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Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean's recent comments calling on groups in the religious community "to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics" drew the ire of a Catholic-based advocacy group on Friday. Dean's remarks were made during an interview with the Christian Science Monitor on Wednesday. "Howard Dean's statement makes it clear that he wants to muzzle America's churches and religious groups from professing what they believe on important issues facing our society," said Joseph Cella, president of Fidelis, a Catholic-based advocacy organization. "When it comes to debates over public policy and issues, Dean...

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, toured a house on Friday that the Hurricane Katrina floods wrecked, picking up debris, lamenting the federal response and leaving little doubt of the powerful symbolism his party sees in the ruined neighborhoods here. As Mr. Dean's well-covered hurricane-cleanup mission suggested, New Orleans may well become for Democrats in 2006 and 2008 what New York was for Republicans after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, an evocative metaphor rooted in tragedy that can potentially be turned to electoral advantage. Where Republicans looked to the imagery of a battered but resilient New York to...

April 21, 1006 — In one of those odd political moments that combine a poignant message with somewhat opportunistic maneuvering, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean took part in a cleanup effort in flood-ravaged New Orleans and used the moment to take a shot at the Republicans. In his first post-Katrina visit to the Crescent City, Dean helped Acorn, a nonprofit community group that works with low-income families, to clean out Vincent Cooper's flood-damaged home on Derbigny Street in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. "I don't want to be partisan at a time like this, but this is...

Standing beside rusted-out cars and soggy mounds of debris, Democratic chairman Howard Dean criticized the Bush administration's post-hurricane recovery effort and predicted voters would remember its "incredible failure." "This is a searing, burning issue," Dean said. "I think it's going to cost George Bush his legacy and it's going to cost the Republicans the House and maybe the Senate, and maybe very well the presidency in the next election." In turn, Republicans accused Dean and his party of playing election-year politics with a tragedy. "It's shameful that Democrats are so eager to exploit this national crisis that they revert to...

NEW ORLEANS -- Standing beside rusted-out cars and soggy mounds of debris, Democratic chairman Howard Dean criticized the Bush administration's post-hurricane recovery effort and predicted voters would remember its "incredible failure." "This is a searing, burning issue," Dean said. "I think it's going to cost George Bush his legacy and it's going to cost the Republicans the House and maybe the Senate, and maybe very well the presidency in the next election." In turn, Republicans accused Dean and his party of playing election-year politics with a tragedy. "It's shameful that Democrats are so eager to exploit this national crisis that...

Howard Dean to Churches: Give up Religion or Stay out of Politics to Keep Tax Exempt Status CHELSEA, MI, April 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Fidelis, a national Catholic based advocacy group, called on Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee to explain himself after telling the Christian Science Monitor Wednesday that "The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics." Fidelis President Joseph Cella responded: "Howard Dean's statement makes it clear that he wants to muzzle America's churches and religious groups from professing what they believe on important issues facing our...

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean hopes to mount a coordinated attack on Republicans this year that will enable his party to capture the 15 seats needed to control the House. "We're going to position ourselves as the vehicle for change," Dean said Wednesday. The Republicans can't do that because "they've been there for five years, and they can't get out of the responsibilities they have,” he maintained. But some political experts have warned that the Democrats still must overcome obstacles, including redistricting that protects House incumbents, the Houston Chronicle reports. "The Democrats need more than a strong breeze to...

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean yesterday called border security his party's top immigration priority for November. "The first thing we want is tough border control," he said. "We have to do a much better job on our borders than George Bush has done. And then we can go to the policy disagreements about how to get it done."

Ask Democratic leaders to identify their party's election-year message and you get everything but consensus. Ahead in polls, Democrats are divided over whether they already have — or even need — a national theme that tells voters exactly where the party stands. "One message? Hmmm. I don't know. Let me think about it," Alvaro Cifuentes said after a long pause. Several minutes later, the head of the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Caucus said: "You can't try to simplify your politics with a slogan. You can't." In more than a dozen interviews, Democrats who gathered here for the DNC's spring meeting...

In an interview with the Christian Science Monitor on the upcoming elections, Doctor Dean says the following: "The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics." Translation: you uppity conservative churches had better shut your mouths or I'm sending the tax man after you, and we'll have a ball seizing property. Never mind that you're acting on your convictions and trying to save your churches from the rot we in DC, LA, and NY are bringing you. Shut Up or Pay Up...

WASHINGTON, April 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Democratic National Committee (DNC) today unveiled an advertising campaign that sets the record straight on where Democrats and Republicans stand on immigration reform. In a new Spanish language radio ad, Democrats hold Republicans accountable for trying to criminalize immigrants, doctors, and churches, and for blocking real progress on immigration reform. The ad campaign coincides with Congress's return next week. (Part 2 of 2): DNC RADIO AD BACKUP "Fuerte e Inteligente" ("Tough and Smart") Length: 60 seconds Language: Spanish TEXT BACKUP "Democrats support tough and smart immigration reform. We want to strengthen our borders;...

Dean Statement on Hundreds of Thousands Rallying for Comprehensive Immigration Reform April 12, 2006 Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement today as hundreds of thousands of people all over the country continued to rally peacefully in support of a tough and smart comprehensive immigration reform bill and against House Republican bill HR 4437 that seeks to criminalize families and clergy: "Today, all around the country, hundreds of thousands of people of every race, color and ethnicity are marching peacefully for immigration reform that is tough and smart, comprehensive and compassionate. Democrats are proud to join these...

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has vowed not to get involved in the primary battle between Sen. Joe Lieberman and political upstart Ned Lamont. But his brother, James Dean, has already endorsed Lieberman's challenger. "I personally think Ned is a terrific candidate and I want to support him," Dean's brother said at a Connecticut fundraiser last month. "I think not only is it a good race for the voters because he's bringing the war back [as an issue], I think his campaign will benefit candidates up and down the Democratic ticket." Dean's brother is now chairman of Democracy for...

DeLay Cuts and Runs from Texas Gov. Dean just sent this out after the news that Rep. Tom DeLay is quitting his re-election race. Indicted Republican leader Tom DeLay announced late last night that he will withdraw from his race for re-election and leave Congress within months. This comes after Friday's news that a key former DeLay aide pleaded guilty to conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with the ongoing federal investigation of DeLay's money-for-influence machine. DeLay says he made his decision because he doesn't want to let Democrats make him the issue in the 2006 elections. But Tom DeLay himself...

OAKLAND — Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean used the M-word during a brief appearance Friday morning before area party leaders. Yes, this scion of the Democratic Party, this Ivy League M.D. and former governor of Vermont broached the unbroachable with his loyalists in a clear attempt to re-establish his party as, pardon the French, moral. "We are our brothers' keepers," Dean said, using a biblical reference to sum up the new, 60-second party message and articulate what he considers the core difference between the blue and the red. "The Republican Party is a party of self-absorption and selfishness," he said....

Will Howard Dean's Democratic National Committee be ready for the November elections? Party leaders and congressional campaign strategists are nervously pressuring Dean to stop spending money to staff organizers in states and instead commit to transfer the bulk of the DNC's kitty to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. At a tense meeting in February, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urged Dean to give to the Senate committee the same amount as the Republican National Committee was expected to transfer to the GOP's Senate committee. Reid argued that the DSCC's historically rare fundraising advantage could...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Democratic Party chief Howard Dean accused President Bush and the Republican Party on Friday of exploiting the immigration issue for political gain by scapegoating Hispanics. Dean and Bush agree on the legislation at the heart of the debate. Both support a Senate bill that would expand guest-worker programs for an estimated 400,000 immigrants each year. However, at a speech in an Oakland union hall, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate sought to tie Bush to a much tougher House bill that would tighten borders and make it a crime to be in the United States illegally or to...

Dean: Democrats Offer a Bold Agenda for Real Security March 31, 2006 Today, Democratic leaders across the country will join House and Senate Democrats in unveiling a comprehensive plan for providing the American people with real security. The agenda stands in stark contrast to the dangerous incompetence of the Republican leadership, which has undermined the security of the American people. Given their failed record, it’s no wonder Republicans are losing credibility on a range of issues including security and defense. In fact, according to a recent DNC poll, the Republican rhetoric is not working, as Americans want policies that are...

Dean Says Bush 'Scapegoating' Hispanics By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer 11 minutes ago Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean charged Friday that President Bush was exploiting the debate over immigration laws for political gain, "scapegoating" Hispanics with an eye to this year's elections. Dean skipped over the fact that he and Bush agree on the legislation at the heart of the debate. Both support a Senate bill that would expand guest-worker programs for an estimated 400,000 immigrants each year. At a speech in an Oakland union hall, the 2004 presidential candidate sought to tie Bush to a much tougher...

A poll by a major left-wing blog, Daily Kos, shows that liberals strongly support Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean - but turn thumbs down on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Results of the ongoing poll on March 21 showed that a solid 84 percent of respondents approved of the way Dean is doing his job. Only 50 percent said they approved of the job Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid was doing. And when it came to Pelosi, a paltry 19 percent approved. Daily Kos notes: "A critic might say that Pelosi's numbers are suffering because of the beating she's...