Dean's Words Draw Democratic Rebukes
Washington Post ^ / Thursday, June 9, 2005 / Shailagh Murray
Howard Dean's recent spate of verbal zingers has fellow Democrats wringing their hands, while generating a big shrug from the Democratic National Committee chairman himself.
The latest flap came Monday when Dean said of the Republican Party, "It's pretty much a white, Christian party." The comment drew fire from Dean's GOP opponents, but it also rankled Democrats, who have been nervous ever since the outspoken former Vermont governor and presidential candidate won the DNC post.
Although many admire Dean's fundraising and party-building skills, they worry about his penchant for red-hot rhetoric. Last week, Dean said of Republicans, "A lot of them have never made an honest living in their lives." Earlier he suggested that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Tex.), now under an ethics cloud, ought to return to Houston to serve jail time.
But the "Christian party" comment has the potential of repelling millions of voters, and it had many Democrats running for cover. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) told reporters yesterday, "I don't think the statement [Dean] made was a helpful statement," and she attributed it to "the exuberance" of being in the job.
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), one of Dean's opponents in the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries, said the comment was "way over the top" and said he will ask Dean to explain himself during a previously scheduled meeting with Senate Democrats today. "I'm sure I won't be the only one," Lieberman said.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), who chairs the House Democrats' campaign committee, said he would prefer that Dean pick different targets. "There's plenty of things to talk about -- sweetheart deals to tobacco, pharmaceutical industry, big oil," Emanuel said, naming a few industries that he and other Democrats accuse the GOP of coddling. Democrats "don't need gratuitous hits," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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