Dean is redefining himself, issue by issue

[Say_What]

<clips>

Nov 13, 2003 (The Dallas Morning News - Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- The year's most remarkable political story has been the rise of Howard Dean from little-known former governor to Democratic presidential front-runner. A close second may be the way Mr. Dean has redefined himself from maverick Democrat to orthodox liberal on an array of issues without damaging his campaign.

Last weekend, Dean, who once promised to make it "a huge issue" if his rivals shunned public financing of their primary campaigns, became the first Democratic hopeful ever to do so. Earlier, he had switched positions on other issues.

In Iowa this week, he defended himself from accusations he has flip-flopped on issues, blaming opponents concerned "about their positions in polls." He also said "there have been a number of quotes taken out of context" but added that, "if you're not willing to change your position in response to facts, then you're probably not qualified to be president of the United States."

Here are several issues where Mr. Dean has changed his mind:

-The North American Free Trade Agreement. As governor, he strongly backed the pact. Now, he says it has to be amended to include environmental and labor standards: "The facts are that NAFTA and the (World Trade Organization) haven't worked very well for most working people in this country."

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[billbuckhead]

1. Redefining the spinDoctor from Vermont? Sounds better than flip-flop or...

spineless.

[Scott Lee]

7. Some would call it "learning and growth"

And heaven forefend the democratic statists can't have that, can they. Why, what's next - progress?

The sky is falling.

[blm]

9. His core principles go where he thinks the votes are....

You don't go from being a Libertarian leaning, compromising centrist for 11 years to an 11 month old fighting populist.

Why did he decide to run for president in the first place? He thought his centrist Libertarian ideas were best. AFTER months of running to claim the center, and after the antiwar sentiment grew, THEN he looked into alternative positions that would be more attractive to this new constituency.

[Cha]

12. "Some would"...who understand "learning and growth"..

others don't get it or don't want to get it ...

[paulk]

14. Some call it learning and growth.

Some call it evolution. Some call it flip flopping. Some call it just another cynical politician willing to say whatever it takes to get elected.

Take your pick.

[bif]

2. I like him even more!

Thanks!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

3. he is so solid

I saw him in the interview last nite on CNN and saw our next president. he was so solid. everybody who calls Dean beatable now is a republican, and has obviously never listened to him on the issues. Let's face it, Republicans who like Bush like him precisely because he doesn't give an f about the issues - but that's not going to fly when faced with Dean who has every issue down - memorized - placed in historical context and evaluated. He looks the interviewer right in the eyes and responds to whatever's asked. He doesn't resort to cliche and is refreshingly able to form complete sentences -traits which Bush finds wanting.

[meegbear]

4. Hey!

I think he's beatable in the primaries. Am I a republican?

[Scott Lee]

8. Bush's admirers are always touting his "moral clarity"

Which is code for "he doesn't give a fuck what you think even if you have a better case". The BushCo army loves his most conservative trait, which is clinging to your beliefs even if they fly in the face of logic, reason and current events.

Thank the Gods Howard Dean doesn't have this kind of chain to preconceptions, and can learn and grow as he goes.

[boxster]

5. Teflon?

The fact that he's been able to fairly successfully (and quietly, in some case) switch sides on several issues shows a Clinton-like ability to explain away changes in policy. The change in his views on public funding of elections, for example, hasn't seemed to create much of a stir in the media.

Either that or the media is helping to pick our candidate for us assuming he'll lose to Bush.

If he wins the nomination, we have to hope that he can continue to deflect criticism about perceived "flip-flops" once the Bush money machine starts cranking up the rhetoric.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

6. There is NO difference between Dean and Kerry and

Gephardt on the issues.

The difference is in the ability to lead and inspire.

The only thing I am voting on is leadership ability. What does it matter what a candidates stance is on the issues if they cannot turn their vision into a reality?

[blm]

10. The MEDIA lets Dean be heard. BIG difference.

Gep and Kerry didn't have to CREATE new positions.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

11. John Kerry was the frontrunner and got all the media

attention until Howard Dean raised $7 million on the internet. At that point the media started paying attention to Dean, who, up unitl that point had received no media play at all.

There is no "media conspiracy" surrounding Dean. There is only grassroots support. There is in fact so much grassroots support that the media had to pay attention.

[Eloriel]

13. Um, there are some differences. And I like Dean's. n/t