Dean cancels Phoenix fall meeting and all fundraisers next week.

[madfloridian]

http://www.reachm.com/amstreet/
September 1, 2005
Dean cancels DNC meeting scheduled for next week
In a hastily-called conference call with DNC members, Gov. Dean said that a time of national tragedy is not the right time to have a political meeting. He cancelled the DNC meeting set for Sept. 8-9 in Phoenix as well as all DNC fundraisers.

Dean mentioned that at least two DNC members had missing family members and that one employee’s family had finally been rescued from their rooftop by the Coast Guard.

He said that several DNC staffers wanted to go to the Gulf Coast to help and that the DNC would continue to pay their salaries so they could. Saying that relief workers (and money) are the most important needs, he urged those that could to go help out. He encouraged the rest of us to send money.

“These are our people,” Dean said. “New Orleans is a Democratic city; many of the worst hit are poor and African American.”

He mentioned that Ben Jeffers, who had served on his transition team, was busy driving a bus evacuating people.

Dean did say that the Democrats would not be taking time off, however. “We will continue to defend ourselves.”

The meeting will be rescheduled in the coming months.

By Jenny Greenleaf 3:50 pm No Comments Party Process: Dems

He was also scheduled in Florida in Duval County and Tallahassee. I assume they are canceled as well.

[rodeodance]

1. good, fundraising during this crisis is not good!

[aquart]

2. That sounds like a leader.

Wish the nation had one.

[mcscajun]

7. Very well put.

It's just, unfortunately, also very true.

:banghead:

[blondeatlast]

3. Dr. Dean, is there any possibility you could volunteer to coordinate

the recovery efforts?

I'm willing to bet that the first responders and aid workers would follow your lead over that sap from FEMA.

[LittleClarkie]

5. What first responders?

We have to get them back from Iraq first.

[Rainscents]

9. I got an emil from DNC this afternoon and they're asking people for

help!

[Eloriel]

11. What kind of help? n/t

[madfloridian]

12. Was it a fundraising letter? I did not get anything today.

I got one the other day asking to donate to the Red Cross.

[NoPasaran]

17. I got an email from DFA

About providing housing for hurricane refugees.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. I hope he will do something seeing as he is a doc and all

---------------------------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/liberalchristians.htm

[shance]

4. "These are our people"

Yes they are.

Thanks for your leadership Governor.

[Sparkly]

6. GO, Doctor!!

Will he be going down there, to any of the affected areas? I hope so.

[Edgewater_Joe]

8. Are You Taking Notes, Mr. Rove?

THIS is what you fucking do if you want to show you are serious and compassionate about leading.

[TheDonkey]

10. I hope Dean gets to travel down there, very good statements made

[MaineDem]

13. Official release...

For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005
Contact: Karen Finney 202-863-8148

The Democratic National Committee announced today that the Fall DNC
meeting scheduled for September 8 - 10 has been postponed and will be
rescheduled for a later time TBD.

Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"This week our nation suffered a great tragedy when the worst natural
disaster in the history of our country forever changed the lives of so
many of our fellow Americans.

"It simply would not be appropriate to move ahead with the DNC meeting
as planned while so many of our fellow Americans are suffering. Instead,
this is a time for us to come together as one community and focus our
attention on ways we can help our friends, families and fellow
Americans.

"For those of us not in the gulf region, we can't even begin to fully
imagine what people there are experiencing, but we can do our part to
make sure the victims of this tragedy know they are not alone and that
we can and we will get through this together."

[madfloridian]

14. "In a hastily-called conference call with DNC members"

The one I posted was from Jenny Greenleaf, one of the members. Just to be clear.

[Eloriel]

15. NOMINATED - for the Good Doctor n/t

[Cha]

16. Thanks, madfloridian!

This tragedy is so frustrating and discouraging for us ..it's so comforting to hear from real people who care!

[madfloridian]

19. I can just imagine his simmering inside at the incompetence.

I think this was a sort of statement about who Bush was leaving behind there without food and water....sort of a signal that he knew what Bush was doing.

[Cha]

23. Yes! Dean would have handled

all this very differently..I'm still wrapping my mind around.. that we lost all those people and an historic, beautiful American City because of the greedy pnacers.

[WildEyedLiberal]

18. I applaud him for canceling his fundraisers...

... but seriously - "These are our people?" "New Orleans is a Democratic city"? Who gives a shit? They're human lives in distress. What about Mississippi and the lives destroyed there? Or are they not "our people"? That was a very inappropriate comment to make. This is a national tragedy, and this red state/blue state shit needs to stop. My heart goes out to every victim of Hurricane Katrina - red, blue, purple, and everything else.

[madfloridian]

20. Think about what you just said.

Think about what Dean said. Try to really look into his comments instead of jumping on with both feet. They were important comments.

[Cha]

24. "Who gives a shit?" Evidently the

bushwa Doesn't..and Dean does and so do we. No one the hell else is looking out for them..New Orleans is the city that's underwater and evacuated and some of them are dying in the dome.

Damn Straight they're our People!

[madfloridian]

27. You know what? Those ARE our people. Bush is leaving them to die.

That is what Howard Dean was saying. He was making the point without actually saying it. Jack Cafferty said about the same on CNN, only he had a luxury Dr. Dean did not have....he can call it like it is where Dean could only intimate. Your statement angers me because it showed a lack of perception. It seemed more geared to be a slam, perhaps because you don't care for Dean, perhaps directed at me....which matters not to me at all. You seemed not to understand his depth of sympathy at all. That is kind of sad. Or else it is perhaps because I posted it....don't care about that anymore.

"I have never ever seen anything as badly bungled and poorly handled as this situation in New Orleans. Where the hell is the water for these people? Why can't sandwiches be dropped to those people that are in that Superdome down there? I mean what is going -- this is Thursday. This is Thursday. This storm happened five days ago. It's a disgrace. And don't think the world isn't watching. This is the government the taxpayers are paying for, and it's fallen right flat on its face, as far as I can see, in the way it's handled this thing.

We're going to talk about something else before the show is over, too, and that's the big elephant in the room. The race and economic class of most of the victims, which the media hasn't discussed much at all, but we will a bit later."

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It could happen. And with a couple of days' notice, as you suggested, it was taking shape and drawing a bead on the city, and we knew it was coming. And yet, the poorest and the neediest and the most helpless of those in New Orleans, well, they're still there, aren't they? Despite the many angles of this tragedy -- and lord knows there've been a lot of them in New Orleans -- there is a great big elephant in the living room that the media seems content to ignore.

That would be until now. Slate.com's Jack Schafer wrote today in his column that television coverage has shied away from talking about race and class. Schafer says that we in the media are ignoring the fact that almost all of the victims in New Orleans are black and poor. And he's right. Almost every person we've seen, from the families stranded on their rooftops waiting to be rescued, to the looters, to the people holed up in the Superdome, are black and poor.

Many of them didn't follow the evacuation orders because they didn't have the means to get out of town. They just couldn't do it. A lot of them are sick, a lot of them don't have cars, a lot of them just didn't have the means to leave "The Big Easy." And they're still there.

So here's the question: What role have race and class played in the Gulf Coast crisis? You tell us. CaffertyFile -- one word -- CNN.com.

[WildEyedLiberal]

29. Oh please.

Of course I expected you to leap to Dean's defense. But YOU think about his comments - implying we should only care about New Orleans victims because they're "our people" - ie, traditional Democratic voters. I call bullshit on that. What about the people of Mississippi, or the poor white victims, many of whom probably voted for Bush? I feel every bit as torn about what happened to them. I am not splitting hairs or dividing my sympathy in this horrible tragedy. Dean's comments are exclusionary and appeal to political motives, and that's contemptible. We should care about helping the victims because they are people who have lost so much, not because they're our base or some ghoulish shit like that.

[madfloridian]

31. I leap to the defense of anyone when they are wronged.

If you don't have a clue what he meant, and you would rather "oh please" me...go ahead.

This is ridiculous for you to take it that way. So I guess you think Cafferty was bad, too, and a couple of others today?

It has been discussed in that way all over these boards. Did you jump in on other threads?

[WildEyedLiberal]

35. Cafferty's and Dean's comments are nothing alike

Of course it's a crime that the poor are suffering because they were too poor to leave. That's not political, is it? It's stating a fact. Why inject politics into it, why make it about Democrats or Republicans, like Dean did? That's just pandering and it's disgusting. One poster on DU tried to make this tragedy political too, claiming that she only wanted to donate to "progressive" victim funds, and I jumped on that callous bullshit too. Politicizing the victims is despicable. It's easier for you to dismiss my comments as some sort of personal vendetta against you, because that allows you to continue living in your universe where everything Dean says is always the perfect thing to say at any given time. You just CANNOT tolerate someone calling Dean on anything inappropriate that he says, and feel the need to take it personally if someone does. I'm sorry you feel this way, but Dean's comment was crass. How you manage to warp that into a personal attack is beyond me.

[madfloridian]

38. Well, you were the first to call it crass.

Then someone else popped in. Whenever I post a single word about something he said, several do this.

The hero crap has been done to death and is of another era. In fact, my friend, all one has to do is read the Kerry forum and there is not much room to speak of others hating criticism taking things personally.

Sorry, but it needed to be said.

And I feel so sorry for you that you think this is politicizing. Maybe it is time to do that.

You go right ahead, you don't bother me. I think most people here know I post carefully. I still Governor Dean should have been president, but now we know it won't happen anytime soon. I will continue to post, you will continue to try to make me appear worshipping, and the circle continues.

We have an advantage, those of us who supported Dean. We KNOW hs is not running, and we don't have to campaign anymore.

[WildEyedLiberal]

41. I think Dean makes an inappropriate statement, so now I'm campaigning

Okay, however your mind needs to bend this so as not to disrupt your perfect little world. And, my dear, I hate to tell YOU this, but everyone on this board knows you'd take a bullet for Howard Dean, such is your overwhelming devotion. You can pretend that it's impartial all you want. I'm criticizing a specific comment Dean made. People call Kerry a Skull and Bones coward. How do you see any congruity between my criticism and others' bashing? Believe me, I've accepted that not everyone on this board loves Kerry. You can't seem to accept that not everyone here loves Dean, or you accuse them of ulterior motives if they dare speak a word of criticism. I didn't attack Dean when he said we needed to remain in Iraq, though I questioned the hypocrisy of some of his supporters who so eagerly attacked other Dems for saying the exact same damn thing. Dean's comment was inappropriate. Period. I applauded his cancellation of his fundraisers, but his comment was out of line. I don't know why you can't accept that others might not accept every word out of his mouth as gospel from on high.

[madfloridian]

44. NO, everyone on this board does not think of me that way. Not at all.

That is just simply not true. They won't jump in here, but I know they are reading. Most here do NOT think that of me. Most here know I am fair, I only post fair things.

I do my research, and if I make a mistake I correct myself.

That is a talking point here..."everyone knows you'd take a bullet."

That is dead wrong, it is not true. It is bordering on a personal attack in some ways.

If you did not like his words, fine. Ok, I don't like Kerry's political correctness, and I think he lost the election by not standing up and speaking out loudly. I donated and we supported him in every way, but he did not speak out clearly.

NOW here's the difference. I don't say that to you. I can tell when I read the Kerry forums that you guys love your candidate, and I would not attack him at all as a rule.

But you started something, and I am going to make my point. With Howard Dean you don't get "political correctness." THANK GOD.

But the difference is that I don't go around saying that about Kerry. I think he would make a fine president, though.

I think Dean stated it well, and I usually back off by now. But I have been insulted again and I am getting tired of it.

[WildEyedLiberal]

51. Whatever you need to think to get you through the night n/t

[madfloridian]

54. That is funny.

That is kind of sad and funny. Go ahead, though.

[calimary]

49. Frankly, everyone and anyone who's shat on by this regime

in its lust for power, tax cuts for the rich, neglect for the poor, extinction for the middle class, and penny-wise/pound-foolish policies to save a buck in a rush to poor cheap-ass judgment just so they wind up paying a bundle later, and squander that money on a war they LIED us into, EVERYONE AND ANYONE on the butt-end of that, EVERYONE AND ANYONE who's shoved to the back and been forced to be satisfied with hind-tit, those ARE our people.

Once again, Dr. Dean hits one outta the ballpark. But then again he's a real, genuine, serious doctor, who admits for one thing that he doesn't make a diagnosis by watching a video.

[GRLMGC]

30. Oh God

People are dead and dying and Dean's comment, basically excluding other communities devastated, was troubling. I'm sure his heart is in the right place but at this point, its not just about who voted for whom and his comment sounds thoughtless. People on the Gulf Coast and the people of New Orleans are not getting the help they need. That's a disgrace and politics shouldn't play a role in it. The Federal Government is not helping ANYONE, not even its "people".

[madfloridian]

32. Go ahead. All of you want our Dems to speak out.

Dean does and you guys jump. This is stupid and non-productive. It makes me sick inside, and this issue has been discussed all over these forums....

I am sick of this.

[GRLMGC]

37. You are overdramatic

What like two people were uncomfortable with his wording? Everyone else is applauding what he said. I'm sorry if you didn't get the unanimity you wanted. Life doesn't work that way.

[madfloridian]

39. There you go.

I am uncomfortable with the way a lot of our Democrats word things. I was really insulted with the ones who said they would vote for the war all over again. There were 3 of those.

I think it is time to speak up. I think it is time to politicize. In fact the RNC talking points for the last two days have "Let's not politicize this when things are so bad..." And they call the radio shows, and thank God today our AAR hosts have jumped down their throats.

I am sick and tired of political correctness when people are dying in the streets.

And no matter what I post here about anything, it pretty soons turns into ugliness. Well, go for it.

[GRLMGC]

46. Ugh

I'm done with you. Your paranoia never ceases to amaze me.

[madfloridian]

48. You are done with me, oh my.

.

[EST]

42. In the interest of fairness, I have read and reread his

statement. While I can see how it might be misconstrued, my own reading said that he was talking about the entire gulf coast as opposed to, say, Iran.
Only then did he mention NO as a democratic city, where members of his staff have family, certainly of more significance than total strangers, no matter how enlightened one perceives oneself to be.

Maybe I'm parsing it too carefully so as to give Dean a more than even break, but, in light of his established record of caring for people, no matter color or social standing, I think it's fair. By the way, I do admire your dedication to fairness-I am not so sure I could be so sanguine, given that, if booshboy were the one desperately needing rescue, I would be hard pressed to put him very high on my list.

[WildEyedLiberal]

47. I just have friends in Mississippi and that comment really bothered me

Of course I care about the New Orleans victims, very much so. But Mississippi is suffering greatly too. Biloxi and Gulfport are pretty much gone. I don't care that those are red areas; the human tragedy is horrific and there are so many good people, Democrats and Republicans, who are suffering. I just hate comments like that that seem to disregard the suffering of one group of people because they aren't "our people", who are not traditional Democratic voters, as if we should then care less. And of course not every area is 100% red or 100% blue. My MS friend is a Dem. I just think, at the least, Dean's comment is careless and gives the appearance that we should care about NO victims because they are our base or something, and I think that's crass. I hope that's not how he means it, and he should amend his statement then. But I am glad you understand my concern and aren't jumping down my throat.

[madfloridian]

53. Well, that is the difference.

Those of us who supported Dean in the primaries appreciated straight talk, and it was usually his own party that jumped down his throat.

Remember the statement about Saddam and the world not being safer? Guess who said he was not fit to be president when he said that.

Here is the difference, I read his statement as one filled with anger that those people were being treated so horribly, and one that was filled with kindness toward them....and anger toward Bush who is exploiting them.

This deal between you and me has happened so much here. Then it carries over to veiled comments in the Kerry group or to Light up the Darkness. See, I usually know when folks are talking about me. It does not really matter anymore.

I gained a lot of courage the last years during the campaign. I try to speak clearly, I try to be fair. But I will stand my ground. I have seen many of my friends gone from here. I got stubborn and stayed. I have no illusions here that many do not like my stances, but most do respect me and do not call it idolatry. Only a few do that now, and I have their number.

A lot of us know how hard it is going to be in the party now...the time is coming soon when we will either unite or split into varied factions. There will be the outspoken politically incorrect faction and the "shhhhh...be careful what you say" faction.

I know where I will be. You go ahead and say what you need to say to feel better. I can take it.

[Dudley_DUright]

21. meanwhile RNC chair Mehlman

is sending out urgent e-mails about repealing the "death tax". Republican values on parade. :puke:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_08_28.php#006382

[ShockediSay]

25. The real death tax

The real death tax is our current leadership.

[mzmolly]

26. Nominated again. A leader in our midst. I am so thankful for Dr. Dean.

eom

[DinahMoeHum]

28. Thank you, Dr. Dean !! Nominated !

:kick:

[mtnsnake]

33. Imagine if Dean was president during this crisis instead of BumbleFucker

He'd be taking charge and getting on TV with some REAL messages and making the country feel better about the future. But no, we're stuck with a total imbecile who has no empathy whatsoever and simply doesn't give a rat's ass.

[madfloridian]

34. The damn responses on this thread are why our Dems don't speak out.

Everytime a Democratic speaks out all the others who are still in love from the primaries jump in and attack.

It is the same ones who flock to any thread I post, and I don't frankly care if this post gets alerts.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. Cafferty said it, Aaron Brown implied it......

Are you two attacking them as well? Go for it, guys. Let it all hang out.

[WildEyedLiberal]

36. Way to miss the point

Dean made it political by talking about New Orleans being a blue city, as if this should affect our compassion for them. Which is not what Cafferty or Brown said. Repeat after me: politicizing a national tragedy is bad. It's bad when Republicans do it, and it's bad when Democrats do it too. But it makes you feel better to accuse me of fighting the primaries and blindly hating Dean, so go for it :eyes:

[madfloridian]

40. Go read your Kerry forum, then get back to me.

Read the older threads in Light up the Darkness. I don't mind criticism when it is fair, but there are several who are not.

Go ahead. Feel comfortable.

[WildEyedLiberal]

43. You absolutely mind all criticism and don't act like you don't

And I can't speak for all Kerry supporters, or for that matter, Clark supporters, or anyone else supporters, or other people who for whatever reason don't think Dean is anointed by God.

Imagine if a Republican said that we should help Biloxi because "it's a red city, and those are our people," while avoiding all mention of New Orleans. Would you be pissed? I would. Why shouldn't I be pissed if the same amount of insensitivity is displayed on our side?

You keep bringing up Kerry as a red herring because you cannot admit that what Dean said is rather callous to those victims (and there are many) in Mississippi and Alabama. You do realize that Biloxi and Gulfport are rubble and hundreds are dead, don't you? I have fucking friends in that area. But they don't matter, since they're not "our people," I guess. Fuck that. Make this about the primaries if you want. Politicize it if you want. I think that's ghoulish and despicable, but have it your own way. Maybe you want to offer compassion and aid to only Democratic victims. I don't, and I'm done with this conversation and done with someone who would bend over backwards to justify crass political pandering in a time of need.

[madfloridian]

45. Well, perhaps your friends should turn to Bush.

Who is taking care of them so well. Sorry you don't like me, but I already knew that, and I simply don't care anymore.

[WildEyedLiberal]

50. Now I'm a freeper and like Bush because I disagree with your POV

Everything's about you, isn't it?

[madfloridian]

55. No, it's about your telling me it is about me. Done to death.

Heard it often, usually from a few.

[ComerPerro]

52. Its a nice gesture, but this is why we get our asses kicked

because we take the high road.

Hell, Bush was still fundraising after the damage hit!

And, despite what people here want to believe, he won't hurt from doing so. He will come out of this disaster with a bounce.

[madfloridian]

56. Did you realize what was coming next week?

In Phoenix? There was a lot that was going to go on and maybe it is best to wait.

I don't know the others who have family missing, but Donna Brazile is one, I think.

[madfloridian]

57. This has most definitely been an interesting thread.

Filled with things that the board has been talking about all day, things the news anchors have dared mention. Things my neighbors are saying finally. My chiropractor said today when I first walked in..."hey, Bush is playing the race card and letting people die."

So it is indicative here at DU that none of the posts about it really drew ire, but this one where Dean only implied did set some off.

Very interesting. Kind of not a good indicative for a party that needs to fight.

The Phoenix meeting was to do a lot of things, like an agenda for the party...which the DLC has decided it is going to do by itself. I think the primary changes were to be discussed as well. Maybe it is best to wait on that.

So I do see a pattern.

[TreasonousBastard]

58. Locking...

the mind continues to boggle at what can turn into a flamewar here.