Openly gay Dean staffer allegedly derided at Gephardt rally [View All]

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An openly gay staffer from Howard Dean's presidential campaign was reportedly pushed and grabbed by staffers at a rally for presidential candidate Dick Gephardt in Iowa on Tuesday, one of whom called him a "faggot," according to a Dean campaign press release. It is common practice among campaign staffers to attend events for other candidates so that they can report on what opposing candidates are saying, said Dorie Clark from the Dean for America press office.

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Dean Campaign Complains to Rival Gephardt (AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)--Democrat Howard Dean's presidential campaign complained to rival Dick Gephardt about an angry confrontation between staffers at an Iowa event.

The incident occurred during a Gephardt speech at a Des Moines senior center Tuesday. Hunter Allen, recording the speech for the Dean campaign, said one Gephardt staffer grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him out of the crowd. A second staffer pushed him out the door.

``The one who was pushing me out was grabbing my arm, and at other points, he physically shoved me.'' Allen said, adding that the pair swore at him and used a derogatory slur. ``I was in shock at being treated that way.''

In a letter to the Gephardt campaign late Tuesday, Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi said, ``I urge you to find the staff member responsible and fire him, and send a strong signal to the rest of your staff that behavior of this kind will not be tolerated.''

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