Leaders: Dean Tried to Appoint Minorities

Mercury News ^ | 1/12/04 | Ross Sneyd

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

During more than a decade as Vermont governor, Howard Dean did not appoint any blacks or Hispanics to his Cabinet, but minority leaders say it was not for lack of trying in the nearly all-white state.

None of Dean's five cabinet secretaries or top commissioners was Hispanic or black during the more than 11 years he served in office, as he was forced to concede during a Democratic presidential debate Sunday.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Leaders: Dean Clinton Tried to Appoint Minorities

[Brett66]

I know Howard Dean and I believe he is on very firm ground in the sense of civil rights," McCrorey said. "He understands justice.

Oh yes, he understands the secret code words of his fellow travellers.

[PhiKapMom]

He is getting near using "vast right wing conspiracy" since they used the fact Vermont is nearly an all-white State.

Unbelieveable the spin that comes out of Dean's people!

[albee]

Oh, c'mon...give me a break!

ELEVEN (count 'em 11) years as Governor and he couldn't find ONE (1) Black for his Executive Team???

Howard The Coward now becomes Howard The Incompetant!

[CrazyIvan]

Maybe all he could find were competent conservative minorities.

[lizma]

I think this guy is a Marxist lunatic but to hire one of the 2% black people in his state even if they weren't the best for the job and just because they were black would have been racist.

Not to have a better reply to Sharpton's accusations then "No" was just plain stupid. He could have at least inquired about Al's incitement of racism and the violence that followed. We're talkin real entertainment there.

[T Lady]

Perhaps the reason Dean couldn't appoint many Blacks during his tenure is not too many Blacks reside in Vermont.
Heck, New Jersey was cold enough for me...that's why I now live on the West Coast. After growing up, snow and winter lost all their appeal.

...On a more serious note, the Democrats are just burned up with jealousy because the minorities REPUBLICAN President George W. Bush appointed to his cabinet are COMPETENT and suited to do their jobs, not just window dressing. If they were looking at the person's credentials instead of what they looked like, perhaps they'd get somewhere.

-Regards, T.

[Teacher317]

I think this guy is a Marxist lunatic but to hire one of the 2% black people in his state even if they weren't the best for the job and just because they were black would have been racist.

Ahh, but that's what makes this sooo fun! The Dems are destroying their own (and their best shot against GWB), and are using their own typical racist tactics to do so. What makes it even better is that Dean has no choice but to defend himself with their rhetoric, rather than "right-wing" logic like "best person for the job is far more important", and is summarily rendered impotent. I gotta go pop more popcorn!

[Jumper]

This discussion on race appointments lays bare the thin veil of disguesting Black Politics in America today in which the charge of Racism is haughty. Vermont has such a low percentage of people to start with and withing that population of about a half million only two percent are black.... Governor Dean has not "managed" or lead as many people in his state as do dozens of City Mayors. Heck, I'll be some corporations have more people on the payroll than Vermont.

[edsheppa]

Bush's fault.

[Husker24]

If he had any balls he just would have said, look my state is 98% white, if I had one minority on the cabinet then minorities would have been over represented.

[lizma]

You are so right.

The fact that this guy didn't hire a Joycelyn Elders to be front and center, insignificant and token, was a big faux paux for a left self-indulgent, all we need is more peace and more bright florals, where every child needs something and it will be takin care of, and I'll save the the world by controling it kinda guy.

I'm gonna be heading out for a snickle of cheesecake.