Dean Campaign Spent $7,000 on Chocolates

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Associated Press

February 4, 2004, 11:05 AM EST


WASHINGTON -- Forrest Gump remarked in the eponymously named 1994 movie that "life is like a box of chocolates -- you never know what you're gonna get." Former Democratic front-runner Howard Dean might say the same.

Dean's presidential campaign spent at least $6,779 last year at Lake Champlain Chocolates, a premium truffle maker in Dean's home state of Vermont, on thank-you gifts for hosts of major fund-raising events. The Burlington-based chocolatier's specialties include the "Chocolates of Vermont," a box with a different bonbon for each season.

Dean outpaced his Democratic rivals in 2003, raising a record $41 million and spent nearly $32 million. But so far this year, the White House hopeful has faltered in the primary race, winning none of the nine states that have voted.

Campaign finance reports for 2003 show the chocolate purchases were part of at least $281,000 in spending described by the campaign as "paraphernalia." Other spending in that category included $2,772 at Kentucky's Louisville Slugger Museum and $691 at the Cabot Creamery, a stop on the Vermont Cheese Trail.

more: http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-brf-dean-chocolates,0,3140424.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[SCDem]

1. This was discussed at nauseum yesterday

let it go

[vi5]

2. Now this is just plain silly....

I'm sure every campaign has spent $7 grand on thank you gifts or things for supporters. Just because they spent it all in one spot is not indicative of anything other than supporting a local business they like.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[trogdor]

4. I agree.

$7000 worth of Snickers bars would barely fill the rear end of a minivan, and they'd be gone in the blink of an eye. This is stupid.

[maddezmom]

3. old news and a dupe

[Cooley Hurd]

5. Earth tones, anyone?

Those who doubt that Dean is being "Gore-d" by the media, this is a PERFECT example of how our media takes a non-story and tries to make it a story...

Our media is utterly irresponsible... :grr:

[papau]

6. Cheese - or Chocolate - either equates to Bush's drugs and alcohol

so we must not talk about Bush

and we must only discuss how Dems that do not want to do what Bush is doing, do not "have a plan for the future"

at least per Rove and our media!

:-)

[liberalnurse]

7. So, none of the other candidates have class?

It appears the post message is to insult Dean.....well, it only convinces me that voting for the other democratic candidates is not an option.

I despise the Dean attacks so much that I'd accept *bush for 4 more years than being abused by the others. At least with *bush, we know what he's about and reasonable democrats can regroup to defend ourselves against our inside party bashes....Somethin I was not expecting.... These hateful messages only cause tension.... I am sick of the hate by other democrats.

[Moderator]

8. Dupe

Please continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=267394

Thanks,
DU Moderator