Anyone seen the anti-Dean e-mail Gephardt is sending out?

[wyldwolf]

Not sure I can post it here in it's entirity because I have no link to it. Just my e-mail.

Also, I really don't want to get into another Dean bash flame fest even though it appears to be a legitimate piece from a democratic campaign.

So, how should I proceed? Post it? Yes? No?

[StopTheMorans]

1. well, if you are going to bash

then at least provide some damn ammo so we can flame you:)

[wyldwolf]

3. NO WAY! I'm bashing with NO ammo!

... seriously. OK, just as a PSA for Dean and Gephardt people:

A Message from Steve Murphy, Campaign Manager
I don't know about you, but I've had enough. Howard
Dean still insists that he's the candidate from "the
Democratic wing of the Democratic party."

Well, where was Howard Dean when we needed him?

In 1993, Dick Gephardt led the fight to pass the Clinton
Economic Plan that led to a balanced budget and the
greatest economic boom this country has ever seen.


That measure passed the Congress without a single Republican
vote because we asked the wealthy to pay their fair
share in taxes.

It took guts for Dick Gephardt to lead that fight,
and it took guts to pass the Brady Bill and the Assault
Weapons Ban in the same Congress. Democrats paid the
political price for both, but Dick Gephardt did what
he knows is right.

And where was Howard Dean?

Howard Dean said it was a "good thing" Democrats lost
control of the Congress. He said, "the new direction
is not a bad direction." Howard Dean even said Democrats
"deserved the losses they suffered - they veered too
far to the left."

TOO FAR TO THE LEFT? And now he tells us he's the only
real Democrat?

Here's the truth about Howard Dean: instead of standing
up for the Clinton Economic Plan, Howard Dean said
we should cut Social Security and Medicare to balance
the budget in 1995 - after Democrats had lost control
of the Congress.

Howard Dean was head of the Governor's Association.
He was speaking from a position of great influence.
And he gloated about the Democratic losses!

But he didn't stop there. Howard Dean went on to specifically
endorse the Republican Plan to cut $270 billion from
Medicare. He even called Medicare, "the worst federal
program ever."

Well, before Democrats passed Medicare in 1965 a third
of all seniors had no health insurance whatsoever.
They either went without health care when they got
sick, or they went bankrupt paying for it.

Medicare isn't one of the worst federal programs ever.
It's one of the Democratic Party's greatest accomplishments.


Let's take that other issue that helped cause all those
Democratic losses in Congress - the Brady Bill and
the Assault Weapons Ban.

Guess who opposed both? Once again, Howard Dean. That's
how he earned his A Rating from the NRA!

So there's a fundamental difference between Dick Gephardt
and Howard Dean. When the circumstances are most difficult,
you can count on Dick Gephardt to stand up and fight
for what's right.

I was never more proud of my association with Dick
Gephardt than in 1995. He dug in and won the fight
with Newt Gingrich. The so-called Republican Revolution
ended in one year, after they lost the government shutdown
fight.

Remember what that was about? The Republican Plan to
cut Medicare by $270 billion - the very same plan
Howard Dean endorsed.

So when it comes to being a real Democrat, I'm putting
my money on Dick Gephardt. And I hope you will too!

If you agree with me that we need a candidate like
Dick Gephardt who can stand up to George W. Bush on
fundamental issues like protecting Social Security
and Medicare, and keeping the Brady Bill and the Assault
Weapons Ban (which expires next year), click the URL
below to make an on-line donation.
https://secure.ga3.org/03/murphyappeal

Let's show Howard Dean he's not the only candidate
who can raise money on the Internet - and let's show
Howard Dean who's the real Democrat - Dick Gephardt!


Every contribution up to $250 is matched by the federal
matching funds program - so anything you can give up
to that amount is automatically doubled.

Send $270 to offset Howard Dean's support for cutting
Medicare and I will send you a certificate joining
me as a Charter Member of the Dick Gephardt Real Democrat
Club! Every dollar counts, so even if you can¿t give
$270, your $25, $50 or even $100 contribution will
help show Howard Dean!

Recent national polls show Dick Gephardt is the best
candidate to beat George W. Bush. Please send your
contribution today so we can put the real Democrat
in the White House.

Thank you for your commitment to the ideals of the
Democratic Party.

Steve Murphy
9/20/03

[HFishbine]

5. Not enough

to erase the memory of Geppy standing with Bush in the rose garden, ready to go to war.

[Pastiche423]

9. Ayup

[deutsey]

12. Gosh, Geppy

You must be so proud of this photo...

:puke:

[returnable]

10. But... but...

I agree Gephardt hung us out to dry in the Rose Garden. That's one of the reasons why he ain't got my vote.

But would a Dean supporter please respond to the charges detailed in that letter? Those are pretty serious issues for someone who claims he wants to "take America" back from the Republicans...

[wyldwolf]

13. No response to your request...

?

[returnable]

15. Guess not

Too bad, too. They're issues worth discussing.

[StopTheMorans]

6. well gee, thanks Gep,

and how have you supported Shrub lately? Any more Rose garden shrub-licking events planned?

[tsipple]

16. Point by Point

In 1993, Dick Gephardt led the fight to pass the Clinton Economic Plan that led to a balanced budget and the greatest economic boom this country has ever seen.

This paragraph insinuates Dean opposed the 1993 Clinton economic recovery plan. Read the letter carefully, though, and you'll see even Gephardt's campaign doesn't make that claim, because it's false.

By the way, five years earlier, in 1988, Dean stood with Richard Gephardt, worked on his campaign, and endorsed him. Perhaps Gephardt forgets?

Howard Dean said it was a "good thing" Democrats lost control of the Congress. He said, "the new direction is not a bad direction." Howard Dean even said Democrats "deserved the losses they suffered - they veered too far to the left."

Looking for citations on those quotes (for context). Anyone? I don't disagree with the "veered too far to the left" comment, though. There were some angry voters at that time.

But he didn't stop there. Howard Dean went on to specifically endorse the Republican Plan to cut $270 billion from Medicare. He even called Medicare, "the worst federal program ever."

Cut the rate of growth, actually. And that's exactly what happened, because Medicare growth was untenable. As for "the worst federal program ever," yeah, if you're a doctor, as Dean is, it was. Medicare got in the way of your treating your patients with dignity and respect. It still needs improvement, but it was very bad then.

Guess who opposed both? Once again, Howard Dean. That's how he earned his A Rating from the NRA!

I'm not aware of Dean's opposition to these laws, but he does oppose additional gun control laws, and he is at least tolerated by the NRA. After Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" comparison of the U.S. to gun-saturated Canada, I'm coming around on that issue myself. Some pols even say that Dean's support the status quo on gun laws make him more popular in the South and Midwest.

When the circumstances are most difficult, you can count on Dick Gephardt to stand up and fight for what's right.

Like standing in the Rose Garden with Bush to support the Iraq invasion?

Recent national polls show Dick Gephardt is the best candidate to beat George W. Bush.

Which ones? Because Zogby has Dean, Clark, and Kerry the most competitive, with Gephardt less competitive (but within the margin of error of Dean, Clark, and Kerry, so statistically tied).

[CWebster]

8. Curious

Wonder if the DLC insiders and their representitive candidates will circle the wagons around Dean?

[Cappurr]

2. I would post it. Just copy it right off your email and paste

It may well say more about Gephardt than it does about Dean.

[wyldwolf]

4. Just did. Reply #3

[Cha]

7. And I read on DU that geppy sent "Blonde Monica" to Vermont

to dig the dirt up on Dean! Any luck with that, gephardt?

[sleipnir]

11. Let the Mud Slinging Begin

It's been going on here for months, now it's finally starting out on the campaign trail. Of course, it's mostly coming from Dems who are afraid of Dean and Clark.

[Cocoa]

14. is Gephardt's account correct?

Is his portrait of Dean in the Clinton years a fair characterization?