In S.F., Dean calls GOP 'a white Christian party'

[paineinthearse]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/06/07/MNdean07.TMP


sound available at the website (sorry, cannot provide link)

In S.F., Dean calls GOP 'a white Christian party'
- Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Tuesday, June 7, 2005

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, unapologetic in the face of recent criticism that he has been too tough on his political opposition, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans are "a pretty monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party." "The Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people," Dean said Monday, responding to a question about diversity during a forum with minority leaders and journalists. "We're more welcoming to different folks, because that's the type of people we are. But that's not enough. We do have to deliver on things: jobs and housing and business opportunities."

The comments are another example of why the former Vermont governor, who remains popular with the party's grassroots, has been a lightning rod for criticism since being elected to head the Democratic National Committee last February. His comments last week that Republicans "never made an honest living in their lives," which he later clarified to say Republican "leaders," were disavowed by leading Democrats including Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Dean was outspoken -- as usual -- as he trolled California this week, stoking his party's coffers, and meeting with grass-roots activists. His San Francisco visit was at the tail end of a cross-country road trip, and Dean said that he will continue to pound the pavement -- and the GOP -- to get the Democratic message across to new voters, particularly in minority communities.

But Dean's style and rhetoric have sparked increasing criticism from inside the Democratic Party in recent weeks -- and gleeful Republicans say they couldn't be happier. "Where do I sign up on a committee to keep Howard Dean?" crowed GOP operative Jon Fleischmann, publisher of the FlashReport, a daily roundup of California political news and commentary. "He's the best thing to happen to the GOP in ages." "I'm thrilled he's the DNC chair," says Tom Del Becarro, chairman of the Contra Costa County Republican Party. "Howard Dean is scaring away the middle. People don't like angry people. They like hopeful people.''

<snip>

Dean, speaking in a roundtable discussion Monday, downplayed the controversy over his rhetoric. "This is one of those flaps that comes up once in awhile when I get tough," Dean said. "We have to be rough on the Republicans. Republicans don't represent ordinary Americans and they don't have any understanding of what it is to go out and try and make ends meet." Dean said that he had been addressing the matter of Americans standing in long lines to vote. "What I said was the Republican leadership didn't seem to care much about working people," he said. "That's essentially the gist of the quote."

<snip>

In His Own Words

Here are some Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean's comments while speaking this week with minority community leaders and journalists at a roundtable in San Francisco:

On Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: "Gov. Schwarzenegger has been a big disappointment to a lot of Californians ... Americans are tired of politicians that break their promise, especially in an area like education ... so I think there's going to be a lot of questions about whether the governor really cares about average Californians."

On Schwarzenegger's endorsement of the Minutemen: "This is why I don't agree that there's no difference between Republicans and Democrat ... you would never have heard a Democrats talk like that ... I think the Republicans are always like this. I remember (former Republican Gov.) Pete Wilson ... got elected by victimizing immigrants. Republicans always divide people."

On illegal immigration: "(Democrats) understand we have a border problem. But we think that if you enforce the laws you already have, the people who are already here ... they haven't broken any laws, they paid their taxes, a lot of them are paying into the Social Security system and getting nothing. Those people ought to be on a reasonable track toward citizenship."

On past promises by Democratic officials to minority communities: "It does make a difference that we now have senior management that is African American (and minority) ... which means we're not going to have the white boys' club make all the decision anymore. Everybody's going to be included."

On San Francisco politics: "It's always a pleasure to come to San Francisco because I don't look so liberal when I come to San Francisco."

On the Democrats' strategy for the 2008: "We're trying to resurrect this party. We're going to be in every state. You're not going to see any 18-state strategies. We're going to be in places like Mississippi and Kansas and Idaho. We're going to be in the Republican counties of California from now on; we're not going to try to win by getting San Francisco and Oakland and Berkeley ... we're not going to sit around anymore. We are going to fight back. We haven't been fighting back."

E-mail Carla Marinucci at [e-mail]


URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/06/07/MNdean07.TMP

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Long discussion here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1530788

[paineinthearse]

4. Thanks, I had just heard about it on CSPAN journal

Should have done a search.

[babylonsister]

2. Seems like Mr. Dean is relishing

stirring the pot. I don't see the value, but he is getting a lot of press as a result.

[KoKo]

3. Repug said: People don't like angry people. They like hopeful people.''

:rofl:

Tell me a Repug Senator, Congressperson or RW Media talking head who is hopeful?

Aren't they all angry? What are they so angry about? Dean isn't angry he states what he's observed. Many of us Dems have observed exactly what Dean says on what he's criticized for.

Again...I have to laugh at the attacks on Dean.

[TheFarseer]

5. Can we NOT make this about race?

I know when Democrats start to make it about race, Midwesterners get turned off like you wouldn't believe. People living in communities where there literally are no black people for 100 miles get really pissed off when they are called racists - even passively like this comment.

Also, kind of implying that the republican party is the party for Christians might not be so bright because most of us are Christians in this country.

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. That's is not what he's saying.

He is not saying that White Christians are Republicans. He is saying that Republicans are mostly comprised of white Christians. Which is a true statement. It's Logic 101. The converse of a statement is not necessarily true.

He isn't saying that A=B. He is saying that A is comprised mostly of B and contains very little C. B is larger than A and those elements of B not in A can be found elsewhere. A has a little bit of C in it, but most C is found elsewhere.

He's bluntly stating what everyone has known all along. Republicans may talk the talk of being "inclusive" but they don't "walk the walk."

[notadmblnd]

6. and I'm sure the RW will find away to frame it so they can take offence

I see nothing wrong with Howards statement. The majority are indeed white and also claim to be christian. I do think they've (the RW) gone on attach against Dr. Dean, CSPAN was taking calls this morning about it one of our very own DU'ers got through and did a good job setting (what was in my opinion a RW caller) straight.

[fasttense]

7. The more I hear about this man, the more I like him.

I disagree with that repuke who said people don't like angry people. The part about liking people who give them hope is true. Angry people give people, who feel weak, hope. I've had little hope for any success for the Dems during the remains of brush's agony as president. But Dean's anger gives me hope that he wont capitulate, he wont give up, he'll fight until brush is a thing of the past.

[Guckert]

8. and they call the Dem's a illegal immigrant/ felon party of minorities.

SO WHAT!!!!!!

its just the GOP trying to DIVERT, DISTRACT, DISTORT.

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. I fear Dean's remarks, thought true, will suffer due to...

lack of logic training. We see it everywhere. People do not stop to consider the full impact of a statement and make assumptions based on faulty logic. I'll take a pot shot at the media again and cast some of the blame for that on them. They perpetuate the same myths and do not bother to educate and clarify for their audience's complete understanding.

I'll repeat what I've said above.

It's Logic 101. The converse of a statement is not necessarily true.

He isn't saying that A=B. He is saying that A is comprised mostly of B and contains very little C. B is larger than A and those elements of B not in A can be found elsewhere. A has a little bit of C in it, but most C is found elsewhere.

He's bluntly stating what everyone has known all along. Republicans may talk the talk of being "inclusive" but they don't "walk the walk."

Some people may not like the way he's chosen to state the obvious but that's a matter of diplomacy and style, not truth.