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June 12, 2005
What Dean Said
In case you've only seen the flury of commentary about what Dean said, I thought I'd reproduce the quote:
"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 to 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.
I think a lot of people have misinterpreted the outrage over this set of comments. The media/Republicans/many Democrats aren't outraged over these comments because they wrongly believe them to be false, after all it is true (as quick blogger studies have shown) that 99% of Republican elected officials are white and probably more than 80% are Christian and everybody, including the outraged, know it.
No, the problem with the comments isn't just your standard Chomsky-ite speaking of truth to power, it's that the context with which Dean speaks makes it sound like there is something wrong with being white and Christian. Furthermore, that and comments like saying that Republicans have never made an honest living in their lives reinforces to whites, Christians and entrepreneurs/small businessmen that the Democratic Party just doesn't get them, is hostile to their way of living, thinking and making a living, and that they should just stick with the Republican Party.
To paraphrase that famous guideline, it's the context, stupid. It's ok for a minority politician to make a point (usually to a minority crowd) about the lack of diversity of the other party. It's ok for Jim Wallis to make a point about the inconsistencies in religious teachings and the campaign and governing practices of Republican politicians (it's also ok to quote the bible, but not ok to lazily paraphrase it). It's not ok to bash Republicans for 15 minutes and then follow it up by adding that they're basically the [insert group*] party. Dean's legions of supporters urge the Democratic Party to put a positive message and agenda forward, I suggest Dean take their advice.
* - white, Christian, military, soldier, rural, pro-life, etc
Posted by Chris at June 12, 2005 07:37 PM
Comments
Democrats are the Jew party.
Posted by: MEM ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.chrisishardcore.com//nav-commenters.gif)
at June 13, 2005 11:50 AM
Hopefully that will live on...
Posted by: chris at June 13, 2005 12:18 PM
If it wasnt for Jacobs and Adelman I dont know how I can keep on convincing my fellow jews in dekalb to continue the trend. A number of local (cynthia) and national (sharpton) leaders arnt exactly showing a love of the chosen people. And with the anti-sandy springs movement also being painted as coming from "atlanta democrats" the party needs to start doing some jewish outreach. North Dekalb is already a battleground and North Fulton will turn into one, and we cant win them without the jewish vote (Sandy Springs alone is 10% jewish).
Posted by: Josh Abrams at June 13, 2005 03:43 PM
A more appropriate concern is, "do we want someone this tone-deaf leading the DNC?"
Posted by: drzachary at June 15, 2005 01:59 PM
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