S.F. Chronicle
Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, unapologetic in the face of recent criticism that he has been too tough on his political opposition, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans are “a pretty monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It’s pretty much a white Christian party.”
“The Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people,” Dean said Monday, responding to a question about diversity during a forum with minority leaders and journalists. “We’re more welcoming to different folks, because that’s the type of people we are. But that’s not enough. We do have deliver on things: jobs and housing and business opportunities.”
The comments are another example of why the former Vermont governor, who remains popular with the party’s grassroots, has been a lightning rod for criticism since being elected to head the Democratic National Committee last February. His comments last week that Republicans “never made an honest living in their lives,” which he later clarified to say Republican “leaders,” were disavowed by leading Democrats including Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Dean was outspoken — as usual — as he trolled California this week, stoking his party’s coffers, and meeting with grass-roots activists. His San Francisco visit was at the tail end of a cross-country road trip, and Dean said that he will continue to pound the pavement — and the GOP — to get the Democratic message across to new voters, particularly in minority communities.
But Dean’s style and rhetoric have sparked increasing criticism from inside the Democratic Party in recent weeks — and gleeful Republicans say they couldn’t be happier.
“Where do I sign up on a committee to keep Howard Dean?” crowed GOP operative Jon Fleischmann, publisher of the FlashReport, a daily roundup of California political news and commentary. “He’s the best thing to happen to the GOP in ages.”
“I’m thrilled he’s the DNC chair,” says Tom Del Becarro, chairman of the Contra Costa County Republican Party. “Howard Dean is scaring away the middle. People don’t like angry people. They like hopeful people.”
38,
While I will admit that correlation is not equivalent to causation, let me ask this question of you:
Don’t you see a correlation between the Progressive Revolution that started in the 1960′s and the downfall of our society as we know it? We have had conversations about how America was in the 50′s and before and how we wish it was now more like that now. That changed when the 60′s began, and the “Progressive Revolution”.
Ted
Or maybe to finer point on it, Ted:
The Pill
The Sexual Revolution
Johnson’s Great Society/War on Poverty
Roe v. Wade
I agree Sasha, Peejz, Ted.
It really angers me that Dean seems to think that if a person is white and a Christian that (in his limited cranium deficiency) means that the person is and can only be a Republican. I don’t understand what is “bad” about being a Christian and what difference a persons skin color matters. Seems to me that “Dr. Dean” is very racist and it is starting to come out. I really don’t believe that the Democratic party is going to put up with this type of antic for long. After all, some of the most religious and conservative and moderate people I know are not just whites.
Politics and religion are not a good mix- people are very protective of their religious beliefs (i.e. Palestinians vs. Israel). It is time for both parties to just deal with political views, not religious, and quit lumping everyone together because of skin color, religious beliefs, etc.
Nobody says it quite like you, cf
Long time no hear from.
Thanks Sasha- I’ve missed everyone.
Think I’ll be able to get back to blogging a bit now. Looks like you all have been holding up our end of things. Way to be!!:!:
question for ya’ll
do we have anyone here that is not a “white Christian” ????
Yes, we have people of all colors from various religious sects. Any other questions?
I’m not Christian… but alas I am white… sorry