Stressing His Party's Diversity, Dean Targets Its Traditional Base

[Khephra]

Stressing His Party's Diversity, Dean Targets Its Traditional Base

By Michael Powell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 24, 2003; Page A02


NEW YORK, Nov. 23 -- Former Vermont governor Howard Dean sought to stir the Democratic Party's traditional base of blacks, Latinos and labor unions Sunday, arguing that his campaign for the party's presidential nomination would give voice to their needs.



Too often, he said, national Democratic candidates wait until Election Day draws near to appeal to the party faithful. Instead, two months before the first party caucus in Iowa, he worked his way south through Manhattan, from a Baptist church service in Harlem to a major teaching hospital to a late-afternoon labor rally a dozen blocks from Ground Zero.

"People use to say our campaign wasn't very diverse. Well, I see a lot of diversity," Dean said, raising his arms to a raucous hall filled with union members, a majority of them black and Latino. "Instead of coming to black and Latinos last, we're starting here . . . and that's because we're not afraid to be Democrats!"

Dean repeatedly cited issues near to the heart of these constituencies, including health care, jobs and his opposition to the war in Iraq. Most polls show that about 75 percent of black and labor voters opposed the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

more....................

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8845-2003Nov23.html

[slinkerwink]

1. great article!

:hi:

[Rowdyboy]

2. Major Owens was entirely correct to point out that FDR

owed his sucess to courting white southern males. Now Dean faces a much harder problem than Roosevelt because so much has changed in the last 70 years. Can he do it? Not sure, but I'm always open to success-from any candidate.

[depakid]

3. This quote about says it all:

"What inspires me is the way he speaks so bluntly," Owens said. "And that's because he's broken the chain of the contributor class. He's free."

[xxqqqzme]

4. 'the contributor class'

I hope the Dean campaign finds that quote.

[newsjunkie]

5. Thats the main thing

I like about him too. He is courageous and saying what so many of us feel without worrying about how PC it may or may not sound. He stands for the working people and what is right for us. I am definately voting for him.

[MoonAndSun]

6. this quote is just one of the reasons I support Dean....

"Instead of coming to black and Latinos last, we're starting here . . . and that's because we're not afraid to be Democrats!"



that needs to be repeated over and over, by all the candidates. We are not afraid to be Democrats!