Dean Defends Record on Race in Debate

[DoveTurnedHawk]

Howard Dean, a former governor of mostly white Vermont, was put on the defensive on his record on race in the last debate before Democratic presidential campaign voting kicks off in a week.

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton forced Dean to acknowledge Sunday that no blacks or Hispanics served in his cabinet during 12 years as governor.

<...>

Sharpton said he was asking about the Cabinet, which has a small number of members.

"No, we did not," conceded Dean, whose state has a population that is nearly 98 percent white.

<...>

Moments later, Dean noted that he has the endorsements of more members of the Congressional Black Caucus (news - web sites) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus than any other presidential hopeful.

But Sharpton ridiculed that, saying, "I think you only need co-signers if your credit is bad."

<...>

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040112/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_debate&cid=694&ncid=716

DTH

[Jim Sagle]

1. "I think you only need co-signers if your credit is bad."

So Dean sucks because he can get endorsements and Sharpton rocks because he can't.

Yeah.

Right.

[Guaranteed]

3. Yeah, I always thought it was the other way around.

If your credit is bad, you won't get a co-signer.

[imax2268]

2. Sharpton

is grabbing for straws now...he knows he doesn't have a chance so he is bringing up this crap...

Hey Sharpton...two words...Tawana Brawley...!

[fjc]

4. It was legitimate criticism of the leading candidate...

and I think quite in tune with Sharpton's reason for being there, to press the Democrats toward their former greatness on issues pertaining to civil rights. Sharpton will turn around and support Dean when the time comes, and then lobby hard for some kind of job. I really like what Sharpton has been doing with these debates. He's a refreshingly frank voice in a sea of sound bite messages.

[realdem]

5. Sharpton was grandstanding...again, but

even Dean said it was a good point. He also said he had many minorities in his administrative staff. I didn't mind Sharpton bringing it up, but his gotcha attitude was obnoxious.

[Eloriel]

9. No, Sharpton is after delegates

And he was pissed that Jesse Jackson, Jr. not only endorsed Dean instead of him, but endorsed him in SC, where Sharpton hopes to pick up at least 15% of the vote so he can have some delegates. Taking delegates into the convention gives you a bargaining chip or two.

I have been a defender of Sharpton for as long as I've been on DU (when the subject came up, of course). But with this intellectually dishonest bit of race-baiting, I see Sharpton in a new light and have to step back from my support of him in any way.

It wasn't "good enough" that Dean had minorities on his personal staff; it's not "good enough" that he has gobs of diverse -- and important -- endorsements; it's not "good enough" that his campaign staff is probably THE most diverse among all the candidates; it's not "good enough" that Dean alone is trying to raise the issue to the level of national dialogue in a thoughtful way (see his speech, which not even rabid anti-Dean people here at DU could find a bad thing to say:

Restoring the American Community - SC, Dec. 7, 2003
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002565.html#more

DU thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=844281#846961

Black Commentator http://www.blackcommentator.com/68/68_cover_dean.html

Nope. Let's take a universe of SIX PEOPLE, in a total population of well under a million and 97% of it white, and make a goddamned federal case about it.

Absolutely shameful. Not only that, as this unfair and incomplete story on Dean gets publicized, it will tend to depress African American turnout if Dean is the nominee -- to Bush's advantage. Once again, Democrats are doing Rove's work for him.

Eloriel

[DoveTurnedHawk]

10. Which Is Exactly Why We Should Not Nominate Dean

as this unfair and incomplete story on Dean gets publicized, it will tend to depress African American turnout if Dean is the nominee

The fact of the matter is, as a practical matter, Dean is damaged goods. He also has a poor record on issues involving race, including his historical comments against race-based affirmative action.

And I still love Al Sharpton. :-)

DTH

[sendero]

11. with a cabinet of 6 people....

...in a state like Vermont with a small minority population, how many minority members of his staff would you recommend?

Frankly, I wish Sharpton could put his clever tongue to some productive use. Does he have reason to think Dean is not sensitive to minority issues? Does he have evidence in terms of actions? Otherwise, why not STFU, he is hurting our party for nothing because "long-shot" would be a charitable way to describe his position.

Taking pithy potshots might be fun, but the more he does it the less I think of him.

[Kahuna]

6. Dean has no "record" on race and needs to stop...

pretending that he does.

[Hoosier Democrat]

7. Sharpton insinuating racism...

Sharpton insinuating racism is like having the Bush twins call someone a lush. Ol' Reverend Al has been a vicious race-baiter since his glory days during the Tawana Brawley episode.

So, Dean's cabinet didn't have any minorities. Anyone ever been to Vermont? To quote a comedian I heard recently "It's whiter than a Utah Young Republicans meeting." This would be like asking the Governor of North Dakota why there are no Asians in his cabinet.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

12. I'd have asked "Rev." Sharpton

how many Korean store owners he planned to have in his administration, hm?

Plan on libeling any more district attorneys, Al ol' boy?

:puke:

[Laughing Mirror]

8. OK, Fine. But why couldn't Dean bring himself to DC

for the presidential candidate debate in DC last week. He put himself on the ticket and has even received the endorsement from DC democrats, but his chair was empty, while Sharpton, Mosley-Braun, and Kucinich showed up. Watch the video on the C-span site. It's a great debate. About 50 minutes in, Sharpton addresses Howard Dean in the empty chair, and as a response, jumps into Dean's empty seat and pantomimes a response when he once again puts Dean on the spot asking Dean why he didn't show up.

http://c-span.org/