Howard Dean must apologize

[sandnsea]

Howard Dean has once again gone to smear tactics to further his campaign, cause hatred towards other candidates and ultimately divide the Democratic Party. When an unknown entity was reported to be producing ads calling into question Dean's foreign policy experience, Howard Dean immediately chose to smear candidates with no evidence whatsoever. He was wrong and needs to apologize and stop his scorched earth campaign before the Democratic Party is split beyond repair.

"Maybe it’s all a coincidence that this new secretive group-- founded just last month-- has picked up the same line of attack that Kerry and Gephardt have been using for months.

We hope that their campaigns would have nothing to do with this ad—the type of ad that Senator Kerry denounced as “political hate speech” when one like it was used against Senator Max Cleland in the 2002 election.

Will the Kerry and Gephardt campaigns, as well as the other campaigns, now step forward as Kerry did for Cleland and denounce this ad, as all Democrats should do?"
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002665.html

"The Gephardt and Kerry campaigns say they had nothing to do with Americans for Jobs, Healthcare and Progressive Values or its ads.

The group, which says it is not affiliated with any candidate, includes treasurer David Jones, who has been a fund-raiser for Gephardt, and spokesman Robert Gibbs, who last month resigned as chief spokesman for Kerry's campaign."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3498853,00.html

[interceptor]

1. Bizarre

I haven't seen this ad. Its already been a bitter primary though...

[LosinIt]

2. Apologize,Why? Did he belch? Fart, perhaps? Pick his nose in Public..

no that was this pResident, not the next duly elected one.

[creativelcro]

33. Did he use the "f" word during an interview ?

[Cheswick2.0]

3. I can see no reason he should apologize

I think that's a little melodramatic considering the things they have been saying about him.

Kerry is blowing it all on his own, he didn't respond to national and world events the way most democrats wanted him to. Consequently they are not supporting him in the primaries. Gephardt is in the same boat. They seem bloodless and out of touch. But the biggest problem is that they missed the point with Iraq. People believe their votes on the IWR were politically motivated and people are probably right.

This anybody but Dean coalition that seems to have risen up in the party is not helping anything and whether Kerry and Gephardt had anything to do with the adds or not, they are in the ABBD camp, attacking him to the detriment of the party. I have no idea why the democratic party can not manage some kind of party unity in their public dealings.

[bearfartinthewoods]

10. of couse THE dean doesn't need any proof before he smears

the other dem candidares.

and of course the other dem candidates are supposed to stand there and let hum attack them and never fight back. defending themselves is so ABD of them.

[TLM]

37. "We hope that their campaigns would have nothing to do with this ad"

Did you miss this part... "We hope that their campaigns would have nothing to do with this ad"

[imax2268]

4. I think

that the only person that needs to apologize is Lieberman...he used this capture today to attack Dean outright...


just my opinion...

[bearfartinthewoods]

8. of course dean never used events in iraq as an excuse to attack

the other dem ccandidates, </sarcasm>

[sfecap]

5. Just a coincindence, I suppose...

Americans for Jobs, Healthcare, and Progressive Values

About us:

Former Congressman Edward Feighan is the President of Americans for Jobs, Health Care & Progressive Values. He is also currently the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ProCentury Corporation, the parent of the Century Insurance Group based in Columbus, Ohio.

FEIGHAN, EDWARD
LAKEWOOD, OH 44107
ALLIANCE HOLDING COMPANY

GEPHARDT, RICHARD A
VIA GEPHARDT IN CONGRESS COMMITTEE
05/16/1997 1000.00 97032262480

FEIGHAN, EDWARD
LAKEWOOD, OH 44107
CENTURY INSURANCE GROUP/DIRECTOR

GEPHARDT, RICHARD A
VIA GEPHARDT FOR PRESIDENT INC.
02/05/2003 2000.00 23990754412

[sandnsea]

12. Continue baseless smearing?

They said they didn't run the ads. That's what Dean asked for. Is he going to come out and say he was wrong to accuse them without any evidence or not?

[TLM]

38. There was no accusation.... just questions

"We hope that their campaigns would have nothing to do with this ad"

If they did not, then great.

But who paid for the ads? Why's this group made up of former staff from Gephardt's and Kerry's crew?

[HuckleB]

6. Funny, you didn't start a thread saying Kerry should apologize...

for using ugly smear tactics. Why is that?

[opihimoimoi]

7. I see no reason for anything but full court press.

IMUA KAKOU

we go

[sandnsea]

11. Deanie's did that

I never noticed them putting up a thread saying Dean should apologize for anything. And even after Kerry people said these ads were not appropriate, I can't get ONE Deanie to say Dean's smears are inappropriate. tsk tsk tsk

[HuckleB]

31. Nice try.

So you posted on these supposed "Kerry must apologize" threads, and in agreement? If not, tsk tsk.

[mb7588a]

9. kick n/t

[Q]

13. Ah...the serfs are fighting again...

...over the crumbs falling from the king's table.

- Funny that some Dems continue to start threads like this as King George* celebrates one 'victory' after another...gets away with one lie after another.

- I would sure in the hell hate to be on a liferaft with some of you.

[DemBones DemBones]

14. Time Out! The anti-Cleland ad showed Cleland

morphing into Osama, and the voiceover attacked his patriotism. That's a really low blow, since Cleland lost both legs and an arm while fighting in Viet Nam for this country.

The anti-Dean ad, according to all reports, merely shows a photo of Osama and has voiceover stating that Dean has no military or foreign policy experience, which is true.

Does Cleland lack patriotism? NO

Does Dean lack military and foreign policy experience? YES

Is being truthfully labeled as "lacking military or foreign policy experience" the same as being falsely labeled "unpatriotic" ? NOT AT ALL


Dean should be careful about comparing the two ads -- he might encourage someone to make an ad comparing him to Cleland. 'Nuff said?

[sandnsea]

15. Just 1 apology

I just want a Deanie, one time, to say Howard Dean unfairly smeared the opposition. That's all. Just one time.

[gristy]

16. I apologize!

I'm very, very sorry that there are some Dean opponents who think that Dean has unjustly accused them of something. There, I did it. You better be happy now.

[0007]

17. What a waste of energy!

[maddezmom]

18. have to admit not pleased with the response on the Dean blog

where is the proof it was either Gep or Kerry. Kerry has denied it. Not sure where Gep stands, anyone know?

[Jerseycoa]

24. Not pleased here, either

This lie repeated on the referenced blog entry 12/13/2003:

"... the war that every major candidate for the nomination except for Howard Dean supported."

And then Al Gore is cited repeating the same lie: "...Howard Dean was the only major candidate who was right about that war..."

Howard Dean must apologize to Wes Clark for having lies against another candidate posted to his official blog. Is that how it works?
I think he should, because it's a lie and it's a lie repeated to this day, even though Dean and his campaign know it's a lie against another Democratic candidate.

Even if you keep saying it, and keep saying it, it won't make it true. :crazy:

But, to the topic, there is no proof. People who were once campaign staff and are no longer are conducting this project. Howard Dean's new foreign policy advisor worked for the Republican former Secretary of State William Cohen who shafted Clark out of SACEUR. Clark has a couple dozen of former Gore staff on his own staff. That's just how incestuous the world of campaign operatives is. Just because someone was once on a candidate's staff does not justify a conspiracy charge against a candidate.

:tinfoilhat:

I assume Clark's name is added to Gephardt's and Kerry's, something I have been seeing here on DU, because he, too, says Howard Dean has no military or foreign policy experience. (Which is the simple truth, remember.) Since that is what the ad says and that is what Clark has said, ... well, you see how it goes.

:tinfoilhat:

Do your little investigation, do it quietly, and when you have proof of your charges, then talk about denouncing and apologizing. It's a disgusting ad, but all of the candidates, until you prove one or some of them guilty, are innocent, and hurling these baseless charges around is doing nobody any good. Nobody.


:dem:

[Hep]

27. Kerry should be up in arms denouncing this ad.

Why is he not?

[molly]

19. Went to Dean's blog - watched the ad

and I'm wondering if this is true?

"But our campaign isn’t just about winning this election. It’s about restoring our democracy. We welcome an open debate about policy, about the merits of going to war with Iraq instead of pursuing the war on terror."

Kerry challenged him to a debate and he refused. Does this mean he changed his mind?

[edzontar]

20. More divisive tactics from the anti-Dean forces

That serve only the Repukes.

[sendero]

21. Dean must apologize,

Kerry must apologize, Gebby must apologize, Clark must apologize.

NO - the people who keep bashing other candidates instead of touting their favorites must apologize.

You all have turned DU into something unrecognizable. It is truly pathetic.

[edzontar]

22. RIGHT ON!

Divisive candidates, divisive posts, all in the service of Mr. Rove and his boy.

The circular firing squad is up and running, and I detect the aroma of dirty tricksters among the fumes.

[LeahMira]

23. The person who needs to apologize...

... is still sitting in the White House. Don't hold your breath waiting for an apology from that quarter. Still, as my momma used to say, "the mills of the gods grind slowly but they grind exceeding fine."

[Hep]

25. We're still waiting to hear what Kerry has to say

Considering we haven't seen Kerry come out against this ad like he did for Cleland, I think maybe the Dean campaign is on the money about the source of tihs hideoous piece of shit ad.

Or maybe it's just another example of Kerry's startling hypocrisy.

[LuminousX]

26. LOL... nice to see priorities

The vile attack ad worthy of the best Republican crap is less important that maintaining proper etiquette. Why must Kerry cry 'victim' every three minutes?

If Kerry saw a car wreck, he'd throw himself into the mess out of habit.

[LuminousX]

28. Even funnier

This is just a Kerry supporter throwing Kerry on the wreck and crying victim on his behalf.

[Hep]

30. Who does it more?

Does kerry nail himself to the cross more than his supporters do? Inquiring minds want to know.

[LuminousX]

34. I think Kerry's martyrdom encourages his supporters to marty him even more

[dsc]

29. Please point out where Dean says they ran the ads

it is you who should apologize for turning your inability or unwillingess to read into our problem.

[Spirochete]

32. Apologize? That wouldn't be enough for you.

Maybe dropping out of the race and committing suicide MIGHT do it, but maybe not - you folks hate him too much.

[retyred]

35. Waiting for an apology?

From dean? LOL, Not until the victim card has run it's course.


george bush…pResident?

retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book

[Scott Lee]

36. Have GepKerry repudiated the ad yet? I can't get an answer on this

And why is it that they won't make a simple denunciation? If they had nothing to do with the ad then it should be simple as pie.

Kerry? Gephardt? Please speak up - I can't hear you.

[Clark Can WIN]

39. The truth must be brutally painfull to him

Or he wouldn't be lashing out this way. I agree with the premise of the ads which is that he has misrepresented himself and that his lack of foreign policy experience will result in an absolute slaughter at the polls if he is the nominee. It's not personal really. I son't think Howard Dean is evil the way I believe George Bush is, but I do believe he is destined to crushing defeat if picked as our nominee.