Democratic leaders stand up for Dean

[LittleClarkie]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/09/democratic_leaders_stand_up_for_dean?mode=PF

Democratic leaders stand up for Dean
Anti-GOP rhetoric brought criticism

By Nina J. Easton and Rick Klein, Globe Staff | June 9, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A round of criticism from fellow Democrats and major donors about Howard Dean's four-month tenure as Democratic National Committee chairman has prompted Senate leaders to rise to his defense at a public event planned for today.

Originally scheduled as a private meeting between Dean and the leadership team of Senate minority leader Harry Reid of Nevada, today's session instead will now include a news conference and photo opportunity as a public embrace of Dean, who has rocked the political world over the past week with provocative condemnations of the Republican party. On recent occasions, Dean has said many Republicans "never made an honest living in their lives," described the Republican Party as "pretty much a white, Christian party," and declared that House majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas, who is facing ethics questions but has not been charged with any crime, ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence.

"I do not agree with those comments," said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the House Democratic whip. "A party chairman's job is to organize the party, to support policy-makers."

Despite criticism of his remarks since the weekend from Hoyer and other congressional Democrats, Dean yesterday refused to back down, asserting in an interview on NBC's "Today Show" that Republicans are "outside the mainstream." In an interview last month with the Globe, the former presidential candidate said Republican policy makers had "gone off the deep end," and called the party's stance on gay marriage and other cultural issues "despicable."

[slay]

1. Awesome!

Best news I've heard all day. What else can I say other than - Dean rocks! :evilgrin:

[Borgnine]

2. Excellent.

Howard Dean is doing what he does best, and it's nice to know there's still some Democrats in the party besides him that have spine and are willing to stick up for him.

[Hatalles]

3. Good to hear. nt

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I believe it is called separating the wheat from the chaff.

[candy331]

5. I will await this event .n/t

[LaurenG]

6. Hoyer should shut his pie hole

The idiot voted with bushco over the bankruptcy bill. As far as I'm concerned hoyer is a turn coat and a republican in a democratic dress.

The rest of the senate had better back Dr. Dean, he is their last hope. Since few of the rest of them seem to have any cajones and have a white stripe down their backs.

[On the Road]

30. Hoyer's My Congressman

and the bankruptcy bill was strike one. This is strike two. I swear, one more strike and I'll vote against him in 06 just to give a new person a chance in 08. He appears to be part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[gardenista]

43. FYI, he's convinced that we have nothing to worry about re: Deibold

Just another thing to consider.

Wasn't his district recently changed a little to include a more conservative part of PG County?

[On the Road]

46. Actually, I Don't Know

I haven't kept up with changes in jurisdiction. PG county is a slight black majority, but there are some redneck parts in Laurel, Bowie, Andrews Air Force base, and the rural southern part.

[Jacobin]

7. Maybe the spineless are hearing from us

and beginning to realize they have to FIGHT the junta and that democrats want people to represent them who stand up to the bullies and push back

[katinmn]

8. I'm glad Pelosi is joining the party for Dr. Dean today!

House minority leader Nancy Pelosi also defended Dean, saying he had ''energized the base of the party. He has a plan for building the infrastructure of the party. People feel very involved in terms of issues, organization, and communication."
--------------------------------------------------------
She isn't so out of the loop if she recognizes that we are "energized" and value being involved in the issues, organization and communication.

Ted Kennedy said Dean's comments may have been "inartful" but still defended him. Fair enough.

[sendero]

9. This is why I was...

... so ecstatic at the prospect of Dr. Dean becoming DNC chair.

This role fits who he is to a T. He might be too outspoken to get elected - I concede this point.

But in his position as DNC chairman, he is free to be a little tougher and edgier in his rhetoric, something Democrats MUST learn to do if we ever want to have a voice in this country again.

Dean is free to stir the hornet's nest, and the folks who have to be more circumspect in their rhetoric can sit back and let him do the dirty work.

This is a great situation for Dems, and it is going to bear fruit!

[Melodybe]

10. kick

[dalloway]

11. kick it for howard!

[Tesla]

12. I liked him ever since he was on MTPress....

Russert asked him if he was in the "Skull & Bones" at Yale, he said that he was not only NOT in it, but was asked to join and refused!!!!

What's up next Doc?

[joanski0]

13. I don't think it's going to be a party!

From what I heard on Washington Journal this morning, they are going to tell him to "shut up". Joe Lieberman is supposed to be one of the main ones giving him hell.

[Pirate Smile]

14. Well, they can do that in private and show support in public.

Then we can just move on.

[CarolNYC]

18. Sounds good to me....

My Senator Schumer's supportive, at least:

Not all Democrats are running from their party's chairman. Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, the head of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, said he thinks "it's great" that Mr. Dean is visiting Capitol Hill today and supports the chairman's attacks.

"The Republican attack machine goes after anybody, and they've said far worse things about many, many of our people," Mr. Schumer said, adding that Mr. Dean has "worked great with the DSCC" and expects his Senate colleagues to be "supportive" of him during the meeting.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050608-112525-8076r.htm

[katinmn]

23. Exactly. They should keep the bickering private.

Cripes! If we're all on the same team and we want to get the country back on track we need to work together.

[lancdem]

27. Exactly

Personally, I think this is a tempest in a teapot and will blow over. Bush's problems, however, are not going away. BTW, I'm glad Dean didn't apologize. That quote about the Repukes being outside the mainstream is perfect.

[Kurovski]

32. The topic of today's Republican Party

being out of the mainstream has been discussed on DU. Even using that exact phrase.

Dean is grassroots all the way. He's the best damn thing to happen to the Democratic party for some time now.

[Larkspur]

20. Do you really think Dean will obey Lieberman?

Dean will listen to all what the Hill Dems have to say, but Lieberman is sucking wind at the fundraising department and Dean is breaking DNC fundraising records.

And let's not forget, that Sen. Reid has called Bush a "liar" and has not retracted that word. I think Reid will back Dean. Lieberman, I predict will either remain mum in public or backstab Dean, which is what Lieberman loves to do.

[katinmn]

25. but, but, but, the news article says...

yeah, I know, you can't believe everything you read. :)

I hope they agree to disagree off camera.

[MsTryska]

31. Joe Lieberman and "giving hell" don't belong in the same

sentence.

the worst Lieberman can do is give him some of that Joementum.

[dec1549]

37. Dean

Since when is Lieberman a Democrat?

[DianeK]

15. kick

and contribute

[wicket]

16. fantastic

:D

[bvar22]

17. Good News

I'm glad to see some Democrats are STANDING UP!!!

Howard Dean and the Democrats need to JUST KEEP ATTACKING. Force the Republicans to play DEFENSE. One of the few perks of the Minority Party is that the Party in Power must DEFEND their policies. The Minority Party NEVER needs to DEFEND anything. Just Move on to another attack! It would be POWERFUL if the Democratic Party would publicly support the Chairman of the Party. Amplification would only help. If a Democrat can't support him, they should make their comments in private to the good Doctor.


If the Republicans or the CorpoMedia start whining...Attack some MORE.
If minor mistakes are made, the record can be corrected BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE THEM if HE/SHE SO DECIDES. NO Democrat ever NEEDS TO COMMENT ON WHAT ANOTHER DEMOCRAT HAS SAID!!! When the CorpoMedia TalkingHead tries to force a Democrat into that position, all the Democrat has to do is chuckle and say, "You'll have to ask Chairman Dean about that. I wasn't there, so I can't comment except to say that he is an excellent Party Chairman!"...and THEN launch an attack on the Republicans. NEVER let them rest.

It is the Republicans who SHOULD be on the defensive EVERY FUCKING DAY!


GOOD on YOU Howard!!!!

WE need to keep sending messages of support to HIM from the grass roots that frightened the Establishment Dems into throwing us a bone. The MORE THEY try to undercut him, the MORE WE NEED to SUPPORT HIM, and the MORE we need to let the Establishment Dems know that we don't like it when they DIS the DOCTOR.

Howard SPEAKS FOR US!!!
YOU dis the Doctor; you DIS US!!!

[katinmn]

24. Yes, bvar

Dr. Dean needs encouragement from all of us.

I think the Washington DC Dems are starting to get the message, too.

[AntiCoup2K4]

19. What exactly has Steny "AIPAC" Whore done for this party anyway?

Damn these PNAC shills are getting predictable :puke:

[flpoljunkie]

21. Oh, let's see...sign on and support the one-sided bankruptcy bill.

The recently passed bankruptcy bill does nothing "to rein in credit card solicitations or put caps on interest rates or late fees, over-the-limit fees and other penalties."

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0312-03.htm

Bankruptcy reform has been a top priority of banks, credit-card companies, and retailers for the past decade. The credit card industry has given $25 million to federal candidates and the political parties since 1999 and commercial banks have given $76.2 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group. More than 60 percent of the donations went to Republicans.

(That means the other 40% went to Democrats, of course.)

That, according to consumer protection groups including the National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America, has resulted in a package that tilts the balance of power in individual bankruptcy heavily in favor of the financial industry, at the expense of consumer protection.

Civil rights groups also have rallied to oppose the new law, formally called the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

(Don't you just love the way the dissembling Rethugs name their bills--take the "Class Action Fairness Act" for an earlier bill rammed through Congress this year.

[CatWoman]

22. little clarkie

THANKS!!!

I really needed to see a story like this.

[katinmn]

26. I second that! I love starting the day on a positive note.

Thanks, little clarkie.:yourock:

[LittleClarkie]

35. You're very welcome

indeed, some positive energy is definitely needed. Let's beat those Bush bastards!

[LittleClarkie]

34. No probs

I'm all about unity.

[Democracy White]

28. Dean is exactly

What the Democratic party needs. I don't see the need to attack one of our own who is actually telling the truth and isn't sorry for it. It's time to let go of this "let's not offend anyone" rhetoric and get some balls.

The Repuke Party has done it to us, now it's our time. Fight fire with fire.

All I gotta say is GO DEAN!

Dee

[go west young man]

29. Go Dean Go!!!!

After the election you'd think the rest of em might have learned something but they still let the Repubs define us. They need to be attacking instead of letting the media and Repubs attack us. Dean is pretty accurate with his assertions. redirect and attack needs to be our new mantra. I have started contributing again since Dean became DNC chair and I like what I am seeing.

[Karenina]

33. Kick!

:kick:

[AX10]

36. Harry Reid is a leader!

He's showing it!

[dec1549]

38. Dean

We've got to get over getting "approval" from the GOPhers. It ain't gonna happen. And let's remember that Dean wasn't elected by the party hotshots. He was elected by the people out in the country and they elected him because of his fire. He may never be President, but he is one hell of party chairman. Let's blow off those inside the Beltway, who are so enamored of their jobs (that provide healthcare) and support Dean. He's for us. He understands the criminal unfairness out there. He's put himself on the line and he deserves our support. He's a fantastic fundraiser because he doesn't lie. In 2004, I gave money to the party and to Kerry and got absolutely nothing in return. I feel that when I give money now, that Dean knows how to use it. I feel that I have a voice now. Screw Matthews, the Washington Post, the NYT and all the MSM. They have a vested interest in the status quo. We don't. Neither does Dean. He's got nothing to lose and for that very reason, he's got my support.

[montana500]

39. BRAVO!!!!!

BRAVO!!!!!!!!

[Vadem]

40. Time for another $100 for Howard! We must continue to donate

to the DNC to show them that we little donors, not the big corporations, will continue to donate to the DNC and support Howard! If we don't give as much money (with our many little $100) to the DNC, as the big corporate donors give to the RNC, they will kick Howard out of the DNC chair, and we'll be back to the Repub ass kissing Dems.

[DearAbby]

42. KICK THIS

YEEEEEAAAAAAH :kick:

[Cha]

41. Oh, yeah..orrin hatch

is the one to comment on someone being "raving idiot".

"This is racial demagoguery, pure and simple, done by the chairman of the national Democratic Party," Hatch said. ''If I didn't know how bright he was, I'd call him a raving idiot."

[AnneD]

44. We are engaged in a struggle

for control of the DEM party. I love the Big Dawg, but he was GOP lite. The majority of the GOP leadership has strayed far right and is no longer main stream. The GOP lite members of the DEM party do not reflect the core values of the grass roots DEMs in this country (or the main stream GOP for that matter). Yes, I feel that we have our own extemists in the DEM party but Dean isn't one of them....AND SOME OF OUR DEM LEADERS NEED TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THAT FACT. This activity is fall out from their sorry leadership in the last election and with the way they have voted during the last 5 years. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Will I be embarassed by something Howard does, maybe, but I will still support him because I have seen more hope in the few months he has been DNC chair than the last 4+ years from the DNC AND DLC. Howard, you rock!

[enough already]

45. Call them every damn name in the book, Howard

We'll let you know when you're wrong, and it won't be any time soon. Screw the racist religious nuts.