Dean yesterday in Birmingham: "The SCLC is an icon for people of my age."

[madfloridian]

http://www.western-star.com/featr/content/shared/news/nation/stories/08/03SCLC.html

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — National Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean told the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on Tuesday that he takes inspiration from the SCLC's efforts to dismantle segregation four decades ago as he tries to find core values for his party and reassert its national influence.

"The SCLC is an icon for people of my age," said Dean, 56, former Vermont governor and failed presidential candidate in 2004. "But our work is not done."

Dean's remarks come at a time when both the SCLC and the Democratic Party are trying to gain support. The SCLC — after years of dwindling membership, infighting and financial problems — is battling a perception that it is irrelevant to younger blacks. The Democratic Party, after losing two hard-fought presidential contests in 2000 and 2004, is the minority party in Congress, and does not have control of the House or Senate.

The luncheon was attended by about 400 people who gave Dean cheers and two standing ovations. SCLC President Charles Steele Jr., a former Democratic state senator from Tuscaloosa, brought many Alabama Democratic leaders to the event."

More on the conference:
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWSV5/storyV5dnc03w.htm

"Portraying Democrats as the people of real moral values, Howard Dean addressed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights organization Tuesday amid complaints his party has taken black voters for granted too long. "

"If the election had been held on moral values last time, the Democrats would have won. Why is that? Because more people agree with our moral values," he said.

"Dean repeatedly lavished praise on the SCLC, founded by King and two other pastors in 1957, and he met privately with leaders of the organization and black elected officials attending the group's annual meeting, which concludes today."


Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, right, listens to civil rights activist J.L. Chestnut of Selma during the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's convention in Birmingham on Tuesday.
-- Charles Nesbitt AP/The Birmingham News

Dean and Mehlman will be in Atlanta tomorrow.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/0805/03convention.html

[bitchkitty]

1. Great picture of Howard!

I have high hopes for the Democratic party and America thanks to Dean.

[JNelson6563]

2. Rekindling important links

between the organizations and also with those orgs to the people they can best represent. Cool.

Julie

[madfloridian]

3. I remember those days....

What a shameful time in our history. I know what Howard Dean means when he says this King group was like an icon to him. I was a new teacher during this era, and I remember the pain and ugliness.

Many of the younger people here don't remember. Yes, he is doing the right thing here.

This administration will take us back to those days if we let them.

[Eloriel]

5. Just as he promised to do when he said

that African Americans are (justifiably) pissed with the Dem Party because we show up a few weeks before an election, expecting their vote, and forget about them in the meantime. He said we'd be there in the meantime too.

He IS a man of his word.

[madfloridian]

4. And then on to San Antonio for Hispanic Leadership Summit.

.

[Eloriel]

6. That is a gorgeous pic of him

Thanks, as always, madfl, for your untiring efforts to keep us apprised of Dean's wonderful works.

That man wears me out just contemplating his busy schedule. I'm SO glad he's got the stamina of an elephant (or something), 'cause there's lots to be done, and no one knows that better than he.

[madfloridian]

7. Before I retired from teaching, I kept up a fast pace, very active.

I don't think I could do it now. I was able to just keep going, lots of energy. The thought wears me out. I don't see how he does it. I think Judy Dean deserves kudos as well.