Howard Dean's 'McCain Appeal'

[Hoppin_Mad]

"When asked why they've cast their lot with the man, Dean supporters normally don't cite positions, they talk about the man. From early on, Dean's appeal has been personal. Even if his supporters don't agree with him, they're willing to trust him. In fact, they may like him more because he doesn't agree with them. They like his toughness and think it makes him an excellent adversary for President Bush.

This is Dean's "McCain appeal."

As Sen. John McCain was in 2000 for the Republicans, Dean is 2004's "straight-talk candidate." He's the guy whose greatest talent is making you believe he's being honest with you, that he's telling it like it is - consequences be damned. "

For the most part a good article.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1112/p09s01-codc.html

[DFLforever]

1. There's some truth here -

Even if his supporters don't agree with him, they're willing to trust him. In fact, they may like him more because he doesn't agree with them. They like his toughness and think it makes him an excellent adversary for President Bush.

I had to laugh when I read this - a laugh of recognition.

[ScotTissue]

12. McCain lost

BWTFDIK?

[ShimokitaJer]

13. McCain lost in the primary, not the election

So I guess there may be a lesson to be learned there -- just don't ask me what it is.

If it happened right now, I'd be willing to bet McCain could beat Bush in a primary. The vast majority of support for Bush is simply support for "Republican president." I think most Repubs can probably see what an embarassment he is, while McCain has just increased his cache of goodwill.

[Eloriel]

2. Before I read the article

Let me just say that what you quote is only half of the picture. Dean would never have gotten ANY support if he didn't have quite a few policies that people support, or could support.

What's terrific, speaking for myself, is that he's also a man I can really believe in. Far more just about any other politician (not just candidate) I can name, btw.

IOW: the positions came first, and in Dean's case a lot of his early support was his courageous anti-war stand, as most DUers know full well.

Eloriel

[ShimokitaJer]

3. I have to agree

I also agree with Eloriel that his positions are solid. But if positions were all I was looking for, I'd be going with Kucinich.

Dean projects a McCainian style honesty and common sense that appeals to those of us who are disgusted both with the lies of the Bush administration and the political cowardice of many Congressional Dems. It's not the fact that Kerry, Gephardt, etc. supported IWR, but the fact that they are perceived as doing so out of political expedience rather than observation of the facts. They are seen as giving in to the powers that be, and THAT's what many liberals like myself want to see stopped.

It's also that same common sense approach that makes me think he'll have an appeal beyond the liberal base represented here at DU. With all the idiocy going on in the current administration, Dean has a lot to speak out against, and his conservative fiscal record in Vermont exposes the dishonesty in the McGovern label. The American people are becoming more and more ready to distrust the RW rhetoric, and Dean's style appeals to the common people looking for honesty.

Could another candidate do the same? Maybe, but many have already shot themselves in the foot. The biggest obstacle to seeming honest is a perception that someone's primary motivation is political. Those who voted for IWR screwed the country over, but their plan to avoid political backlash failed miserably. Any attempt now to speak out against the war seems like just that much more pandering. The same goes for the attacks on Dean's gaffes. Certainly Dean should have avoided mentioning the Confederate flag, but I doubt anyone who actually listened to him thought he was trying to appeal to Southern racists. The attempt to paint it as such is easily seen through and exposed as the political attack it is. When the candidate being attacked has an aura of simple honesty (one might say campaign-era media-created Bushlike) and the attackers are already seen as political animals, there is no way to avoid backlash. The "teflon" quality of Dean is as much a product of his attackers' reputations as it is Dean's own qualities.

Should personality and perception matter this much in an election? Of course not. Do they? Just look at who's sitting in the white house if you want the answer to that one.

[TexasMexican]

5. McCain

LoL I liked McCain too. I'm hoping Dean can pull off what McCain couldnt.

[bryant69]

4. I think this image

has to have taken a hit in the wake of the confederate flag issue. If he had stood his ground he would have been fine, but when he caved to pressure and apologized, well, it makes him look week.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[TexasMexican]

6. I agree

backpedling wasnt a good idea.

[ShimokitaJer]

8. A agree he shouldn't have apologized

But I still think he came out of the whole deal looking better than those that attacked him.

The other candidates were dishonest and showed the kind of gratuitous manipulation of the race card that the right wingers just love to attribute to Dems, all for the sake of gaining a little ground on Dean. I don't see how it could help them.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. He either should have apologized sooner or not at all.

His stubborness on the issue was fairly telling. I see his vacillation as poltical calculation- he waited until enough sensible people around him pleaded with him to apologize and he finally got the point. He is a stubborn man- and not very smart IMHO.

[Jacobin]

7. There is a lot to that

He's got my money and my vote

[chiburb]

10. Just seeing your thread title...

Made me go "aha"! That struck me as EXACTLY correct, and I had never made that connection before!

FD: Undecided, ABBEL (EL:even Lieberman), leaning Clark or Dean.

[Larkspur]

11. I'm a Dean supporter but not a McCain fan

I like Howard Dean because he reminds me of Harry Truman, who was one of my mom's favorite presidents. She and my dad voted for him in 1948 and helped him pull off one of the greatest political upsets in American history.

My female intuition says that Howard Dean will match Truman in pulling off 2 great political upsets -- winning the Dem nomination and the general election. Even though Truman, the sitting president, was the favorite for the Dem nomination in 1948, he had to contend with the Dixiecrats and a fractured Dem party.

Dean too has to contend with a fractious party and it will be interesting to see how he binds wounds at the convention.