DNC, Pelosi enter Gannon fray; Dean's office silent

[marcologico]

Democratic National Committee, Pelosi weigh in on Gannon scandal, credentialing

By John Byrne | RAW STORY Editor
2/27/2005

Saying the Democratic National Committee had not weighed in on the scandal surrounding discredited White House reporter ‘Jeff Gannon’ because the Committee was in transition, the DNC’s national spokesman broke the ice in a conversation with RAW STORY.

The office of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who has been silent on the issue to date, also voiced their concerns.

Both the DNC and Pelosi’s office shared similar alarm over what they perceive as media manipulation. Each offered a more temperate critique than the spokeswomen for Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) voiced earlier this week.

The DNC’s national spokesman, Jano Cabrera, said the Committee had particular concern with what they see as a deliberate strategy by the Bush Administration to manipulate the media. The office of DNC Chairman Howard Dean did not return a call for comment placed Friday.

story: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=132

[paineinthearse]

1. See LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1269998

[w13rd0]

2. Ah, and never an opportunity...

...passed up by you to alter a headline to advance your agenda.

Pfft...

[marcologico]

5. Just adding add'l info from article. See end of fourth paragraph. n/t

[arcos]

3. As usual, can't waste the opportunity to criticize Dean...

:eyes:

[marcologico]

6. The point is it's something to discuss. n/t

[marcologico]

4. Quote from Kerry spokesman:

“There’s more screening to get into a Bush for President rally than the White House press room,” Sen. Kerry’s press secretary April Boyd said Thursday. “A Girl Scout troop can’t even go on a public tour of the White House, but a Republican Party right wing activist of sketchy origins got daily West Wing access? This latest scandal makes Armstrong Williams look like a saint by comparison.”

[lasttrip]

7. 3-2-1...

from DNC spoksman:

The DNC’s national spokesman, Jano Cabrera, said the Committee had particular concern with what they see as a deliberate strategy by the * Administration to manipulate the media. The office of DNC Chairman Howard Dean did not return a call for comment placed Friday.

maybe howard's been just a little busy lately? ya think?

:shrug:

[WonderGrunion]

9. So what you're saying is...

Kerry is hiding behind his spokespeople as well as Dean. In your OP, you're not satisfied with a response by DNC spokespeople on behalf of Dean (who was busy in Kansas)as being proactive enough for Dean's office. Meanwhile, Kerry has nothing better to do than sit around Washington and talk to reporters, yet he also is hiding behind spokespeople. You must truly be ashamed of Kerry's cowardice in this situation.

[marcologico]

10. At least his office is open. Kerry also signed a letter on the subject:

"Five senatorial offices–-Durbin, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg and Reid–-signed a letter to President Bush last week which demands a full and transparent investigation into how the discredited conservative correspondent allegedly got access to classified information and the president."

[WonderGrunion]

8. Probably because...

RawStory called his office in Washington on Friday for comment. Dean had spent all day Thursday and Friday in Kansas building the local democratic party and had not been to Washington to answer his phone.

Source: http://democrats.org/blog/index.html

[marcologico]

11. If there's going to be a full court press, all the players

better be on the court. This story won't last forever.

[WonderGrunion]

12. There are primaries in Kansas next week.

Our party chairman is where he needs to be doing the job that his supporters have voted him in to do. Didn't Reid and Pelosi tell Dean they would take care of all the "Washington stuff" and that Howard should stick to his job of organizing the party and fund raising?

[LizW]

13. The DNC's national spokesman made a statement

that led to others in Congress making statements. That's quite good enough for me.

[marcologico]

14. Cabrera's comments were first reported today; the letter was signed

on Friday, and the comments from Kerry and Kennedy's offices were reported earlier this week.

Just setting the chronology straight.

[LizW]

15. The article implies that Pelosi's office spoke out

after the DNC spokesman did.

And if we're really going to "set the chronology straight" let's be sure to note that Kerry's spokeswoman made the statement on Thursday, which, I suppose, is "earlier in the week". ;)

[rawstory]

20. Pelosi just chose to 'speak out' i gather

because i called them. I'd say if anything the link is that slaughter and conyers came first, then the senators, then the DNC and pelosi.

[marcologico]

22. Thanks for that!

Keep up the great work!

:toast:

[sandnsea]

19. Truth is

If McAuliffe didn't say anything, he'd have gotten raked over the coals for it. We all know it.

Regardless, I don't think Dean should get involved with this quite yet anyway, if at all. It's the exact kind of thing the right would like to add to their "wild-eyed lefty loon" rant and we don't need that. Let Congress deal with it, it's their area anyway.

[FreedomAngel82]

52. Exactly

Let the reps and senators take care of this. Dean is out on the road trying to reach out to people and not everybody knows about this (for whatever reason). Dean has other issues to talk about (and plenty of them).

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. And your take on this is.....?

:shrug: Um, isn't your thread title just a wee bit misleading? Wasn't Pelosi silent on this as well until just now? Come on. You can do better than this.

[marcologico]

17. Pelosi's office has spoken out, as has Kerry's, Kennedy's, Reid's,

Lautenberg's, Durbin's, Conyers', and Slaughter's. Dean's hasn't.

My take is that this is a problem. If Dean is the leader of the party, why isn't he leading? And being out of Washington is no excuse. I believe they have cell phones, radio stations, and TV studios in Kansas.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. Of course it is. I believe Dean is doing a better job than you want him to

so you're going to dig up every little misleading little tidbit that you can. Sorry, no pass Marco.... I must say he's doing a darned site better than our warn out...lukewarm candidate for pres did this year...sigh...

OnWard Dr. Dean! Give 'Em Hell! You're doing GREAT!!!! Regardless of what the frightened huddled DLCers want!

[marcologico]

21. The problem is that Dean isn't DOING the job I want him to, which is also

the job he volunteered and campaigned hard for. That's the problem.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Join the minority...Not the majority.

Nice try though. :hi:

[marcologico]

25. If it's a minority that wants Bush out of the White House, I'd be happy

to be it's only member.

[arcos]

32. Since what you have always wanted Dean to do...

is to kill himself, I guess he will never do it.

[marcologico]

34. I know that's a joke, but the fact is, I think Dean DOES have an important

role to play, which is basically drumming Dubya out of office.

Dean can do it because unlike Reps and Senators, he doesn't risk reaming his constituents (closing bases, losing federal contracts, etc.) in the process, because he doesn't have any.

[NYCGirl]

36. You seem to have no idea at all what the DNC Chairman's job is.

It is to get Democrats elected. Period.

Drumming Bush out of office (as if it were possible) is the job of the House and Senate.

To paraphrase Jon Stewart when being asked to perform by Tucker Carlson, "Dean is not your monkey."

[marcologico]

37. Impeaching Clinton didn't hurt the GOP, which now controls the WH, Senate,

House, Supreme Court, churches, press, and of course, Pentagon.

[NYCGirl]

38. Completely unrelated. And if you think there's going to be an impeachment,

I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

[marcologico]

39. I think it's possible. In fact I think there's a good chance.

Why shouldn't there be? Do they have a defense? No. And this thing goes pretty deep, including Plame and who knows what other illegal BushCo disinformation.

[NYCGirl]

40. At the very most, McClellan might get into some trouble. Probably some

lower official in the WH Press Office will take the fall for it.

Nothing in Gannongate will help any Democrats get elected in 2006. Dean is doing exactly the right thing.

Want to press the matter, go to the Senate and House where they can do it.

[marcologico]

41. Sure but we need the press too. Don't forget that if there's not a big gun

going off the NYT/WP have an excuse not to report on it (the ol' WMD-SBVT excuse).

[marcologico]

42. Also, where's there's smoke there's fire, and who knows how big this

thing is -- don't forget that pedophilia ring that turned up in the GWB I White House in 1989. (I can find a link if you haven't heard of it.)

[NYCGirl]

44. I've heard of it and it's garbage. Not one verifiable shred of evidence.

Sensational crap. You want to follow that lead, go ahead, but don't be surprised if you walk off a cliff.

Looks like you have your shiny hat on again.
:tinfoilhat:

[marcologico]

45. Yes, there were several mysterious suicides and small aircraft accidents

of the principal witnesses, which put a damper on the investigation.

All coincidental, of course. :)

[NYCGirl]

46. Cue the Twilight Zone theme...

Don't forget about the satanic cults.

:tinfoilhat:

[marcologico]

47. Let's just say you can't believe everything you read in the NYT :)

[NYCGirl]

48. Or the Washington Times, which is where the article you cite appeared.

Before it was a moonie paper, it was merely a sensational snotrag then.

[marcologico]

49. Stories have to break somewhere, and it sure didn't end there. n/t

[marcologico]

50. Don't forget that Gannogate broke on a blog, as did Rathergate. n/t

[NYCGirl]

51. LOL! Rather got impeached. Wow!

So I guess Dan Rather is going to have to retire....well, when he's always been scheduled to retire. Don't give the FR nutjobs more credit than they deserve.

Keep checking your local fishwrappers for those breaking stories, Marco!
:tinfoilhat:

[marcologico]

53. I didn't say that, but it ain't a bad way of putting it!

:)

[FreedomAngel82]

54. And you think Dean can do that?

LOL. Sorry, but Dean has no power over that. Congress starts it up and it goes to the Senate. THE REPUBLICANS CONTROL IT ALL! All Dean can do as chairman is go around the country, speak to people and help grassroots efforts with getting other canidates elected. Dean has NO way of impeaching Bush. Sorry but he doesn't have superpowers.

[marcologico]

55. I think Dean was BORN to do it.

At this point, it's a publicity function more than a legislative function, and if the papers start beating the Watergate drum that GOP majority will melt away faster than MilitaryStuds.com.

[NYCGirl]

57. No, it's not. It's a legislative function. It's about organizing.

You have no idea what the DNC Chairman does.

[marcologico]

59. Then why isn't Dean organizing the Dem offensive?

And I know exactly what the DNC chairman is doing at the moment--campaigning.

[NYCGirl]

61. He's raising money for the party and meeting prospective candidates.

Which is exactly what his job is.

You, as usual, are incorrect, because you're letting your hatred of the man get in the way. And you're quite Bush-like in your inability to take criticism or admit that you may have been mistaken about something, so you pull out every lame-assed half-baked idea. I don't think you even believe that Washington Times pedophilia crapola.

[marcologico]

69. There's no excuse for dodging the press. He's completely shielded from

GOP criticism and he picks this time to go missing. Why? The explanation is obvious: he's worried about hurting his chances in '08 and he's campaigning on the DNC dime.

Exactly as I predicted.

[dsc]

60. actually it did

They lost seats in both houses of Congress in 1998 which was at the height of Impeachment. They also lost seats in both Houses in 2000. Impeachment was certainly blamed in 98 and was probably to blame for at least 2 losses in 00.

[Laurab]

62. Didn't we already have this thread a few days ago?

WHAT exactly are you trying to accomplish? I support Dean, and I support Kerry - I support every dem who seems to be fighting the right fights. WHY do we have to have Dean bashing threads over and over, and what exactly does it do to benefit ANYTHING? Honestly when I saw the thread title, and then the OP, and then read the actual title of the article, I couldn't quite believe it.

Maybe he's not doing the job YOU want him to do, but most everyone else seems to think he's doing just fine. Why don't we do something more productive?

[LittleClarkie]

65. I'm more than alittle tired of the name calling on both sides

If someone posts something disparaging of Dean, they must be "huddled DLCers". Nah, Marco's a rabid Kerrycrat with a bug up his butt about Dean. That does NOT make him a huddled DLCer.

But then I get tired of the accusations that if someone expresses displeasure with Kerry, they must be a Deaniac or a Clarkie. Again, nah.

The odd thing about this thread is that Marco could expand it to list all the folks who are silent. That would be quite the list at this point. I appreciate those who have taken on this issue, and do not fault the ones who haven't.

I don't mind seeing a division of labor in the party. Some are taking on foreign policy, some social security, others the misuse of the media. I think that makes each voice stronger, myself. Like in the campaign, if one person attacks too many different issues, you end up with a diffused focus.

Meanwhile Dean is getting his feet wet, looking into grassroots organizing and establishing a voice through his appearances.

And perhaps he hasn't commented because he and the higher ups in the party have agreed that he not comment. We don't know what's going on in there, any more than we knew what was going on with Kerry in Ohio.

I will give Dean the benefit of the doubt. I just wish we'd stop fighting the primary battles of 2004, and pre-emptive battles of 2008. We don't even know who's going to freaking run yet. This is counterproductive.

I need Dean strong, not riddled with self-inflicted holes from our own party. Not that we shouldn't have criticism, but pointing out that he hasn't spoken on one issue is just nitpicking to me.

I support Kerry, Dean, Boxer, Reid, Clark, and anyone else who shows some fight in the opposition party. And I don't give a flying fuck right now who is running in 2008

[marcologico]

68. No name calling on this side LittleClarkie, you can be sure of that.

At least not from me. But if you see any, you can always hit the alert button. You'll have lots of company.

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. Oh wow!!! Look at THIS!!!! Dean doesn't look so bad now.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/orourke/cst-edt-rour27.html

snip-

Wiser
Other Views






Dean doesn't look so bad now

February 27, 2005

BY WILLIAM O'ROURKE Advertisement






Last Nov. 3, the idea that Howard Dean would become head of the Democratic National Committee would have struck most everyone as lunacy. A few short months later, it seems almost reasonable. When Bill Clinton tapped Terry McAuliffe for that job some four years ago, Clinton left his stamp on the party: McAuliffe represented the pardon-giving, money-loving side of the former Bubba-in-Chief, a friend to large corporations and constituencies.



But this time there was no former president to anoint a DNC head -- only a defeated candidate and a floundering party left in psychological disarray. In stepped Howard Dean, a loser who didn't consider himself a loser, but a prophet before his time. The Democratic bench was not deep. Dean's competition wasn't any more formidable than those he met in the primaries, and Dean showed the same skills of grass-roots lobbying that made him a front-runner back in early 2004. He got to know the local folks and they voted him into the job.

And Dean has learned some lessons: He avoided the usual rounds of Sunday talk shows immediately after his elevation. Clearly, Dean wants to establish some bona fides before emerging as the public face of the DNC. In any case, the nation already knows Dean's face -- almost too well. Such reticence becomes him, and Dean may be able to labor in the vineyards profitably, remain behind the scenes for some time, since he doesn't need to make himself known. Not having to make a splash may actually allow him to swim a bit deeper and do a better job of reorganizing the base of the party -- both its fund-raising and its ideological foundations. The DNC now has at least the chance to become the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.



Go figure....

[Cuban_Liberal]

27. Another hit piece on Dean--- who's surprised?

What, no hands going up?

:eyes:

[ScreamingMeemie]

66. No! No! CL, if you read it through, it's not a hit piece. I think it's

great! Die hard Dean supporter here! :hi:

[KoKo]

43. It's a good article and says more than about Dean...trashes Chimp calls

Chimp Administration the "Crime Syndicate." I saw this posted this morning and at first glance thought it was a "trash Dean" piece. It's actually a great read...and the last paragraph ends up calling them the "Crime Syndicate" which made me smile all day!

[quaker bill]

26. Good

It sounds like we have more than enough people on this story already.

Perhaps Dean can work on that little Social Security thing the right is proposing...

[lojasmo]

29. Or work on reviving the party from it's torpor...

Gannongate is something, but surely not the most pressing item on the agenda.

[John_H]

28. here it is folks: just what some DUers have been ranting about in action

Here they are folks, the same people that helped us go 0 for the last 3, still in place, still playing judo chess with the rethugs. A tepid statement from ol' Jano. A non statement from Pelosi's press kid.

If, as a dem, you're going to accept this kind of politics for the next two years, expect to lose big in 06.

Even a reporter too stupid to understand that the DNC spokesperson IS speaking for Dean's office recognizes that the DNC's statement was a non starter.

[marcologico]

30. It's pretty clear that Dean has own staff and office. n/t

[lojasmo]

31. It is pretty freaking rediculous....

As if there are not more important fish to fry. Whatever happened to the Plame scandal? Now THERE'S a matter of importance.

[John_H]

71. The list of things for the DNC, Reid, and Pelosi need to go after chimp

about is pages long. Want to see something depressing? Go to their web sites' "press" pages. Look familiar? That's the problem.

[WI_DEM]

33. maybe one day your obsession with Howard Dean will burn out

Very sad.

[marcologico]

35. Dean's own rule #1: "show up."

Dean wanted the job he now holds. It comes with responsibilities.

[FreedomAngel82]

56. Talking about Gannon?

Half the country doesn't care or believes he's guilty. So why should Dean talk about something like that? There are more important issues! Get over your Dean dislike. :eyes: I haven't been here very long but it's already getting old on me.

[marcologico]

58. That's not the subject of the thread. n/t

[NYCGirl]

63. It's gotten old a long time ago.

He's posted a variation on this thread three or four times already.

[marcologico]

64. The story appeared at 3:42 pm today.

Check the link.

[CWebster]

67. One is left to wonder

why anyone would be seeking every opportunity to sabotage Dean--at least, on our side,one could see why the other side would.

One is left to wonder...

[marcologico]

70. DU rule #5: "If you think someone is a disruptor, click the 'Alert' link

below their post so the moderators can deal with it."

Thanks. :)

[Moderator]

72. Locking.

This thread has become flamebait.