Dean onfederate flag comments evoke memories of Montana's political past

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Some Montanans probably reacted to the controversy early this month when Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean said he hoped his campaign would appeal "to Southern guys with Confederate flags in their pickups."

That was the most politically incorrect statement thus far in the race for the presidency in 2004. Predictably, Dean took a lot of flak from other Democratic candidates.

Shucks, if Dean had been around Montana 140 years ago he might have swept the field on Election Day. No place in the West had a stronger Confederate sentiment than the mining camps of Bannack and Virginia City.

The reason was clear. Many of the 10,000 miners and other settlers who flocked into the area were refugees from Missouri, the scene of bloody guerrilla conflicts before and during the Civil War. Families fled Missouri to all points of the compass. Some of the able-bodied men were deserters or draft dodgers, to be sure, but others were seeking to begin a new life in what they thought would be a more peaceful place.

One thing that didn't change when they came to Montana was their allegiance to the Confederate flag.

<snip>

When the first Legislature assembled in late 1864, Democrats steadfastly refused to sign the "iron-clad oath" of allegiance to the United States. One delegate, James Rogers, who had served in the Confederate army, said he would not pledge his loyalty because it would constitute perjury.

<snip>

Although Confederate sentiment waned in the later years of the territory, especially after a more diverse Legislature moved the capital from Virginia City to Helena in 1875, a political tradition was born. It's continued ever since. The state's Democrats enjoy slugging it out with their opponents, while Republicans seem to think it's beneath their dignity.

One thing appears certain these days: If Howard Dean visits Montana in the coming year, he probably won't find Confederate flags in pickups. More likely, it will be gun racks and Grizzly or Bobcat decals.

What remains to be seen is whether the candidate will receive votes from Montana delegates at the Democrats' national convention next summer.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20031116/localnews/652035.html

[Scott Lee]

1. Is this going to be the equivalent of the GOP's "Clinton's penis"?

Honestly, where does it end? Do the democratic DeanBashers have any idea how increasingly dumb and impertinent they look pushing this way dead issue?

For rectification, you might want to see the thread recently posted that shows Dean is doing the BEST of all the candidates, so far, in the South. Goodness me, it appears the Good Doctor's meaning was received loud clear and correct after all! Unless, of course, some of you democrats want to write off the South again - and lose another election.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. Did you read the article?

Or just post when you saw the title? Where is the 'Dean-bashing' you are talking about?