RSSVP Cheney; Dean Has Never Won Anything
Yesterday, Vice President Cheney basically called Howard Dean a horse’s a$$. Wait a minute I can’t use dollar signs after the amount of money that Dean has raised as compared to counterpart, Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman. Howard Dean has made his Chairmanship all about himself instead of about the Democratic party. Dean wants to use the excuse that Republicans are trying to distract from the real issues. Howard, YOU ARE THE DISTRACTION! In a verbal tapestry of political drive by insults, VP Cheney let Dean have it.
Howard Dean is “over the top,” Vice President Dick Cheney says, calling the Democrats’ chairman “not the kind of individual you want to have representing your political party.”
“I’ve never been able to understand his appeal. Maybe his mother loved him, but I’ve never met anybody who does. He’s never won anything, as best I can tell,” Cheney said in an interview to be aired Monday on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes.”
I guess we know for Dick Cheney stands on the Green Mountain state of VT. No maple syrup for you Mr. Vice President.
“So far, I think he’s probably helped us more than he has them,” Cheney said in the interview taped Friday. “That’s not the kind of individual you want to have representing your political party.
The vice president added: “I really think Howard Dean’s over the top. And more important … I think many of his fellow Democrats feel the same way.”
As much as the Democrats want to look the other way, Dean is a liability to the party. And why shouldn’t he be? Dean is really a Carl Rove mole.
Dean Defends Dean; Democratic Unity
After making more ridiculous comments, Howard Dean refuses to back down. Dean has decided to defend himself against against Republicans by saying,
Republican critics were trying to divert attention from their own failures.
However, Dr. Dean that explains Republicans but what about your own party?
Democratic Party boss Howard Dean, under fire for blunt comments about Republicans, refused to back down on Wednesday and said Republican critics were trying to divert attention from their own failures.
Republicans attacked Dean for saying in San Francisco on Monday, when asked about the lack of outreach to minorities by political parties, that Republicans are “pretty much a white, Christian party.”
Republicans accused Dean of trying to divide Americans by religion and faith. Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia called the comments “Howard Dean’s games of division and hate.” House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s spokesman, Ron Bonjean, said “Dean likes the taste of his own foot.”
Even Democrats grumbled about Dean’s judgment and choice of words.
To be honest it would appear more that Howard Dean is dividing the Democratic Party as well. Go to it Howie, keep on talking. Let the Democratic Civil War begin.
After that, Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware said Dean did not speak for him or a majority of Democrats, and Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and former vice presidential nominee John Edwards also distanced themselves from Dean. All are potential 2008 presidential contenders.
With Democrats gaining strength in public opinion polls and winning some battles on Capitol Hill, party officials hoped to concentrate on their policy agenda and not spend time defending Dean, who will appear before Senate Democrats at a private luncheon on Thursday and the Democratic National Committee’s executive committee on Saturday.
“Did he make a mistake with these comments? Absolutely,” Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut told CNN on Wednesday. “Howard is doing a good job … he could have chosen better words.”
Now it appears that because the division is beginning to occur in a public way, The Democratic Party is going to show a pseudo show of unity that frankly no one is buying. Damage control is now in effect for the Dem’s.
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.”
Some leading Democrats and major donors are concerned that Dean is jeopardizing the party’s ability to reach beyond its traditional base to win close elections, particularly for the White House. Dean has repeatedly said his goal is to build the party’s ranks not only in Democratic-dominated states, but also in culturally conservative regions where Republicans usually prevail.
Most of the criticism of Dean has come from prospective presidential candidates in 2008, such as Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, who said Dean does not speak for the majority of Democrats, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who said Dean is not the spokesman for the Democratic Party.
”Time will tell” whether Dean has undercut his standing, said Harold Ickes, a longtime Clinton adviser who supported Dean’s bid for DNC chairman. ”There are people who are unhappy about it and think his comments are less than helpful. Some of his comments will reinforce the view that he sometimes talks before he really thinks through the implications.”
Dean Defends Deanism and Puts Other Foot in Mouth
After putting his foot in his mouth in San Francisco the other day by making more inflammatory comments toward Republicans. Howard Dean went on TV today and defended those same comments and put his other foot in his mouth as well. Dean defended his recent harsh criticism of Republicans, including his observation that they are “pretty much a white, Christian party.”
Howard Dean, the master of diversity has managed to pretty much annoy everyone lately including those in his own party. Howard Dean, the ex-Governor of VT in lily-white bread New England is supposed to be telling others about diversity? But when it comes to Dean and his mouth it just doesn’t stop running.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean on Wednesday defended his recent harsh criticism of Republicans, including his observation that they are “pretty much a white, Christian party.”
Dean noted that he, too, is a white Christian. But he said the GOP is too narrow in its scope and the Democratic Party is far more diverse.
While even prominent Democrats in recent days have distanced themselves from some of his comments, the outspoken Dean, appearing on NBC”s “Today” show, said criticism of him is meant by Republicans to divert attention from the country’s problems and make him the issue instead.
Video of Dean on NBC Today provided by Trey Jackson
Does one ever wonder about the theory when one talks so much about another that they must really be describing themselves? Howard Dean calling others not friendly? Howard, have you heard yourself talk lately? If you have not, courtesy of Lilly & Vince via OTB comes many of Dean’s Hall of Deanisms. This must be seen and heard.
Dean told a forum of journalists and minority leaders Monday 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.”
Challenged on that during the NBC interview, Dean said “unfortunately, by and large it is. And they have the agenda of the conservative Christians.”
“This is a diversion from the issues that really matter: Social Security, and adequate job opportunity, strong public schools, a strong defense,” Dean said.
Asked about it on the “Fox & Friends” show, GOP Party Chairman Ken Mehlman joked that “a lot of folks who attended my Bar Mitzvah would be surprised” he heads a Christian party
Others that are mystified at Dean’s actions.
John Hawkins of the Right Wing News wonders whether it may be Mad How Disease.
La Shawn Barber, Its not the Republicans that are embarrassed by Dean
Recent Post: Howard Dean; The Mean Machine
Quote of the Day – Wednesday, June 8th. 2005
Yes, you heard that right. Howard Dean is accusing Republicans of being white. We most assuredly are not jiving you: Howard Dean–scion of Park Avenue, former governor of Vermont, a state that is 96.8% people of pallor–is faulting Republicans for being white, even though he himself is whiter than an albino polar bear with dandruff.
James Taranto in the Opinion Journal’s Best of the Web
Howard Dean; The Mean Machine
Howard Dean opened up his mouth again in San Fransisco and Democratic Party loyalist must have been cringing again. How this is the face & voice that Democrats want representing them is a mystery to me. Did Dem’s not learn in 2004 that “mean” does not win? Just keep talking Howard. By the way, where do I send that thank you note to the DNC? Would you want this man running your party?
Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, unapologetic in the face of recent criticism that he has been too tough on his political opposition, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans are “a pretty monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It’s pretty much a white Christian party.”
Ahh Howard, ever take a look at your staff when you were Governor of Vermont? You were just Mr. Rainbow Coalition. Let’s not forget this exchange between Al Sharpton and Dean during the Democratic Primaries, the Captain’s Quarter’s hasn’t.
“The Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people,” Dean said Monday, responding to a question about diversity during a forum with minority leaders and journalists. “We’re more welcoming to different folks, because that’s the type of people we are. But that’s not enough. We do have to deliver on things: jobs and housing and business opportunities.”
Forgive me I just spit my drink all over my monitor. Because Dean is just Mr. Warm and Fuzzy. The Democrats seriously elected this guy Party Chair? Who would have thought the Dems would long for the days of Terri McAuliffe?
Listen here to the musings of Howard “I am so friendly you idiots” Dean. Its worth the listen. It is truly amazing to hear him talk about Republicans. The Republican 2006 & 2008 ad machine is already running tape.
The comments are another example of why the former Vermont governor, who remains popular with the party’s grassroots, has been a lightning rod for criticism since being elected to head the Democratic National Committee last February. His comments last week that Republicans “never made an honest living in their lives,” which he later clarified to say Republican “leaders,” were disavowed by leading Democrats including Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Dean was outspoken — as usual — as he trolled California this week, stoking his party’s coffers, and meeting with grass-roots activists. His San Francisco visit was at the tail end of a cross-country road trip, and Dean said that he will continue to pound the pavement — and the GOP — to get the Democratic message across to new voters, particularly in minority communities.
But Dean’s style and rhetoric have sparked increasing criticism from inside the Democratic Party in recent weeks — and gleeful Republicans say they couldn’t be happier.
Glad to see I am not alone in my thinking. Howard Dean is the best thing for the Republican Party since Bill Clinton. I really need that Democratic address for that thank you note. Looks like Michelle Malkin has that address for me along with a fine post referencing Susan Estrich with some not too kind words for Dr. Dean.
“Where do I sign up on a committee to keep Howard Dean?” crowed GOP operative Jon Fleischmann, publisher of the FlashReport, a daily roundup of California political news and commentary. “He’s the best thing to happen to the GOP in ages.”
“I’m thrilled he’s the DNC chair,” says Tom Del Becarro, chairman of the Contra Costa County Republican Party. “Howard Dean is scaring away the middle. People don’t like angry people. They like hopeful people.”
I just wonder when his own party is going to get sick of his antics. Obviously over the weekend, Biden and John Edwards were not too impressed. As the Moderate Voice says,
“this kind of comment basically stereotypes a whole party which again is what partisans may believe but the DNC party chair’s job isn’t to just appeal to partisans. He is supposed to help BUILD the party. And that means adding to its numbers, not just reinforcing what’s there”.
“Dean is preaching to the choir — and scaring away part of his audience”.
