Posted on 06/08/2005 7:25:18 AM PDT by Red Badger
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.
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.
"We gotta get ourselves beyond this point where when we disagree about politics, we call the other guy names," he said.
The former Vermont governor also recently raised eyebrows when he told a group of progressives that Republicans "never made an honest living in their lives," a comment he was forced to explain a day later. The one-time presidential candidate also said that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who has not been accused of any crime, ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence.
Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Tuesday that Dean is doing a good job, but is not the party's spokesman.
Last weekend, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and 2004 vice presidential candidate John Edwards criticized Dean for his recent remarks, saying he doesn't speak for them.
Biden, asked about Dean Wednesday during an interview on the Don Imus radio show, also said the chairman is doing a good job.
"A lot of things he does say, I agree with," Biden said. But he also said that Dean "has views that are slightly different than mine .. .But look, he's a lightning rod. ... It's probably good that there's a guy out there that's a lightning rod ... ."
Biden, however, added that he thinks "the rhetoric is counterproductive."
"I think this country has a purple heart, not a red heart or a blue heart," Biden said. "If we can't bring this (country) together, man, boy, we're really in deep trouble."
AP-ES-06-08-05 0848EDT
Sounds like a case of the snow calling the paper white.
yep . lemme see. Colin Powell, Condi Rice. white christians all.
"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."
No, actually, its to get you to STFU.
Vietnam veteran John "Vietnam" Kerry was in Vietnam when he earned three purple hearts in Vietnam during the Vietnam war.
Howard Dean, manna from heaven!!! :-)
This guy is a riot!
GOP Ken Mehlman said "I think the folks who attended my Bar Mitzvah will be surprised"
hee hee
---"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."---
Hee, hee, hee.
another gift from God.......
------
What some say about the average IQ of the American citizen is true. That it is amazingly low, for the most "developed" country on the face of the earth....that is the only explanation I can find for the continued existence of the far-left radicals which hi-jacked the Dem party decades ago.
Keep at it Deany. You are the poster boy for the American patriot!!
I realize that his idiocy is political treasure for the GOP, but I've gotten to the point where I just can't stand Howard Dean.
best thing the GOP can do is to let this clown keep running his piehole
What amazes and thrills me is how well, how perfectly Howard Dean articulates the Democrat message.
Let's see. Its the Dems that say Social Security is just fine, their only idea to create jobs is to traise taxes, the Dems idea of furthering education is to cave into every demand of the teacher unions, and they are the party that votes against every defense measure and believers in appeasment.
I think Howie needs to give some thought to his priorities.
Kooks, wackos, perverts, criminals, psychotics, junkies, illegals, con-men, mafia, grifters, snake-oil dealers, drug dealers, Hollyweirds, Soros sycophants, apologizers, appeasers, weaklings, feminists, abortionists,...
Yep, the cream o' the crop of society fills the Democrat party.
You will never see Mehlman and Dean together on the same show at the same time. The contrast is too stark...unless, of course, Dean's ego gets in the way.
Also, notice how the Dems who criticized Dean are now backing off; their more honest responses came when caught off guard with the questions about him. Next came the warning from Eli Presser or some other MoveOn kook, and voila! we now have Biden and others taking a softer stance.
I meant to add this onto my previous post. Excellent comment from Mehlman. LOL!
Pffft. Do all that while serving in Vietnam, then maybe I'll be impressed.
Physician, heal thyself---of foot-in-mouth disease.
Howie's a hoot!
Thank you, thank you Dimokrats for this risible entertainment . . .
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