Presidential hopeful once again sparks controversy

The Register-Herald (Beckley, WV) ^ | 12-12-2003 | Mannix Porterfield

[countrydummy]

There you go again, Ho-ward.

For the second time in as many months, Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean has sparked a controversy, this time with a veiled dig at Southerners.

In an interview Thursday with Katie Couric on "The Today Show," he took a poke at southerners in general, and Republicans in particular.

"(Republicans) used issues like guns, prayer in school, gay rights, abortion rights - all these divisive issues," Dean told his television interviewer.

"What I'm going to say to voters everywhere, but particularly Southern voters is, 'Look, we're going to have to disagree on some of these issues.'"

Only a month ago, Dean angered many within his own party by suggesting Democrats start appealing to Southern voters who ride around in pick-up trucks displaying the Confederate flag.

In Charleston, state Republican Chairman Kris Warner said Dean's latest outburst proves he cannot resonate with West Virginia voters on a number of issues.

"Howard Dean continues to show he is completely out of step with the values and beliefs of West Virginians and disagrees with them on many issues," Warner said.

- E-mail: mporterfield@register-herald.com

[countrydummy]

This man has no functioning brain cells!

[countrydummy]

ping!

[gundog]

I may register as a Democrat just so I can vote for him in the primary. Gawd, what a dope.

[countrydummy]

lol, this man thinks he is some kind of cavilier!

[Semper Paratus]

Dean is a runaway locomotive whose going to blow through Boston next summer and then find out too late that a bridge is missing.

[bagman]

As a displaced Southron, I am grateful to Mr Dean for condescending to point out to me just how hopelessly stupid I really am.

It is wonderful that we have such brilliant individuals who are so willing to sacrifice their leisure time to give guidance to those of us who obviously don't know anything and are simply led around by the nose by any scheming demagogue.

[shhrubbery!]

I love it when these smug elitist Dims, who think they're so smart, shoot themselves in the foot.

There's a long history of them -- Adlai Stevenson, George McGovern, Michael Dukakis. LOSERS, big time.

Watch Howard Dean go down in flames just like all the rest.

[WSGilcrest]

This man has no f***ing brain cells!

John F. Kerry

[Joe Boucher]

How many abortions have you preformed there Howie? You did work as a dock for planned partnthood affter all.
And how about gay rights there howie? just because you say we should ignore your support for same sex marriage we shouldn't get on you for it?
Gun rights? oh yeah you profess to back limited gun ownership. I doubt it.
And your wife is as ugly a broad as I have ever seen.
Idiot.

[HEY4QDEMS]

[kimoajax]

Yes, but what is he smiling about? Bush is accused of having a sort of smirk, but Dean's appears to be something else. Not a smirk, but what? I can't quite put my finger on it.

Reminds me of the smile I remember seeing on the face of prep boys when they get recongnized for some accomplishment in front of their class.

[countrydummy]

lol lol

[Ramcat]

"I may register as a Democrat just so I can vote for him in the primary."

Gundog, not a bad idea. I'm thinking the same thing.

[mtbopfuyn]

In TX we only have a dimwit primary so it's always a toss up whether to vote for the most horrendous candidate or the lesser of evils. The longer this Dean/Gore fiasco continues, the more it looks like we'll have to endure 4 more years of Shrillary on the campaign book signing tour.

[countrydummy]

lol lol!!!!

[samtheman]

"(Republicans) used issues like guns, prayer in school, gay rights, abortion rights - all these divisive issues," Dean told his television interviewer.

So nobody actually has any beliefs on these issues. We just use them as dividing lines.

The guy is a mental midget of infinitesmal proportions.

[countrydummy]

Oh, but we are all right wingers because we believe in morals and such.....he is an triple a**! He has fried his bacon here for sure! He burnt it!

[gundog]

I can't quite put my finger on it.

Just a finger? Why not a fist?

[Vermonter]

Not a smirk, but what? I can't quite put my finger on it.

It's an 'I dare you to knock this chip off my shoulder' attitude.

He's particularly aggressive when confronting someone. Have you seen him in the debates when someone challenges him?

[kesg]

These comments, as dumb as they are, still pale in comparison to his earlier comments that if we capture Osama Bin Laden, he is indifferent to whether an American court or an international court puts him on trial. Maybe Dean doesn't care, but a heck of a lot of Americans care. If Dubya runs the relevant clip from the Hardball interview, it's all over. Even in places like New York. Well, especially in New York.

I'm usually cautiously pessimistic about Republicans' chances in elections (slightly less so than I used to be), but Dean is roadkill. I can't believe that the Rats are serious about nominating this guy. Good!