The message we need to get concerning Dean is UNITY.

[chaska]

The conservative elements of the party should not take this opportunity to further their own agendas. They had better shut up and salute FOR THE SAKE OF THE PARTY. We don't win by destroying our own leader.

The truth of what Dean said is debatable, the damge done by this process of tearing him down from within is not. This is a battle for the direction of the party. Do we side with the conservative corporate element or with the Proggresives?

[Tamyrlin79]

1. See my dailykos diary on this very point/issue...

To Dem Leaders: The Grassroots Support Dean, Party Unity
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/8/21410/62269

[Ravenseye]

2. I agree

I don't agree with what Dean has said, and I've written about that in other threads today, but having any member of the party that is in an elected post even comment on it in any negative way is bad.

They don't have to gush about it, but they can just use the republican trick of twisting it around.

"What do you think of Dean's remarks?"

"What do I think of them? I think that we're too busy talking about them and not spending enough time talking about the fact that our President is driving this country towards financial ruin."

That's the kind of thing they should be saying.

"Dean's remarks? Honestly I've been too busy trying to earmark more funding for education to make up for the billions of dollars that Bush underfunded our nations schools, to even think about his comments."

"What'd he say? Sorry, I wasn't listening, I was thinking about the millions of children that are completely uninsured in this country and how we're supposedly the best country in the world, but the only modern one to not have subsidized health care, even for our children."

[rinsd]

3. "We don't win by destroying our own leader."

Where have you been?

We specialize at that sort of thing.

[chaska]

4. Ain't that the truth.

[UnityDem]

5. Unity, where have I heard

that before? Sounds good to me.

[chaska]

6. How'd you do that? Did you go back in time?

[brentspeak]

7. I agree -- we can't afford to lose Dean from the party

But frankly, he's got to learn political discipline. I love it when he talks about how the Republicans are running the country into the ground; I cringe when I hear some of the things he's said in the past week, b/c I know they're counterproductive.

In retrospect, I think Obama is stupidly and selfishly grandstanding on the Dean thing. Richardson and Pelosi were much more diplomatic.

Maybe this will be an experience that will get everyone's heads together once and for all.

[ClarkUSA]

8. Here's the message from Dean after meeting with Reid today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1842221

[jmaier]

9. It's seems to me that pre-Dean

The DNC chair position was seen as a "management" position and not a messianiac one. While I agree with the unity theme, the DNC chairperson is not the Party God and should consider his/her public positions in concert with others in the fight ... or not. but accept that some disagreements might ensue. They are all adults.

The only high emotion at work seems to be in echo chambers where everyone wants to quickly label "for or against us" and make calibrations based upon each public vote or comment of Democratic officials. Where else do we see this sort of rigid "my side is the right side" sort of judgment.

Where is our own solidarity with Democrats, some who've notably worked for our agenda, even with occasional defections? I'm just ranting, I suppose. But I find these constant purity tests and rigid assessments seem to do more harm than good -- look at the kind of Republicans we've gotten for instance in the past 2 decades.

[brentspeak]

10. There's also a few undercover Freepers advocating division

They talk about "going undercover" on their Freeper boards, try to advocate people here to go Green, Independent, or simply leave the party.

[jmaier]

11. I see.

That's hardly surprising and it easy to stir up trouble when there are alot of emotions invested.

[kerrygoddess]

12. Nor do we win by destroying the party

The DNC is supposed to respresent the views of the entire party not a faction of the party. Incase you did not realize the majority of the Democratic Party are MODERATES.

I'm talking about the voting majority, not the politicians, not the grassroots faction, the voters!

Dean needs to learn to speak for the voters not the grassroots faction. Dean also needs to support the elected representatives of the Democratic Party. That is part and parcel his job!

[chaska]

13. Sorry lady, we already had this argument and Dean is evidence...

that the we are moving left. Middle of the road is a losing strategy proven many times over.

[kerrygoddess]

15. You might be moving left

But the rest of the party who isn't here on DU isn't.

Wake up and smell the coffee unless you want the Dems to keep losing.

[GetTheRightVote]

14. I am for unity period for all Dems,

:kick: