing me back, Mr. Balz. I really appreciate you
taking the time to respond to a WP reader. You wrote to me that Dean
did not lay out a specific plan for pensions.
I agree! However in your article, you hint that Democrats don't have a
plan for any issues, simply by the way you place this RNC quote. If I
may quote from the article:


Speaking about election reform, said it is unconscionable for
voters to have to stand in lengthy lines at polling places given the
demands of work and family. "Republicans," he said, "I guess can do
that because a lot of them have never made an honest living in their
lives."

In a statement, Republican National Committee press secretary Tracey
Schmitt charged Dean with engaging in an angry diatribe, saying the
comment "makes it clear that Dean's priority is to generate
mudslinging headlines rather than engage in substantive debate."

I really don't see what the election reform Dean was talking about
here has to do with pensions.

You also wrote that you take issue with the idea that the Republicans
were given equal space in your article. I'm sorry if it came across
that way, but that was not my point. I am more concerned with the idea
of "balance" that some reporters follow, where each side is given the
chance to say what they want, and that is the end of it. I feel
strongly that reporters should NOT take the spinmasters at face value,
but seriously examine and deconstruct the narrative that these people
are putting out. In this case, the GOP has been hammering home the
talking point that all Democrats know how to do is criticize
Republicans, ever since the November elections. In this speech, Howard
Dean explicitly told his base that it will take more than criticism
for Democrats to take back Congress and change America for the better.
Given his statements, I just feel it is disingenuous for
Tracey Schmitt to say that all Democrats do is sling mud, and for you
to print her claims without comment.

Please feel free to contact me with any further thoughts on this. And
thank you once again for writing. The Take Back America Conference was
a truly momentous occasion in this year's Progressive campaign, and I
really do appreciate the Washington Post covering it.

Sincerely,

xxx xxxxxx
xxxxxx, VA




Stand up against media bias DU. Don't let GOP psych-ops control the flow of the debate!

[MelissaB]

33. Thank you for the info., oxbow, and

thanks for writing the WP.

I'm betting the media will have up pulling our hair out this week, but I'd be happy to be surprised.

[Rex]

36. Thank you!

Well said!

[senseandsensibility]

37. WHY, WHY, why

can't Edwards and whoever else just smile like they don't take it all that seriously, and deflect it with something like, "Well, has * ever earned an honest living? He represents the other side. Dean wasn't talking about the regular people." I've seen repukes do it time and again. It's kind of stupid, but it works. ANYTHING is better than criticizing the chairman, unless he just goes totally overboard. And, by the rules set by the repukes, it's now virtually impossible to go overboard. Dean's remarks were tame.

[blueblitzkrieg]

38. Exactly!

I'm sick of Democrats attacking each other. Attack REPUBLICANS, they're the enemy!!! :banghead:

[MelissaB]

39. After reading another thread,

that got pretty heated (this one: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1829484#1829553 )I'm sorry that I used this article as an example. I didn't use this for flamebate, but as an example of what I don't want to see this week. I love both Dean and Edwards and have a lot of respect for both of them. I just want Dems to be prepared for what they are up against and all be on the same page about the DSM.

[Maraya1969]

40. Kick so someone might SEE this

[sellitman]

42. Biden and Edwards are Moderates

They are trying to pander to the middle and the left. I say that can't be done anymore. The right has gone so far to the right we need to give the voters a REAL choice.

We need to return to our Liberal roots.

Either they are for us or against us.:sarcasm:

[dogday]

43. They should not criticize anyone in the same party, if they had to

say something they should of said, Dean is responsible for what he says, you will need to ask him.... Get it right and stop all the fighting in public.....

[stickdog]

44. Biden is a Bi-dem. He now goes both ways.

How the fuck is this an "objective" story? It's nothing more than a Repuke attack piece.