Dean's view on Clinton, and the model for DFA.

[madfloridian]

I was fully expecting the divisive posts here, and I think there will be more to come for sure. It is to be expected. I think it is sad that a person "misquoted" a short paragraph....and did not fix it. Now that is really divisive.

Howard Dean has been very outspoken in his admiration for the organization of Newt Gingrich, Ralph Reed and others in their organizing at the grassroots. He based DFA on this model of electing at the local levels, taking over from the ground up.

Dean admires Bill Clinton greatly, said in his book that Clinton won because he was Bill Clinton....that he has a "personal magic." He gives full due to him for his accomplishments.

In his book, "You Have the Power", Dean talks about the Democrats' loss of power in the 90s.

He has many good things to say about Clinton, quite complimentary. However, he goes on to blame the DLC for claiming credit for Clinton's win for the wrong reason. He says Clinton won because he was Bill Clinton, because he had a personal kind of magic. He says the DLC claims he won because he moved to the right. Dean refers to the period when the DLC took such control of the party.

A few quotes from the book about how the moving to the right hurt us as a party:

"The Democrats, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s didn't stick up for the people who were left behind by the Reagan revolution and the corporate restructuring that came at the end of the first Bush recession. Eschewing 'class warfare', they didn't stick their necks out for the millions of American whose wages and living standards were frozen or falling.

The Democrats missed the growing resentment of the 'angry white men' who would later vote them out of congress because they just weren't listening. And when....tried to catch up with the Republicans by belatedly wooing angry white men, they failed to understand that we needed to woo them differently...not with the unsubtle appeals to racism and homophobia used by the Republican Right, but with economic arguments. We began to soft pedal our opposition to racism....and downplayed our remarkable achievements on civil rights..."

SNIP..."We became afraid of the Right, afraid of the anger, and instead of being steadfast, we pandered....The Democratic Party has paid a big price for that. Worse, our people have paid a big price for the collapse of our will to lead. We failed to articulate a vision for American that keyed into Americans' hope of overcoming economic and social instability. ..."

...."By remaining silent about the things that mattered so much to Americans, we allowed ourselves to be painted into a corner and to be defined by the Republican opposition. .."

Then he says this kind of behavior "laid the groundwork for the rise of the radical right".

[gottaB]

1. I got a survey from the DNC in like 1993

One of the questions was, "Is Newt Gingrich doing a good job?" Hell yes he was doing a good job of kicking our assess, getting everything he wanted while giving nothing. They should have asked if I approved of his agenda. I wrote that in at the end, but I don't think anybody took it to heart.

Actually, maybe it was a DLC survey.

[HereSince1628]

2. Sometimes I feel a psychic connection to Dean...

I didn't know he felt this way, but I feel the same. The triangulation strategy works best for charismatic personalities.

Clinton is certainly charismatic.

[NC_Nurse]

3. Thank you madfloridian!

When I read those headlines I knew it had to be out of context and I avoided those threads. Thank you for putting that quote into perspective. Howard Dean is a smart man who speaks his mind without considering the "sound bite" bullshit that people will make of it by chopping out inflammatory chunks out of context. That's why I like him, he doesn't just repeat the same inane "freedom" and "liberty" bullshit to play it safe. He says things that actually MEAN something.
People who want to take small parts and not read the rest might as well be Repubs - they think the same way.

[madfloridian]

5. I agree, thanks. But notice what gets responses...the one not true.

Dean is blunt and honest in his book about himself, his campaign, and everyone.

I fear we will self destruct as a party before the change is allowed.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Most definietly

He's a straight shooter and isn't afraid of the right-wingers. I can't wait till he's chairman. It's official the twelevth isn't it?

[realFedUp]

4. Give Howard a chance

Certainly the press gave Bush Inc. a year and more until
they showed the world what a mean and divisive agenda
was on the table.

And Arnold S has had a year of honeymoon before the
press really starting questioning his special interests
and plans to put the budget woes on the backs of
the young, elderly, union members and disabled.

Howabout giving the Doc a year at the least to
put into place a plan to strengthen the Democratic
party. Sometimes true democracy isn't built in a day
and certainly there is so much work to do by everyone
interested in taking our country back.

Get onboard.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. It won't happen because

Dean isn't a republican and they're afraid of him and that's pretty obvious from the attacks. I don't know why but I definietly think from the point Dean gets the chair he will be changing the ballpark rules for the better to where the republicans will be sorry. :) And I can't wait for that day. The dems have been hit hard and for too long.

[DFLforever]

6. Thanks, madfla for posting this. counter-post.

The true Dean in his own words.

Didn't post on the other thread because I didn't want to aid it.
Glad to see non-Deaniacs ripping away at the thesis of the post though.

[madfloridian]

7. I noticed that.

And it is appreciated that others are trying to counter the attacks.

[KoKo]

8. Thanks for the "real" quotes in context. I passed by that other one....

it wasn't worth responding to. Dean's honesty is so refreshing it just throws the the hatchet carriers off their game...so quotes out of context, repeated illusions to "screams" and "temper" after awhile just get stale.

It's looking good with Roemer out of the race. Best thing that's happened to this party in over a decade and maybe much longer.

[Debi]

9. People need to read Dean's books...

instead of the Republican (and anti-Dean) exerpts of the books.

He's the Real Deal and now the leader of our party.

Funny, NOW we have a leader that will listen to OUR concerns!!

WE are now the party!!

[lojasmo]

10. Thanks, MadFla....Kick for the TRUTH about Dean. EOM

[madfloridian]

13. More on the topic of Clinton from the book.

I wish people would read his books, not quote right wing folks about him.

More from "You Have the Power"

"What the Democrats haven't understood is that the strategy they identify with him (Clinton)--of moving toward the center in order to compromise--worked for Clinton not because compromise was itself a successful strategy, but because Bill Clinton was Bill Clinton...a man with magnetism, charisma, and personal appeal...."

And if we don't get the message as a party that moving to the center now is moving to the far right and leaving more issues for them to pre-empt....then we are in real trouble.

[Debi]

21. MadFL...

Thanks for posting all the stuff from the book (if doubters would read the book they'd know so much more about Dean)

(and about Clinton's involvemnt in the Primaries!!!)

Keep the faith...five more days!!

[madfloridian]

14. I am kicking this because it is truthful....

the post with the wrong subject line keeps rising. This one with the correct subject line keeps falling. I think the truth is important.

[Gold Metal Flake]

15. Great post

Thank you!

[madfloridian]

16. Thank you for the bump up on this post.

A whole lot of talking to and lecturing going on. Terry and Howard having a talk.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

17. HEY PLEASE STOP FULLY & REASONABLY REPORTING

& ANALYZING WHAT DEAN ACTUALLY SAYS & THINKS!!!

You are going to confuse a lot of people that way.

It is much easier & funner to make up things & say,

"DEAN ADMIRES GINGRICH, NOT CLINTON!"

Thanks, mad.

[madfloridian]

18. LOL

I knew I could count on our A-Schwarzenegger to put it in such clear terms. That is a unique ability.

And thanks.

Dean needs to watch for the blue collar workers...they will hurt that man. (borrowed from Kos)

[A-Schwarzenegger]

20. The, uh, other, uh, thing was locked.

Thanks again for a very informative post(s). We all want
to win (well, most of us), and we must be willing to do
what is needed, as long as we dont lose our souls in the
process. I am so enlivened again knowing that Dean is
going to be buzzing around & giving Dems a reason to hope
for strong & determined leadership & direction.

[Califooyah Operative]

19. hehe, serious. nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

22. It all makes sense to me

And I hate it when someone tries to twist words out of context, like suggesting that Dean in any way admires Gingrich more than Clinton. Admiring a specific skill is a very different kettle of fish.

Nice to have you posting here. And congratulations to all of Howard's backers.

[Eloriel]

23. On behalf of the truth

:kick:

Don't know why people feel the need to mischaracterize, but there sure are a bunch of 'em here at DU, huh? Kinda like they were doing it on purpose or something. Hmmmm....

[A-Schwarzenegger]

24. Yup.