Queens Democrats Give the Nod to Dean instead of to Clark

[slinkerwink]

Citing Howard Dean’s grass-roots support and increasing momentum, the Queens County Democratic Organization this week gave its backing to the former Vermont governor in his run for president.

The endorsement, considered key in New York political circles, was made on the steps of City Hall on Sunday by party chairman Thomas Manton. Several local elected officials, including Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and Congressman Joseph Crowley, were at Manton’s side.

“Howard Dean is a man who knows what all Americans need and want: healthcare for all, better education for our children, new jobs and a strong economy, and continued security for our nation,” Crowley said.

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who represents parts of Western and Southern Queens, gave her endorsement to Dean earlier in the day, saying that he “does not answer to corporate America, big drug companies, the oil industry or Dick Cheney’s Halliburton.”

The Queens Democrats announced the endorsement after interviewing each of the candidates, said party executive secretary Michael Reich. Wesley Clark, the former general, came to Forest Hills two weeks ago to seek the party’s nod.

More: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1861&dept_id=152368&newsid=10575240&PAG=461&rfi=9

[Demobrat]

1. They already made this official? Cool.

I thought it was under wraps until next week. :)

[slinkerwink]

2. yep, looks like they couldn't contain their excitement

;-)

[sleipnir]

3. Well, looks like my new home is going for Dean!

I'm still kinda undecided, I would have loved for the council to support CMB or Sharpton (come on, he's a New Yorker) but sadly, no.

[slinkerwink]

5. Dean's also a New Yorker

He grew up in Manhattan and worked in the Bronx as an ER doctor.

[AmericanDem]

15. and enjoyed skiing...

in Colorado. :bounce:

[slinkerwink]

16. so?

:shrug: I could care less about that.

[slinkerwink]

4. Doesn't anyone realize that this is a blow to the Clark campaign

since Clark's been courting the Queen Democrats rather aggressively? It seems that they saw past the four stars and realized Clark didn't have much of an organization to win the nomination and the general election.

[sleipnir]

6. It's more of a blow to Sharpton in all seriousness

I joke about them not supporting Sharpton, but it's a bigger blow if your "Hometown" doesn't even give you formal support.


Yes, I know Queens is it's own entity, but it's still part of NYC, Sharpton's homebase.


On edit for Slinkerwink (above post) ;)

Dean is running from Vermont, Sharpton is running from New York, that's why I'm qualifying Sharpton as the "hometown candidate." I do know Dean is from NYC, but it hasn't been his legal residence for several years.

[slinkerwink]

8. that's true....Jesse Jackson Jr's Endorsement of Dean also hurt

Sharpton.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slinkerwink]

11. I take offense to that

No, it's the fact that people will buy the superficiality of the uniform that Clark wears over the actual record of Dean in government where he was REELECTED five times, and did more to help the people of his state than Clark ever did.

I'm not terrified of Clark-----I just don't trust him.

[Cha]

24. Uuuuoooo! I just went to post that...

that was "offensive" to me, too, but some sharp mod already Deleted it! :toast:

[AmericanDem]

12. LOL

now that made me laugh! :toast: :bounce:

[Upfront]

31. Seems To Me

they saw less then they thought in Clark, and I see the same now.

[slinkerwink]

38. same here too....

;-)

[Skwmom]

36. After hearing again and again and again that Dean has the

nomination locked up, maybe they are like many other Democrats who want to jump on the bandwagon of the perceived winner because they don't want to be left behind (God forbid - it might hurt their ability to ask for a favor later on and of course this election is all about me, me, me, me - though I must admit that Dean, like Bush, does a great job of appealing to self-serving interests).

[slinkerwink]

39. you're not makig any sense

what self-serving interests does Dean have? Oh, that's right---I forgot that Dean's campaign is completely FINANCED by REGULAR AMERICANS.....so yep, we're Dean's special interests.

[mikehiggins]

42. Uhhh, nope

I think it should more correctly be considered a blow to Gephardt's campaign, since some of the top Democratic politicians in the state, I am told, are actively supporting him as the traditonal Democratic candidate.

There are other candidates besides Wes and Howie, you know. It is flattering that you are so obsessed with Clark but this is no more of a blow to his campaign than it is to Kerry, Edwards, Gephardt or (to my surprise) Lieberman.

Still, thanks for caring.

[Pastiche423]

7. Oh how loverly!

Just a little bit more hope every day.

Thank you, Queens County!

[slinkerwink]

9. yep---they went balls out for dean definitely

:-)

[Cha]

13. Wahoo to the "Queens Democrats"!

And fellow New Yorkers! :toast: Thank you for supporting my candidate, Govenor Howard Dean, M. D.!

[slinkerwink]

14. yep....new york-----dean all the way!

;-)

[AmericanDem]

17. Gov. of Vermont, population...

608.827 LOL, Do you know how many cities we have in the USA with population much larger then this?

You might as well call him Mayor.

http://www.vtliving.com/stats/

[slinkerwink]

18. so?

Clark has NO experience in politics. Besides, the governership of Vermont is much more demanding that that of Bush's governorship in Texas.

[Scott Lee]

19. Talking down to Vermonters. How quaint. How predictable.

I'm glad you're not running one of these candidates' election.

[AmericanDem]

30. well thats your slant.

I was showing facts of what kind of area and population Dean has governed. I honestly feel folks don't quite understand this.

Governing a pop. of 608,000 is alot different then governing the worlds #1 superpower.

[Scott Lee]

41. Your slant is off the map

Tell me what president, except for a re-election, has had previous experience "governing a #1 superpower".

I'll wait.

[Pastiche423]

20. clark has governed SQUAT!

[slinkerwink]

21. yep...that's true...

even though Clark's intelligent, I just don't think he'll have the stamina to see a piece of controversial legislature go through Congress like Dean will.

[AmericanDem]

28. Clark is no politican...

Which is one the more appealing traits he has too so many people. He has Governed, he has Governed multitudes of armies. In that title he was responsible for the care,shelter and welfare of all the families that are part of armed services. Clark, has dealt extensively one on one with heads of state world wide. Most importantly, he has demonstrated In an awe inspiring way, how he can protect this great country of ours.

[Pastiche423]

33. He has not governed civilians

which make up the largest percentage of We, the People.

Btw, how has he demonstrated he can protect our country?

Viet Nam? Nope
Latin America? Nope
Kosovo? Nope

Please tell me how he has protected our country.

[Rose Siding]

25. A sizeable, decade long test market

that proved the success of a number of programs that will benefit all Americans. Thank you Vermont :toast:

[slinkerwink]

40. I agree

What happened in Vermont under Gov. Dean's leadership will help benefit all Americans someday if Dean takes office.

[democracyindanger]

22. You're just begging for a flamefest, aren't you?

It's great that Dean picked up an endorsement like this. But trying to bait Clark supporters is kind of, well, childish. Heck, the article doesn't even mention Clark. Kerry and Lieberman, yes, but not Clark. Here's an idea: Post this article for every candidate. You know, one titled, "Queens Democrats give the Nod to Dean instead of Kerry," "...instead of Sharpton," and so on. Sooner or later, you'll get someone to bite.

[slinkerwink]

23. it does mention Clark

see this little excerpt below?

"Wesley Clark, the former general, came to Forest Hills two weeks ago to seek the party’s nod."

[democracyindanger]

27. I stand corrected

You're right. My bad. And that snippet is Clark's entire part in the story. On the other hand, the article suggests it's Kerry and Lieberman that were closer seconds, not Clark. Which doesn't change the fact that you're probably just looking to have a slapfight with Clark supporters.

Hey, if that's your thing, knock yourself out. But be up front about it.

[Cha]

26. It does"mention clark" so sorry

pointing out the obvious is "bait" to you.

edit~typo

[democracyindanger]

35. Yeah

I'm sorry too, not reading carefully and posting about it (although it still doesn't hurt my original argument). It's embarassing to be caught like that.

'Course, it's not half as embarassing as using somebody's quote as my signature, then fouling their words by ending with a second-grade spelling error.

That's a hint, by the way.

[bicentennial_baby]

29. Funny

Until just yesterday Clark was your 2nd choice, until he so "viciously" attacked Dean. Now the knives are out...I see how it is.

[Zero Division]

32. Oddly enough, as a Clark supporter, one of my first thoughts was:

Wow, this is a pretty tame jab at Clark.

You have to do a lot worse to make a Clark supporter's blood boil on this forum. }(

If all of the jab against candidates on DU were like this, perhaps we'd be about as congenial as the Brady Bunch. Ok, so maybe that's an overstatement. :P

[Rowdyboy]

34. Congratulations to the Dean camp....

Things are shaping up nicely for him...Gergen was on the radio earlier talking about the "near certainty" Dean had the nomination. Not sure I'd go quite that far but still, he's certainly become the man to beat.

[slinkerwink]

37. thank you

:toast:

[creativelcro]

43. awesome

[slinkerwink]

44. thanks

np :-)