The Stop-Dean movement stumbles -Mark Shields

[Rose Siding]

snip>
This past week, the consensus judgment of Dean's rivals for the Democratic nomination -- that the Vermont governor is now the unchallenged front-runner who must be stopped in Iowa and/or New Hampshire -- was evident when Dean was vilified in and after a Boston debate for his admittedly awkward paraphrase about courting the votes of guys driving pickup trucks with likenesses of the Stars and Bars on them.

This was not about alleged bigotry or pandering. No, what the attacks on the front-runner were about was denying Dean the endorsement of the largest (1.6 million members), fastest-growing and probably most racially diverse union in the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

You get the picture. SEIU is 56 percent female and just 58 percent white. Make the backing of Dean uncomfortable for people of color. The plot failed. Not only will the SEIU formally endorse Dean on November 12, but almost certainly, it will be joined on that day by one of its principal rivals within labor, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the second-largest union (with 1.5 million members) in the AFL-CIO.

Desperation can make any human being, including candidates, do and say really unappealing things. U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-North Carolina), who has been mostly impressive up to now, attacked Dean for his Confederate pickup line in this ugly way: "The last thing we need in the South is somebody like you coming down and telling us what to do."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/10/column.shields.opinion.dean/index.html

[lindashaw]

1. I was dismayed when I heard Edwards do this...

and on C-span the other morning, probably nine or ten callers from both sides said that Dean shouldn't apologize for that remark. Everyone knew what he meant.

[Demobrat]

8. I could never vote for Edwards now.

But that's OK, people like him don't need people like me.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

2. Edwards is a little shmutz-eating putz

What he did hurt himself and Democratic Party.

He should shut up and drop out now. Next time he runs for president he should be old enough to wipe his own ass.

[RandomKoolzip]

6. A little harsh, but accurate.

Although I like some of what he has to say, Edwards (and Sharpton, too) came out of this incident looking like an oppurtunist. Why the hell is this guy still in the race? John, it's time to swim to shore, buddy.

[helleborient]

9. Why is this type of post necessary at all? (n/t)

[sandnsea]

3. This is just amazing

Dean makes a comment as disgusting as Bush's 'gays are sinners' comment, and Edwards ends up taking the heat for calling him on it.

:crazy:

[LuminousX]

4. I guess peopel don't agree with you

that the remark was that bad, especially when seen in the entire context of how he has been campaigning since February.

On the other hand, Edwards basically said nobody but a Southerner can be President.

[helleborient]

5. Can you go over again what was so disgusting about the comment?

Was it the mention of the Confederate flag on the mouth of a Democrat? Meaning we should sweep it under the rug and ignore one of the most significant symbols in Republican victories in recent years?

Was it that Dean is reaching out to Southerners when he happens to be from the North?

I'm not clear on what exactly is disgusting about the comment.

[RandomKoolzip]

7. The use of "disgusting" word-phrases like "Confederate Flag"

does not equal "disgusting" conduct or "disgusting" intent, nor does it make the candidate a racist. Look at the man's conduct and policies....How exactly do they further a racist agenda?

Last I heard, by the way, Dean was supporting the deportation of all Negroes, and the lychin' of all ethnics, fags, and coloreds. Posse Comitatus join-ups are held at Dean Meetups, didn't you know?{sarcasm.....


Dean is not a racist.