Dean Rises Again

[slinkerwink]

Howard Dean Rises Again
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
November 12 - 18, 2003
http://www.villagevoice.com

Maybe they should have considered Howard Dean's appeal last week to sons of the South as a blueprint for success. A day before the barnstorming presidential contender was all but forced to apologize for saying he wanted the votes of guys driving trucks with Confederate flags, Democrats in Kentucky and Mississippi watched the GOP claim the governors' mansions. The Democratic Party's need to reconnect with Southern white men isn't lost on some of New York City's African American leaders, who argue it should be a natural fit.

"Global-trade schemes are taking their jobs too," says Brooklyn congressman Major Owens. "We get distracted by this Confederate flag nonsense, but I think African Americans in the South would welcome an alliance."

No matter. By Monday, polls were showing Dean had lost three points in the Iowa caucuses, while Richard Gephardt vaulted ahead by picking up six. Whether that can be reversed or whether it stems from the flag debacle at all isn't clear. Nor is it clear how much, if any, damage Dean has done to his rapport with black voters.

In the same week when he appeared on the verge of a collapse worthy of Gary Hart, Dean locked up the endorsements of two major unions, the SEIU and AFSCME. Dean's securing of the SEIU nod was particularly telling because of the union's racially diverse membership's 35 percent of which is black or Latino. Before a final decision on Dean, SEIU's executive board met with the front-runner and put the flag controversy on the table. "He really understands the plight of the community," says African American Tyrone Freeman, president of SEIU 434B (a 112,000-member local in California) and a member of the board.

more to be continued at: http://www.villagevoice.com

[Dogmudgeon]

1. It goes to show you ...

... the American People and the Commentariat are not seeing eye-to-eye on some issues.

The issue of "just one slip will sink a ship" is probably one such issue.

It didn't work against Gore. That election had to be stolen. And it won't work against Dean, or Clark, or Kucinich, either.

--bkl

[slinkerwink]

4. which is why diebold is going to be a huge issue in the general election

mark my words, the nominee is going have to focus on that to make the public aware.

[slinkerwink]

14. btw, a dean supporter asked dean about the voting issue

and dean said that he would definitely address the issue near the end of the primaries.

[deutsey]

2. Thanks...but

I think you may have to edit this down to three or four paragraphs (copyright restrictions and all that). ;-)

[slinkerwink]

3. awww....alright.....

:sigh:

[Bandit]

5. I find this statement troubling

"Dean's securing of the SEIU nod was particularly telling because of the union's racially diverse membership? 5 percent of which is black or Latino."

It was my understanding that Blacks make up 14% of the population and Latinos 18% but at this particular Union combined they are only represented by 5% and the Union is proud of that. Am I misunderstanding something here? Should this Union be proud of only 5% minority membership?

[AP]

6. Obviously a typo -- the "?" is a number. 3, 4 or 5 perhaps.

[ryharrin]

7. That ? mark is probably another number

Probably a typo. This page says 28% black and hispanic - http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/2003/11/07/news/nation/7193401.htm

[slinkerwink]

8. ooh, didn't see that typo

good you caught that!

[JaneQPublic]

9. SEIU -- 35 percent of which is black or Latino

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0346/coates.php

Dean's securing of the SEIU nod was particularly telling because of the union's racially diverse membership—35 percent of which is black or Latino.

[DrFunkenstein]

10. Unlike Vermont's 0.5% of 608,827

Black or African American persons - 0.5%

White persons - 96.8%

Population - 608,827

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/50000.html

[slinkerwink]

11. that has no relation to the 35% minority population in the SEIU

It just shows that despite the lack of minorities in Dean's state, that he was able to bridge that by getting the double endorsement of the AFSCME and the SEIU tomorrow.......thanks for showing how Dean can reach out to minorities.

Thanks, Dr.Funkenstein!!!! :nopity:

[Padraig18]

12. And that factoid is relevant *how*, exactly?

:eyes:

[slinkerwink]

13. :vanity kick:

:kick:

[Cha]

15. Yea! Elija Cummings...And Major Owens!...

"Other African American heavies were somewhat more generous. "Governor Dean did the right thing today by expressing regret over his recent comments concerning the Confederate flag. I have always believed that my party must appeal to everyone, and I am confident that my party's eventual nominee will create a coalition that is inclusive and welcomes all Americans," said Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democratic congressman and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, on his website.

Even if Dean hasn't won over black voters, neither has he been outpaced by the competition. Owens, one of the first African Americans of note to endorse Dean, points out that none of the other eight candidates have made particularly great inroads in the black community. "He just stirred up a discussion," says Owens. "I don't think he did any long-term damage."