this CNN article illustrates just how desperate Kerry & Gephardt are

[pruner]

Dems battle over Confederate flag

(CNN) -- Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean sparked criticism from his rivals Saturday after invoking the Confederate flag in a defense of his views on gun control.

It was at least the second time Dean publicly used the Confederate flag to describe Southern voters who often vote for Republicans.

Dean previously used the flag reference during a February meeting of the Democratic National Committee.

At that event, Dean received a rousing ovation from the crowd when he said, "White folks in the South who drive pickup trucks with Confederate flag decals on the back ought to be voting with us, and not (Republicans), because their kids don't have health insurance either, and their kids need better schools too."

All the other Democratic candidates at that time attended that session except Sen. John Kerry, of Massachusetts, who was absent for health reasons.

Kerry and Rep. Dick Gephardt, of Missouri, both issued statements Saturday attacking Dean's recent comments.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/01/elec04.prez.dean.confederate.flag/

[wtmusic]

1. Anyone who decides whether or not to vote for Dean

based on that statement needs a thorough evaluation.

[billbuckhead]

2. Dean called for Limbaugh to resign and Dean should as well. Same thing.

Bringing the Confederate flag to a healthcare debate was uncalled for. It brought a symbol of intolerence into a discussion where it didn't belong. Clearly this shows he is either out of touch with mainstream Americans thinking about race or can't manage his mouth. We wouldn't let a Republican official get away with saying this, so why should Dean?

[tedoll78]

3. Because he didn't do anything wrong.

Read the entire quote. His comments were intelligent - people are voting against their own interests. Heaven forbid he speak his mind..

Desperation.. by Calvin "Gep_Ker" Klein..

[dfong63]

4. it's not the same thing at all

there was nothing wrong with what Dean said.

Limbaugh was giving vent to his own bigotry; Dean at worst was alluding to the bigotry of others.

sheesh.

[StephNW4Clark]

5. I think this illustrates a problem, though.

Now, I've read Dean's full statement, and I don't think he was in any way referencing the Confederate flag in any laudatory way. I think he just happened to pick an unfortunate symbol to illustrate his point. So while his statement - in full - completely explains his position and how he was using the Confederate flag as a reference point for those Southerners who tend to vote Republican but can be brought into the Dem fold, I wonder how much anti-spin is going to be successful without the undeserved smear sticking somewhat. Maybe he's lucky it's a Saturday and most people aren't paying attention to the newscycle. It may become stuck in people's minds since most of the "story" is how other candidates reacted to it.

It was a valid point he was making, it's just that the mention of the Confederate flag completely drew away focus from his point.

[pruner]

6. the major media (NY Times, Wash Post) coverage I've seen so far…

makes Dean look much better than it makes either Kerry or Gephardt look.

the fact is, he's made very similar comments in the past and been applauded for them. only now that he's the front-runner are the two people he stands to knock out in the early rounds bitching & moaning.

[StephNW4Clark]

7. So what do you think are Kerry's chances?

So I know you're a Dean supporter :) so you think he'll probably do well everywhere, but what do you think of Kerry's chances? I don't really see him resonating in the South, maybe NY, and not so much in CA. So outside of the New England/Chesapeake Bay area, can Kerry really get traction anywhere else?

I think Clark will pick up most of the South, and there is a good chance of him doing well in NY and CA if he campaigns enough there. So that's why I'm counting Kerry out in those regions.

[pruner]

8. Kerry's campaign seems to be focused entirely on NH…

and he's not looking too good there.

as far as I know, he's not leading in polls anywhere.

[StephNW4Clark]

10. I wish he would just drop out.

I think the disadvantage of having such early primaries in states like NH and Iowa is that it often gives some candidates the misplaced hope of doing better in the future...like Kerry or Gephardt, simply because of the regional dynamic of those states. I don't think they'll have enough national appeal to be competitive, so I wish they would just drop out.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. The Washington Post article doesn't seem to slant the coverage:

Then, in an interview with the Des Moines Register, Dean mentioned the Confederate flag. "I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks," he told the Register. "We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross section of Democrats."

That brought a new series of condemnations yesterday.

"It is simply unconscionable for Howard Dean to embrace the most racially divisive symbol in America," Kerry said. The senator added that he would "rather be the candidate of the NAACP than the NRA."

"I absolutely disagree" with Dean, Gephardt said. He said he wants to be the candidate of those who display American flags, not Confederate flags.

Lieberman called the Confederate flag "one of the most divisive, hurtful symbols in American history." He said the party cannot afford to nominate someone who is so incautious in his statements.

Yesterday, Dean said he wants to create a biracial coalition in the South. "For my fellow Democratic opponents to sink to this level is really tragic," he said. "The only way we're going to beat George Bush is if southern white working families and African American working families come together under the Democratic tent."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50831-2003Nov1.html

It just reports what they said. Edwards and Clark can't be happy with this article though. They get mentions early on but no quotes.

[dajabr]

11. A little Heinz money can go a long way...

Maybe he does not have someone on the "payroll" at CNN?

:shrug: