How should Dean handle the Confederate flag wavers ??

[kentuck]

For the last couple of days, there have been a few people showing up at Dean rallies with their Confederate flags. More than likely, it is the work of some Republican that thinks it will hurt Dean? But it could be one of his primary opponents?..What should Dean do about this?

In my opinion, he should ignore it for a while. It hasn't damaged him yet, at least not in the South. But he shouldn't encourage those with the flags. He should let it be known in no uncertain terms that because he said those folks with the Confederate flags on their pickup trucks should be voting Democratic does not mean he supports the flag as a symbol. It is divisive and is not related to his message which is, that those in the South would be better served if they voted for someone that would fight to get healthcare for their children. Someone that would fight to get the best education for their children. Someone that will fight to keep their jobs in this country and will fight for the people over the corporate interests. That is what his message is about - not about the Confederate flag.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I agree. Just ignore it, and it will probably go away.

If it's fed, it will grow.

[MrSoundAndVision]

2. Are you from

Kentucky?

[kentuck]

7. Yes, born and raised...

Now reside in Colorado...expect someday to go back to Kentucky in a big , bright, shiny, black Cadillac...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. In what part of Kentucky were you raised?...

...ever hear of Cherokee?

[IronLionZion]

25. Kentucky is a beautiful state,

almost as nice as PA ;-)

hehe j/k

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

3. I think he should

keep making light of it, and in his speeches where the CF-carriers are, make it a point to explain his actual meaning (ie bringing poor and working white southerners back to the Dem Party). That will get his true message out and clear up any doubt people may have. Eventually, the protesters will see that it is only giving Dean a chance to explain his position, which will bring him more support.

[Melsky]

4. He should wave back! nt

[Demobrat]

5. I think he should welcome them

and tell them he's glad they are there because they deserve decent health care and good schools too.

[pruner]

6. here's a first-hand account of how he handled it today

One of the most interesting moments was when someone held up a poster with a confederate flag. Everyone in the room laughed, including the black guy I'd been talking too. (I'm also half black)  "Say hi to our Republican friends with the Confederate flag," Dean said. "Always looking for Republican support."  People laughed. "But, we don't use that symbol" he said.  "It's racially divisive.", more a little more then slight sarcasm in his voice.

Based on the reaction of the room, I almost might think this thing might help him out with people who don't think the flag is all that bad.  But then again, I haven't done any scientific testing.

click here for the full story

[fsbooks]

14. I don't think Dean needs our help on this

His approach seems quite fine.

[buycitgo]

8. first amendment zones?

it works for the CINChimp

[jobycom]

9. Very tricky for Dean

If whoever is behind it is organized, it won't go away, and if he ignores it, the problem will grow. If he addresses it, people will see that it hurts him, and more and more flags will follow him around, and that will become the story just the way Jennifer Flowers did for Clinton. If it becomes the story, then Dean will anger someone no matter how he answers the question.

When Clinton was almost destroyed by the media, he quit talking to them, and began to circulate in high-profile closed environments. He went on Arsenio Hall, and Donahue, and MTV, where millions could see him and hear his message without having to hear the media hound him. But, Clinton by that time had wrapped up the nomination, so this avenue was open to him. Dean is probably not going to get invitations like that to speak to a national audience.

Dean has to somehow turn up the heat on the other issues. He has to find what issue people want to hear the most, and create a stir about it, so that the flag story becomes secondary. He's been doing this a little, especially by turning down government funding. He needs to keep it up.

I love this part of the campaign. This is where you get to see what your candidates are made of. If Dean can't handle the situation, he won't be able to handle the presidency. If he does handle it well, then he demonstrates leadership skills. Anyone can give a canned speech polished to make an audience cheer. But that's not a good indication of how good a president someone will be. Adversity and overcoming it are better tests.

[Grover]

11. The sad part is...

... it isn't just a fad. At other sites I frequent that aren't quite as progressive as here the tone is quite different.

Ex. If Bush said the same thing, what would the reaction be?

Al Sharpton-- "If John Edwards had made those comments he would have been pushed out of this race."

There is an obvious double standard that can't be overlooked.

It is a HUGE problem.

I'm not going to get into an argument with others here about my comments, but the fact is it is a problem. Let the insults fly, it does not matter. The reality will hit us in the face. As if it hasn't already, but we chose to ignore it.

[Grover]

13. The saddest part

Is that he doesn't even have a clue as to whom he offended. It wasnlt the African American's, it was many well educated Southern white folk. His ignorance further separated his intended audience.

I am completely dumbfounded as to how he could have made such a ridiculous statement!

[On the Road]

15. They Have Plenty of Guys in Vermont and Michigan

with Confererate flags on their pickups. Why would white-collar Southerners have a problem with Dean wanting their support?

What I mean is that I don't think it was ever an attempt to stereotype all white Southerners.

[Grover]

17. It's such a minute minority. Why pander?

Why give it credence? Then at the same time insult the white male from the South.

The new term is 'Nascar Dads'. It's not Nascar dads, it's Nascar moms. 55% of the Nascar audience in the stands, and on TV are women!

[dae]

27. I'm "educated Southern white folk" and I was not offended nor were any

of my friends. I was more offended by other candidates feigned outrage. No, I am not a Dean supporter, I support Clark and Dean's impressed me with the way he's handled everything to date.

[HFishbine]

36. Well educated Southern white folk here

not offended in the least. He wasn't talking about me. He was talking about a couple of guys I know though, and they damn sure need to think about voting for Dean.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

12. Maybe everyone should come to Dean's rallies waving a flag that...

...means something to them personally.

This nation is made up of people that have come from many parts of the world, and is truly a melting pot of races, cultures, ideas, religions, and customs. Why not a flag to represent where each of us has come from? Then it becomes very difficult to single out one flag, or one culture, or one religion, or...I think you get the picture by now.

[HFishbine]

38. That

would be cool. Flags of your national heritage, rainbow flags, black power flags, state flags and, of course, American flags. That would be a powerful picture.

[TacticalPeek]

16. He could shout "Go, Ole Miss!"

Oh wait, Ole Miss officially retired theirs years ago, even the big football-field-covering one.

Nevermind.

[dae]

28. In Louisiana, that would have to be "Go To HELL Ole Miss"! n/t

[doubles]

18. I live in the South, these flag wavers will not go away, I am afraid Dean

has found himself in a VERY difficult situation. If he welcomes them, more will show, if he tells them the symbol is divisive, more will show, if he ignores them, more will show.

[Dr Fate]

32. He has to honestly express his feelings on the issue...

All he has to do is say he never meant that he supported the flag as a symbol, but that he wanted rural white voters to vote DEM with Black Southerners.

he should say something like- "there is no doubt that it is a divisive symbol, and I want to try and bring Southern Black and White voters together under a Democratic administration- THAT is what I meant, but the media and some disruptors are making this into a racism thing..."

He should even flat out call Bush/media on it- and say "Look, these one or two people waving flags at my rallies are disruptors-they are trying to create a subtle media image that I'm a racist, but voters know that is ridiculous..."

[jonnyblitz]

19. People with half a brain will know what is going on.

That it's his detractors trying to cause a stir. I dont think anybody believes he is a racist or supports what the flag stands for.

[Dr Fate]

35. exactly- Dean's no racist, and that IS the suggestion...

Dean can turn this arounf and discuss racial issues and promote racial healing...

If he honestly takes on his detractors, he can put this to rest...

[TexasMexican]

20. Confederate Flag and Rifle Rack.

Dean should put a confederate flag sticker on the back of his bus along with a filled rifle rack. LoL.

J/K

Honestly I dont know, I would ignore it.

In Texas we have some people with confederate flag stuff but as a Hispanic it really doesnt bother me.

Some people have Mexican flags on the back of thier car (or whatever), some have confederate flags.

Maybe if I was black or lived somewhere where my race was the minority it might be different, but as far as I'm concerned there are more important issues to worry about.

IMO it was smart of dean to try to get votes of people that other candidates just forsake.

[IronLionZion]

21. No way, he just needs to show support for NASCAR

hehe
He needs to show up at a race and publicise the hell out of it. If Bush isn't a NASCAR fan, and Dean is well......:)
It wouldn't hurt to get endorsements from drivers and Country singers other than the friggin Dixie Chicks.

And he needs to actually show up at the South, talk to southerners, and eat BBQ ribs and pulled pork.

[IronLionZion]

22. Driving an American-made pickup truck wouldn't hurt either

I'd go with the new F-150, but the Ram and Silverado are good too.

[IronLionZion]

24. Willie Nelson is big liberal

you Texans should get him to endorse somebody

[pruner]

26. he's already endorsed Kucinich

n/t

[Jacobin]

23. Why not just talk to them.

No doubt they are Lieberman freaks or some other form of republican, but what the hell. I'm sure they're getting minimum wage and have no health benefits working for Holy Joe, so maybe the message will sink in.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

29. No-win situation. Dean put his foot in his mouth.

Once he took it out, these folks stuffed a Confederate flag in there in its place.

:nopity:

[Dr Fate]

40. No, if he plays his cards right, he could turn the issue around 100%

He can make racial healing one of his central themes, he can artuculate why it is in the interests of Rural Whites and Southern Blacks to come togehter on issues A, B, C, D, etc...

This is what he should have done in hte 1st place...

This is what he will have to do- He's obviously no racist, so he has more than half the battle won already...

[Instant Karma]

30. He should say "I am glad people who wave this flag now

realize that economic status is the real issue not race when it comes to choosing." Do what Republicans do. Take what happens and mold a reality to fit what occurs. Use it to validate the point he did make.

[Terwilliger]

31. When they show interest in the campaign, Dean should give them pamphlets

about racism and intolerance and how we arrived at such a polarized state in this country, due largely to those who would want people to be divided along racial lines...especially those on the right.

[Dr Fate]

33. I agree- if this really became an issue, he should turn it around...

...and make racial healing/reaching out a central theme...

As one poster suggested- he needs to come down south and eat some pulled pork and go to some fish-frys too...

[HFishbine]

34. Call them out

They are young punks who would crumble in the face of a question. Imagine this. Dean says, "Excuse me a minute. There are some people in the audience who seem to be here to make a point. You there," as he points," would you please come up to the podium?"

Assuming the punk ass doesn't pee his pants and shrivel up with embarassment on the spot, Dean could continue: "The flag that you brought here today, what does it mean to you?"

I'd like to hear Xi Huang* say that it's part of his heritage. If he gives an honest assesment, even if he challenges Dean with something like, "I'm here with this flag because I found your explaination of wanting to appeal to people who display it inadequate," Dean can take it from there.

Dean knows how to stand up for himself. He can do it once and put an end to this nonsense.

(* An actual CF waving person: http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/10806.htm)

[Dr Fate]

37. I like this idea. I believe DEMS should let DUers run the campaigns!!!

We need to start pulling more "stunts" like this and start playing the media, instead letting Bush/media play us.

DEMS need to wisen up and start using imaginative, agressive tactics...

[HFishbine]

42. Since You Approve Dr. Fate

I e-mailed my suggestion to the Dean campaign.

[Dr Fate]

43. Yes- the flag waving is a "stunt"- why not pull a "stunt" of our own?

I hope they read it and consider it- DEMS need to start getting more imaginative- confrontational when appropriate...

Voters LOVE this kind of stuff- what they dont like is pushover. Dean needs to start calling this like it is- and make his views on race and racial-healing clear...

[Zomby Woof]

39. he is ultimately responsible for them

No matter who is showing up with them - Repub plants or not - HE opened his mouth about the issue, and he has to pay the price. The half-assed "apology" a few days after didn't help much either.

Personally, the flag flap is the LEAST of my worries with Dean, but I will admit I am enjoying the negative effect it is having on him. :-)

[retyred]

41. Ask them to register Democrat

and vote for him if they vote at all.



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