Milwaukee paper goes after Dean

[sybylla]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/jun05/332807.asp

Editorial: Insults, Dems and Dean
From the Journal Sentinel
Posted: June 10, 2005

Let it be readily acknowledged that politicians - Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Flat Earth Society, you name it - are creatures of overstatement. You could even argue that extravagant promises and other outlandish statements are central (if lamentable) ingredients of political discourse in this country.

Nevertheless, Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has been crossing a line recently, entering territory that no respectable politician should inhabit.

Earlier this week, Dean told an audience that Republicans are "not very friendly to different kinds of people. They are a pretty monolithic party. . . . it's pretty much a white, Christian party."

So Republicans are unfriendly to people, and this is maybe linked to being white and Christian? What "different kinds of people"? Gays, minorities? Republicans all look and act alike? If these aren't comments for which the term broad brush was coined, we don't know what is.

<snip>

Like every other reichwing press, they have taken Dean's remarks out of context. I thought maybe a DUer or two might be inclined to set the record straight in a LTTE to the UrnialSentinel.

[merwin]

1. Their words and actions speak for themselves. They enact laws that

hurt gays, minorities, non-christians, etc. Just because every couple months they pander to some minority groups doesn't mean that they give a shit.

[ewagner]

2. I'm surprised actually

this is extremely harsh even for the Milwaukee urinal......

[rodeodance]

3. i used to read the m. journal before it merged with

the Sentinel years ago. Now it is hopelessly Right leaning!!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. Respond!

Send them an e-mail explaining why Democrats support Howard Dean and what he's doing.

I send a polite letter, saying that my message wasn't for publication, but merely a clarification (I referenced Dick Cheney's "Go Fuck Yourself" incident, so clearly I couldn't be published). I went on to point out the smears against Max Cleland, Newt Gingrich's entire career, and Rush Limbaugh's "White House Dog" comment about Chelsea Clinton. I then asked why they think Democrats should be treating Republicans with kid gloves, compared to what we've been subjected to over the years.

Take a minute and push back! Let them know that Democrats aren't putting up with shit from the Republicans, and we aren't putting up with shit from the media!

[AllyCat]

5. Ooohhh! Good ammo Jeff!

I had forgotten about a couple of those. Thanks for the reminder when talking to DLC supporters in my area.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. In a dangerous world...

People aren't going to trust a party to defend America if they're not going to defend themselves.

[RetroLounge]

7. Here is my letter to the journal

Howard Dean speaks for me. Howard Dean speaks for my wife. Howard Dean speaks for most of my friends also. He speaks for America, unlike you. Howard Dean has backbone, and the last thing anyone needs to hear is more media whoredom from the likes of you. He scares republicans, and he scares you. He owes no one an apology, but you do.

The republicans are 85% white christian. So where was Dean wrong?

Where was your article as the Clintons were attacked and Chelsea was referred to as a white house dog? Where was your article when Dick Cheney called a reporter a major league asshole, and told a US senator to Fuck off in senate chambers? Where is your call for the Swift Boat Liars to apologize for smearing an honored vet and american hero John Kerry? Where is your denunciation of Rush Limbaugh, Mark Belling, Sykes, Wagner, Hannity, O'Reilly, and all the other right-wing hate talkers? Where is your denunciation of Ann Coulter who wanted liberals killed, and opined that she was sad that McVeigh did not bomb the NY Times?

Perhaps Dean hits a bit close to home for you. Well, good. Because Democrats will not take the bullshit anymore, and my subscription to your so-called paper hangs by a thin thread already.

So maybe you should pull your editorial noses out of George Bush's ass and start doing some real reporting. You can begin with the Downing Street Minutes, the lies about WMD's, and the Diebold Voting scams.

But of course, that would be too much like reporting for you.

RL

[ewagner]

8. Give me some feedback on mine please

Here 'tis:

I have to disagree with your Sunday editorial in which you stated that Dr. Howard is not serving his party well. I disagree on a number of points and find it ironic that your editorial reference Newt Gingrich.

Newt invented the politics of hate. I remember a quote from him to the National Young Republicans Club Convention where he told them that the only mistake the Republican leaders had made (when teaching Young Republicans) was that they”… didn’t teach them to be mean enough…”

For years, the Democrats have tried to remain above the fray and we have listened to Democratic leader after leader tells us not to “lower ourselves to their level”. We let the press give Vice President Cheney a free pass on his famous “Go ____ yourself comment” to Senator Patrick Leahy. We sat silently while the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity and others called Liberals “Traitors”. We let the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” spread outrageous lies about our Presidential candidate. We let Ann Coulter say publicly that we should execute a few prisoners so that liberals would learn “...that they could be killed too.”

If you haven’t been in contact with a lot of active Democrats recently, you probably don’t know that we’re not going to take Republican attacks passively anymore. We’re tired of being villanized. We’re tired of having our patriotism questioned, and, most importantly, we’re tired of leadership that won’t tell it like it is and stand up and fight back.

You might also be interested to know that when CNN tried to criticize Dr. Dean, their research turned up an interesting fact that 84% of the Republicans are indeed white and are self-described as “Christian”. Dr. Dean was right. He was also right about the invasion of Iraq. So what, exactly is he wrong about?

on edit: here's the original link: http://www.wisinfo.com/newsherald/mnhopinion/284094920638122.shtml

[RetroLounge]

9. Very good!

Nice LTTE...

:hi:

I like that we are hammering home the 84% number.

RL

[ewagner]

10. Yeah, it IS

sort of fun to point that out.......

[sybylla]

12. Nice one, ewag

If that whore, Berger, prints it, I'll share it with every Dem I know in the tri-county area.

Just watch out for that plagiarism charge he's sure to level at you if you keep hitting so close to home.

[sybylla]

11. Woo Hoo, that's hot!

Well done, RL!

If they have the guts to print it, I'll buy ten copies.