HOWARD DEAN'S controversial crack is costing him.....

[FrenchieCat]

http://www.nypost.com/commentary/10384.htm
Washington Post -

November 10, 2003 -- HOWARD DEAN'S controversial crack about "guys
with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks" has cost him the
endorsement of a top New York Democrat, The Post has learned.
Democratic sources said Senate Minority Leader David Paterson of
Manhattan, the highest-ranking African-American in the Legislature,
dropped a planned endorsement because he found Dean's comment
racially offensive.

"I think it was insulting to whites and blacks," Paterson told The
Post, adding that the comments "really knocked out a movement here
in New York that was beginning to go toward Dean."

"It was insulting to associate Southern whites with Confederate
flags, and it was insulting to blacks because, as Mayor] Maynard Jackson used to say, the Confederate flag, to black
people, is like a swastika, and to say you want that kind of vote is
offensive."

Paterson, who said he's known and liked Dean for almost 10 years,
also said he was disappointed that it took the former Vermont
governor several days to apologize.

"It surprised a lot of people that Dean couldn't just step forward
and say, 'I'm sorry if I offended anyone,' and instead, like Carl
McCall, waited three days to say what he should have said on the
first day," said Paterson, referring to the former state comptroller
and Democratic gubernatorial contender's refusal to apologize for
using his influence to get a job for his daughter.

"This isn't an insurmountable problem, but it does give you a little
pause," continued Paterson, who said he's not certain whom he will
endorse for president now.
----------------

[w4rma]

1. An editorial in Murdoch's rag

:eyes:

HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2003
Neo – CONNED !
…
In addition to publications, multiple think tanks and projects were created to promote their agenda. A product of the Bradley Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) led the neocon charge, but the real push for war came from the Project for a New American Century (PNAC) another organization helped by the Bradley Foundation. This occurred in 1998 and was chaired by Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol. They urged early on for war against Iraq, but were disappointed with the Clinton administration, which never followed through with its periodic bombings. Obviously, these bombings were motivated more by Clinton’s personal and political problems than a belief in the neocon agenda.
…
The money and views of Rupert Murdoch also played a key role in promoting the neocon views, as well as rallying support by the general population, through his News Corporation, which owns Fox News Network, the New York Post, and Weekly Standard. This powerful and influential media empire did more to galvanize public support for the Iraqi invasion than one might imagine. This facilitated the Rumsfeld/Cheney policy as their plans to attack Iraq came to fruition. It would have been difficult for the neocons to usurp foreign policy from the restraints of Colin Powell’s State Department without the successful agitation of the Rupert Murdoch empire. Max Boot was satisfied, as he explained: “Neoconservatives believe in using American might to promote American ideals abroad.” This attitude is a far cry from the advice of the Founders, who advocated no entangling alliances and neutrality as the proper goal of American foreign policy.
…
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr071003.htm

[FrenchieCat]

2. Does that mean that it didn't happen?

Then Patterson is still on board? Right?

Or could this be a biased fabrication?:wow: ?:wow:

[LuminousX]

3. Was he really on board in the first place?

[FrenchieCat]

4. That's what the rag says "quoting" him....

But looks like he'll be able to sue if the it's not true.

[LuminousX]

7. Unless he is looking to cause the most damage

Even though he and Sharpton aren't the best of pals and have been at odds, one would think they would be cooperative in this field. He would have no reason NOT to endorse a person he has worked with for many years, in Al Sharpton.

For this to be 'damaging' I would need to see some comments he made prior to this in support of Dean.

[Rose Siding]

5. We have Maynard's own words on Dean's remarks

snip>
That last dig showed how fast Sharpton and the Democratic candidates get lost without a compass. Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first African-American mayor who died this summer, gave Dean some of the loudest applause at the DNC meeting.

"Dean blew the roof off today," Jackson said. "There was no mealy-mouth wishy-washiness about it. It was very gutsy."

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1107-04.htm

But go conservative editorialists!

[FrenchieCat]

6. They are quoting a

Dead guy????? Now that is odd.

[KittyWampus]

8. Okay, Now THAT Was Funny

:D

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. It's as if Moses himself spoke.

[Egnever]

10. Of course it cost him

anyone that bought into the spin on the whole flap is sure to be taking a second look.

Question is will it last or are people just making sure they arent tied to it before they endorse?

Reality is almost all of the media while saying he shouldnt have said it also in the same breathe say they dont for a second think he is a racist or that he thinks racusm is a good thing.

He flubed a stump speach line that was risky to use in the first place and his oponents used it against him. Pretty much everyone sees it for what it is. In the end I dont think it will hurt him much. But yea this week at least there will be people that will pull back in order to distance themselves from the controversy.

If it continues to be an issue it may have long lasting effect but with the medias general apathy about the whole issue in general I dont think it will be a long term issue.

[FrenchieCat]

11. I love that pic.......

Did Al Win, or did Dean Win...that is the question....?

I know who will win though......
THE BAD ASS IS BACK......

[Egnever]

12. Is it me or does carol have a thing for Dean?

She seems to be in the background in a lot of these pics.

The more of these finger pointing things I see the more I wonder what the hell these guys werre talking about. Judging by carols reaction in the background these were some knee slapin moments.

[MercutioATC]

13. It wasn't a "crack", it was a position statement.

I, personally, agreed with it. I still don't see how saying that southern blacks and southern whites should work together because their common needs outweigh their differences is a BAD thing nor do I see the point in denying that, while the Confererate flag is a divisive symbol, not everybody who displays it is a racist.

I thought the message was one of inclusion. I think it was an intelligent statement.

[whirlygigspin]

14. controvercial crack

-insert joke here-

[Tim The Enchanter]

15. Was there an uproar when the Dukes of Hazard premiered?

Hell they didn't just have a sticker- the whole damn car was a confederate flag. I know the good ol' boys didn't mean any harm and weren't running for president, but I don't remember any heated discussions about the confederate flag and southern pride.

I do, however, remember the trouble a certain outspoken member of CSNY got into hot water with a controversial song. As Lynard Skynard sang in rebuttal, "I hope Neil Young will remember a Southern Man don't want him around anyhow."

Seriously though, I think the issue of racism is being oversimplied in reaction to Dean's oversimplified comment. There are people with confederate flags who are not anymore racist than some older Democrats I know. Racism is not exclusive to the GOP. I do realize that it is a much more widespread and deeper problem in the South, but racism is ignorance and until racists are brought to the table nothing will change. It has been a slow and painful process for this nation, but if we are not willing to take the pain things will remain the same.

[Padraig18]

16. Stick. Dead horse. Beat. Repeat. n/t