DNC Winter Meeting: Gov. Dean gets ovation after flag remarks

The video:

(Start at 2:07 into the clip....)

http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=Dean+DNC

Note that standing ovation after the very remarks that he is getting attacked for, from members of the DNC and audience, many who are minority Democrats.

Note also the date: 2/21/03

Ask yourself...if it wasn't "controversial" in front of the DNC then, why is it an issue now?

Can you say desperate candidates?

I knew you could.

The point is NOT that Dean shouldn't be appealing to southern white males. The criticism is how he phrased it. Pointing to another, differently worded statement only shows that you don't get it.

It's only an issue because the others are behind.

Politics as usual.

Nothing is ever an issue merely because "the others are behind". If there were no chance of this having an effect, it would be ignored. Almost everyone but some Dean supporters see this.

You don't

He is parsing words again to manufacture an argument. More of the usual.

many people here in the South appeal to the confederate flag for group identity because they perceive themselves the objects of northern liberal elitism. While there are of course many who wave the stars and bars they are racist, not all of them do. Granted, the confederate flag is grossly offensive to many people. But the same could be said of porn magnates, Black Panthers, and radical feminists, but we don't mind their votes, do we?

I prefer the broad coalition rather than the exclusive members-only club. Don't you?

While I am not a Dean supporter, the negative reaction to what Dean said is just about the worst thing that could happen for the Democratic Party here. DOWNPLAY DIFFERENCES ON SOCIAL ISSUES; the only way to reclaim the South is by appealing to economic interests. The Republican Party does not represent rural America; they represent corporate America. Ask people, where have Bush's economic policies had their greatest impact? And DO NOT LOOK DOWN UPON SOUTHERNERS. You only drive the wedge further and ensure that even the fence-sitters fall to the other side. Dean followed those rules and he's been castigated ever since.

While this strategy won't work all the time (see this year), it is the only one that can work here.

and from where I sit (Deep RURAL South), it's right on.

Eloriel

there wouldn't have been so much hoohaw from Kerry, Edwards
et al?

or do they not want those guys votes either...

No he didn't. There's a difference because when you say you want to be the candidate of xyz, it infers that you are embracing their cause. He did not make the mistake in saying that he wants to represent southern whites. But using the flag as a rallying cry was just dumb, stupid and unnecessary.

As evidenced by the standing ovation he got.

"I intend to talk about race this election in the south, because the republicans have been talking about it since 1968 in order to divide us, and I'm going to bring us together...cause you know what? You know what? White folks in the south who drive pick-up trucks with confederate decal flags in the back ought to be voting with us and not them, cause their kids don't have health insurance either and their kids need better schools too."

All culturally diverse DNC members then rose from their seats and gave Dr. Dean a standing ovation for the quoted remark above.

Almost 9 months later, it's an issue? Karl Rove sends hugs, kisses, and many, many thanks to all of you distorting this into something it's not.

Feh.

No one has complained about those remarks. It's Dean's "I'm going after the Confederate flag vote" that's generating complaints.

Care to explane that little logical imposiblity?

The thread starter's argument implies that the statement quoted above is the statement Dean is being criticized for. It's not.

Dean is being criticized for syaing he's going after the Confederate flag vote.