Al Sharpton - uninformed about Howard Dean...

[mzmolly]

...or he's just pissed about Jesse Jackson Jr. not endorsing him.

Howard Dean's record...

Equality. Building on a commitment to equal rights for all Americans, Governor Dean has signed into law tougher penalties for hate crimes, as well as tighter restrictions against discrimination in the workplace, housing, public accommodations, and more. Vermont is the first state to legally recognize long-term committed unions between gay and lesbian couples.

Education. Unlike other leading states...Vermont has adopted a system of sharing educational dollars across the state, so schools in poor communities have the same financial backing as those in wealthy communities.


Health Care. "As access to health insurance has declined for all but the wealthiest, it's tempting to define America's health care crisis only in economic terms. However, our healthcare system isn't plagued only by costly insurance premiums, but also by the lingering impact of institutional racism and other assorted biases.

...As President I will:

Press for the immediate passage of the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 sponsored by The Congressional Black Caucus, The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and The Native American Caucus. This bill is a road map to making America a healthier nation and I will follow it.
Create the post of Assistant Secretary for Minority Health within the Department of Health and Human Services. The job of the Assistant Secretary for Minority Health would be to not only coordinate all of the federal government's initiatives to eliminate racial health disparities in health, but to remind all Americans that it's their fight, too."

Capital Punishment-Equal Justice: "As President, I would:

Promptly instruct my Attorney General to evaluate the federal death penalty system, take steps to ensure that it is applied fairly and reliably, and reverse Ashcroft’s overzealous policies.

Push for passage of the federal Innocence Protection Act to strengthen protections against unjust imposition of the death penalty.

Establish a Presidential Commission on the Administration of Capital Punishment to analyze the causes of wrongful convictions around the country and recommend additional reforms at the federal and state level."

..."In 1997, Governor Dean signed into law the nation's most comprehensive mental health and substance abuse parity bill in the nation, ending discriminatory insurance practices against these major diseases."

Jobs/Wages. Under Dean’s tenure, Vermont added an astounding 56,000 new jobs, a 20% increase in the workforce.

Better wages – Governor Dean worked to create higher paying jobs. In 2001 the average income in Vermont grew 8th fastest in the country.

Quotes on Affirmative Action and Discrimination.

“We need affirmative action in this country, and we ought to stand up and say so and be proud of it as a society.

I'm tired of being divided. I'm tired of being divided by race, I'm tired of being divided by income, by gender, by religion. If this country is ever going to work, we have to acknowledge... that we are responsible for each other and to each other.” ~May 18, 2003.

“Let’s start calling racial profiling what it is—discrimination based upon race." (July 14, 2003)

"This is a civil rights issue, and that makes it a federal issue." (July 14, 2003)

"Racial discrimination is illegal in hiring, housing, and voting. It should be illegal as a law enforcement technique too." (July 14, 2003)

"Racial profiling is wrong.” (July 14, 2003)

Refs below:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=policy_statement_health_racialdisparities

http://www.jfklibrary.net/pica_essay_winner_2001_dziczek.html

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=policy_statement_civilrights_affirmativeaction

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=policy_statement_civilrights_capitalpunishment

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=community_africanamericans

http://www.africanamericansfordean.com/AA/

http://www.fundforahealthyamerica.com/VermontRecord.asp

http://www.africanamericansfordean.com/AA/race.htm

http://www.africanamericansfordean.com/AA/issues/affirm_actn1.htm

*I wont be able to check in again until tomorrow, so I can't personally respond to the pathological vitriol that is sure to follow a positive Dean thread, but I am sure my comrads will do just fine without me ;)*

PS

Dean supporters, feel free to add to the list.

[xultar]

1. Sharpton would do better not to....

Start slinging dirt because he's got a whole barge load of skeletons waiting to sail into town.

I would agree that he is probably uninformed especially picking something from clear back in 1995.

[Skinner]

2. We've already got a few threads going about this.

And they're already pretty flamey. One particularly ugly one was already locked. Feel free to add your comments to that thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=610838

I am locking this, per our rule against starting new threads to continue current or recent flame wars.

Skinner
DU Admin