Dean should have said "Stupid People" instead of "those with confederate

[maggrwaggr]

flags on their pickups."

Because that's what he meant.

He meant people who are dumb enough to think in the past that Republicans actually have their interests in mind, if they'd wake up and smell the coffee, would realize that they'd be better off voting for him.

Who here thinks he should have said "stupid people" instead?

[QC]

1. Yeah, that's a good way to get them to listen to you.

[maggrwaggr]

5. My point exactly!

nt

[stopbush]

2. Bush calls the 9/11 terrorists "folks"

goes to Bob Jones U and launches a "crusade"...and we're worried about a non-remark by Howard Dean?

Please explain.

[Maple]

3. Yes, calling people stupid

will certainly get them to vote for you.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. LOL

So what would Dean's plan for winning the dummies over be?

[maggrwaggr]

6. personally i think he should grow a mullet

or get some tattoos on those manly forearms.

[DemBones DemBones]

8. LOL at Howard with a mullet! n/t

[jbutsz]

7. This is exactly why

the south votes Republican.

They see "those Yankee Liberals" as alien to their interests and culture, and I can't say I blame them as most like Gephardt continue to treat southerners as inbred, uneducated militant racists instead of addressing and enlightening their ignorance, while persuading them as to why they should consider voting for anyone other than a Bush/Repub.

If a Dem wants to carry the south (read: win an election), he's going to have to ADDRESS THE SOUTH, which includes those rebel flag flying pickup driving rednecks. He's going to have to tell it straight and blunt and hard, WHY the Repubs are screwing their children out of a better future than they themselves had.

He's going to have to lay off the Gun Control issue because southerners DO NOT TRUST ANY GOVERNMENT/REP WITH A DESIRE TO DISARM THEM. Southerners do not trust government, period. That's why they vote Repub/Conservative, because those like Bush (who paint themselves as ONE OF THEM, however deceptively) spin a fantasy of small, unintrusive government that wouldn't dare attempt totalitarianism while every other household is armed with guns, ready to defend their community and their family. They are not questioning Bush/Ashcroft's policies because THEY TRUST THEM to do what's in their best interests while they are toiling away trying to feed their kids (thereby not having time to be political; that's why they vote and go back to sleep). Why? Because "He's one of us, he addresses us, he's a good ole' boy, he'll take care of us." A Dem challenger needs to attack and expose this blind trust, but very tactfully.

If someone (like Dean) can smooth over those initial fears southern republican voters have of Democrats, he might be able to get them to listen - especially when he starts talking JOB LOSS/ECONOMY, and "Your every child deserves THE BEST education and access to heath care - WHY DON'T THEY HAVE IT?" regardless of social and economic standing.

Whomever wishes to grab the southern vote block needs to attack that fantasy the Repubs spin for them, fiercely. He needs to paint the Republicans with the brush of thinner to expose the underlying deception, showing how their "conservative" principles are against the best interests of themselves and especially their children.

Also, a challenging candidate attacking this comfy relationship of deception between the white/conservative base and Repub powers, will get the curious attention of other voting blocks in the south..

Dean wants to get the attention of those pickup-driving rebel flag flying folks who are typically poor, under-educated, and vote republican. But he also needs to be crystal clear about WHY he wants their attention. He could make this clear by addressing what I've written above - attacking/exposing this deceptive relationship between them and Republican/Conservative powers.

[fabius]

9. You don't get people to vote for you...

...by calling them stupid.

[Aidoneus]

10. Yes, referring to people as "stupid" is the best path

Surely a better route than pointing out that social issues are used as a wedge by the Republicans to get working people to vote completely against their class interests. Much better plan, you should run for President..