Happy Hanukah From Dean

Happy Hanukah From Dean
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35233-2003Dec27.html
It appears the Dean campaign has become a bit anxious about the candidate's lack of appeal to Jewish voters.
snip
Last week, Matt Dorf, whose title is "Jewish affairs and outreach" for the Dean campaign, sent an e-mail to Jewish leaders wishing them a happy Hanukah and attaching a letter from Dean's (Jewish) co-chairman Steve Grossman.

"Because so much inaccurate information has been transmitted over the Internet during the past few days about Howard Dean's positions and statements on the U.S.-Israel relationship, I want to share with you the real story," began the letter, dated Dec. 18. "Howard Dean believes that the United States must remain committed to the special, longstanding relationship we have with Israel, including providing the resources necessary to guarantee Israel's long-term defense and security."

Dean's wife IS Jewish, after all...

Not yet?

Next?

and there has been a nasty. lying email campaign against him. But yea he has no business talking about Hanukah none at all. Everytime I see an outrageous thread with a slanderous charge I think they can't really get any worse. And then the next one shows up. I tell you this. If your candidate wins the primary I will send a copy of this post and so many others and tell them exactly why I won't work with his supporters. I will vote for Clark, and I will call voters for Clark from my home but I will never ever sit in a room with supporters of his due to posts like yours.

toward robbedvoter, who has simply posted quotes from and a link to a page of items about various candidates, including the Dean item? Shouldn't the anger go toward the Washington Post or the reporter? OK, robbed voter may be thinking it will hurt Dean somehow, but how?

What is so awful about the assertion that the Dean campaign is concerned about Dean's image with Jewish voters? ALL good campaigns pay attention to how they're doing with various sectors of the electorate. Dean won't automatically get Jewish votes for having a Jewish wife (though it should help considerably) anymore than Lieberman will get Jewish votes from fellow Jews who disagree with some of his positions. According to the Post, there is inaccurate info going around on the net, claiming Dean isn't strong enough on Israel. That's bad, and the campaign has to deal with it, which they are doing,

What is posted here is not an attack on Dean and doesn't say anything negative about him. I am very much opposed to Dean's being the nominee but there's nothing here that makes me say "Aha, I'm right about Dean." It seems to me that Dean is doing what he should do to deal with this internet lie.

Why not save your anger for times when someone challenges Dean unfairly?

So please do not pretend to see robbedvoter's repeated attempts to bash Dean as anything less than what they are. Come on, we're not all wet behind the ears here.

I'm Jewish. Dean appeals. I just wish he'd make his I/P stance more clear.

"He drew criticism early in the campaign for saying the United States should "not take sides" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

I know before that, there was a quote about him identifying more with AIPAC than APN. I was pleased when he retracted that one.

I understand why you wouldn't want to pick a fight with AIPAC bullies at this stage in the race, but I hope Dean will back up his "not taking sides" stance - that's the one I liked the best.

:shrug:

What will the evil man do next? Wish the Christians a Happy Easter?

I hear he will be Mormon when he campaigns in Utah. He's probably already promised Donny Osmond the VP slot. Don't worry he most likely promised the VP slot to half the country already, so take it with a grain of salt.

Do you have a problem with interfaith marriages?

I never said that.

Please elaborate on your views here.

Where did I say I had a problem with Jewish/Christian marriages? Please enlighten me please? I never said anything remotely close to that.

In fact, if it wasn't for a Jewish/Christian marriage in my family history, I would never been born. So I guess that would make you against it? ;)

See, before you try and paint a candidate a panderer, isn't it wise to make sure he has no close and unquestionable ties to religion you insinuate as the target of the pandering? In this case, Judaism. I mean for Christ sake (no pun intended), his wife is Jewish, thereby making his kids (his famnily!) Jewish. How could such a person be seen as pandering to Jews in this case? Would Joe Lieberman be pandering to Jews if he sent out a Happy Hanukkah email?

To be honest, the mud slung at Dean over the Baptist church incident had more meat to it (although it was still a loser).

Dean never claimed to be Jewish. Not even part Jewish. I see your point about Dean changing his message, but there are many people judging Dean's lack of religious conviction because of his interfaith marriage - yes, here at DU. I've had the debate at least twice here. It was a real shocker for me. Sorry if I was mistaken, but it's a real stance that some people take. Just something to keep in mind next time...

And I am certainly not one of them.

I hear he can't figure out if he is jewish/baptist/catholic or Presbyterian.

and they call us atheists intolerant :eyes:

For the record, Dean's wife is Jewish. That means, by customary Jewish lineage law, his kids are Jewish as well.

Guys, the smell of desperation is getting rancid. Seriously, you might want to shy away from such lows in this debate. It's just way not cool.

How could it get any lower?

Truely pathetic.

Next thing he will be wishing Irish people Happy St Patrick Day. Where oh where will the madness end?