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June 12, 2005
"People want us to fight!"
Democratic Party Chief Howard Dean Defends Heated Rhetoric vs. GOP: 'People Want Us to Fight'
By Will Lester, Associated Press
Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Saturday that positive responses from key supporters have reinforced his determination to keep talking tough even though some congressional Democrats have suggested he should tone down his rhetoric.
"People want us to fight," Dean told the national party's executive committee. "We are here to fight."
Addressing Iowa party activitists later Saturday in Des Moines, he added: "We need to be blunt and clear about the things we're going to fight for. I'm tired of lying down in front of the Republican machine. We need to stand up for what we believe in."
"We can use some of your passion," Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, told Dean at the Iowa fundraiser.
Over the past week, Dean described Republicans as "pretty much a white, Christian party" and said many in the GOP "never made an honest living."
Several Democratic lawmakers distanced themselves from their chairman. Republican officials called on him to apologize. After weathering the criticism, Dean forged ahead with the GOP scolding at the meeting of Democratic National Committee leaders.
Yet some Democrats say the former Vermont governor should not remain the center of attention.
"Privately, people have said they don't want Howard Dean to become the story because we have more important issues to talk about," said Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore's presidential campaign in 2000.
"But publicly we will continue to give Howard Dean our strong support," she said.
One of Dean's predecessors at the DNC, Don Fowler said, "The controversy over this statement or that statement is a blip and only a blip." But Fowler complained about leading Democrats who aired their gripes last week. "Even if they don't like it, they should have enough sense not to make those comments," Fowler said.
At the session in a downtown hotel, Dean accused Republicans of trying to suppress the vote, selling access to the White House for lobbyists and basically being dishonest with the public.
"The reason the Republicans are in trouble is because there are so many cases where they say one thing and do something else," Dean said.
He said President Bush's education initiative, the "No Child Left Behind" program, cuts school spending and a clean environment plan, the "Clear Skies Initiative," permits more pollution.
A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee said Dean would rather sling mud than discuss serious matters.
"Dean's inflammatory rhetoric makes it clear that Democrats have no vision and would rather pander to the maniacal fringe than talk about the important issues facing our country," Tracey Schmitt said.
On political fundraising, the DNC trails the Republican Party by more than 2-to-1 despite Dean's reputation as a potent fundraiser. The Democrats have raised almost $19 million so far this year.
Dean said he is bringing in $1 million weekly and that $100,000 was received, unsolicited, from online donors during a 24-hour period in the past week as the furor over his remarks grew.
Records show the DNC took in $13.8 million over the first three months of 2005, compared with $8.4 million during the same period in 2003, the last year without a federal election. Terry McAuliffe was party chairman then.
Dean has given more than $1 million from the DNC to state parties. He said the DNC plans to share some of the money Dean raises for the national party when he is in a state. Both of these moves are winning him support from state party leaders.
In his remarks, Dean made few references to the recent brouhaha.
But when a DNC member joked that the best way to get the chairman's attention was to "jump up and down," a grinning Dean fired back: "That's my job."
The crowd of Democratic activists burst into applause.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
From The Associated Press:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=841539
Posted by Stace Medellin at June 12, 2005 01:37 PM | Permalink
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Comments
I, for one, am glad Howard is speaking bluntly about the Rethugs. The reason the Rethugs are so p.o.'d about his words is that they ring so true. Obviously, the Rethugs know they are a.) either a bunch of rich, white, Christian assholes or b.) a bunch of poor, white, religiously insane bigots. Dean simply told the truth, and the Repukes thought it was hell.
As far as the right wing Democrats go, they are merely a bunch of candy ass losers who oughta get the hell out of politics.
Everyone on this blog should be supporting Howard Dean when he "talks tough" to Rethugs and even if he decides to do the same with spineless Dems. It's time to take off the gloves, people and knock the living daylights out of the Rethugs and the panty waist Democrats.
Posted by: Kris Graham at June 14, 2005 09:13 AM
I really don't have anyplace else to post this little jewel since I don't get to come up with the topics on this blog. Anyhow, this little bit of information should get your hackles up. Ron and I have been saying for months now that Chimpie Boy doesn't intend to EVER leave the office of the presidency, and it looks like some of the Rethugs in Congress intend to repeal the 22nd amendment to our constitution in order to help the dumbshit stay in office.
Bush for Life: GOP introduces new bill to Congress
author: Colorado Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Republicans have officially started the campaign to amend the Constitution by repealing the 22nd Amendment - the one that confines the President to two terms. If the Republicans hold their current strength, or increase it, in the 2006 Congressional elections, expect this measure to pass allowing Bush to remain President...
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the 22nd amendment to the Constitution. (Introduced in House)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.J.RES.24.IH: (Notice this is on the Library of Congress server, where the current Congressional record is maintained)
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the 22nd amendment to the Constitution. (Introduced in House)
HJ 24 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 24
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the 22nd amendment to the Constitution.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 17, 2005
Mr. HOYER (for himself, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SABO, and Mr. PALLONE) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the 22nd amendment to the Constitution.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:
`Article --
`The twenty-second article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is repealed.'
I got this information off the website: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/319395.shtml
I also saw the same information on www.smirkingchimp.com dated today. The Repukes intend to steal another election in 2008 through the use of vote fraud, voter intimidation and all the other tactics they used in 2004. Oh, we'll still have elections. The fascist Repukes want to maintain the illusion that we still have democracy in this country although those of us who don't have our heads squarely up our asses already know we haven't had democracy in this country for many a moon now.
If we don't DEMAND true election reform in this country via paper trail ballots, open source code etc. then this country is screwed forever because the neocon Repukes in power don't EVER intend to let go of our government.
Anybody still sleeping, or is everybody awake now!?
Posted by: Kris Graham at June 15, 2005 10:55 AM
They wouldn't dare.
Posted by: Mike Chappell at June 15, 2005 03:53 PM
Fortunately, even if they do get this passed in the legislature, the drugstore cowboy from Connecticut will not get a 3rd term.
If this does pass the 2/3rds required in each house, it then must be passed by 3/4ths of the states within a 7 year period of time.
I noticed the bill has been sitting in committee since April, the graveyard for many bills, both good and bad.
Posted by: Aimee Mobley Turney at June 15, 2005 03:55 PM