Governor Dean's Response to Latest Attack

[Rose Siding]

Governor Howard Dean expressed deep regret today at the ongoing efforts of some of the candidates for the Democratic nomination to continue to play 'gotcha' politics in so sensitive an area as the Middle East:

"Tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of the historic moment when President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Chairman Yassir Arafat stood together on the South Lawn of the White House and signed the Oslo Accords. It was a moment of hope and a moment of peace. It is a moment that I hope still brings to all of us a sense of regret for what might have been. Instead of peace, today we have war. Instead of economic growth, we have terror. Instead of a new generation of young people engaged as partners for peace, we have a new generation of terrorists and a new generation of victims.

"Particularly in these days of enormous tension and spiralling violence, I see no room in American politics for political gamesmanship when it comes to the Middle East.

"Of course, Hamas is a terrorist organization, and it must be defeated and its members defeated for seeking to thwart peace and to kill innocent men, women and children. To suggest that I might feel otherwise is shameful and should be beneath the dignity of any campaign.

"In the past few days, I have made clear that I intend to replant the seeds of peace that were sown on the White House lawn ten years ago tomorrow. I will dedicate myself from day one of my administration to the search for peace. I have made clear that it is the special relationship the United States enjoys with Israel that makes us the only party in the world with the potential to help end this centuries-old conflict. I view it as not only a duty but an honor to make sure that this time these seeds take hold.

"Instead of engaging in petty political gamesmanship, I call on Senators Lieberman and Kerry to lay out exactly how - if they do not wish to play the role of honest broker at the negotiating table - they could ever carry on the legacy of Bill Clinton and Yitzhak Rabin as peacemakers and to explain what they would do to recreate the hope and the promise of the peace process of ten years ago."

http://blogforamerica.com/

[poskonig]

1. A dignified response from future President Dean.

Thanks for posting this!

[mourningdove92]

2. Good Answer!

Dean is so forthright and speaks to the issues.

[blm]

3. HAHAHAHA....he should know the truth...

he cribbed enough of Kerry's foreign policy positions and speech for his own. Kerry was to Dean's left on the Mideast, and now Dean is trying to make out like Kerry is to Dean's right.

I would love to see a one on one debate and watch Dean wither under cross examination of his own words.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. So what's the problem?

You like Kerry. Dean's foreign policies are stolen from Kerry. That means you agree with Dean's foreign policy positions. Welcome aboard.

[Rose Siding]

5. It makes it sort of weird

that Kerry took exception with Dean's position in the first place.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. He's disagreeing with himself!

Bizarre.


ed-sp

[blm]

17. He wasn't specific, he was baiting Dean to go further

because Dean was obviously adrift with no real policy. Now Howie latched onto Clinton's like a security blanket. Heh. Dean will fool alot of dimbulbs. A smart cross-examination of his own words would make him turn purple.

[Nazgul35]

50. here you go again....

I guess your growing desperation is making your slams against the intellegence of Dean supporters more naked and raw....

And in case you wish to pretend you dont know what you said, here it is:

"Dean will fool alot of dimbulbs."

Casue we all is stupider than dem der Kurry suppiters....

You need a time out! Your misery will be over when Clark eneters the campaign, cause he's going to undermine the only thing Kerry has going for him....his war record....

I am amazed at the rabid attacks over Dean that have gotten more shrill as the weeks go on (desperation? you be the judge...) why not try offering up your candidates position (which you suggest that Dean stole from Kerry...so what's your point? I certainly didn't mind Kerry using the internet and meetups...) Clinton was a master at taking over policy positions and undermining his opponents, thereby ensuring that there would be a left stamp on the way policy was formatted....

As far as Dean being grilled....that's been tried in two debates now and Dean has only gone up in the polls.....

[LuminousX]

51. Then you have no worries

as the campaign continues, Kerry will clearly appear the better candidate. I eagerly await that moment. Until then, he is still chasing Dean.

[JohnKleeb]

7. actually shes undecided I think

right blm? correct me if I am wrong
:shrug: no opinion on this but my candiate was speaking out on an Israel-Palestinan fair plan a whiles back, but hes invisible I forgot. Sorry for the sarcastic remark, I'll shut up if you give me cookies and milk ;).

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Please pay attention John Kleeb.

blm has over 16,500 posts extolling the virtues of John Kerry.

[blm]

19. I support them both.

I came on for Kerry, when Kucinich came in I had to eventually decide to support both. DK has more defenders here who do a great job. Financially they get equal amounts. Although, technically I have been donating to DK for almost 30 years more than JK.

[blm]

15. He's adrift here and you know it.

He had no policy then became a hardliner after meeting Sharon, then tacked left to accomodate his supporters uncomfortable with his I/P position, now found refuge behind Clinton's policy.

As per Gary Hart, Dean had no chops of his own. "Gary, what do I do?"

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. What about my point?

"Dean cribbed Kerry's foreign policy." - blm

"I love Kerry's foreign policy positions." - blm

Therefore:

"I agree with Howard Dean's foreign policy." - blm?


Explain my lapse in logic.

[blm]

20. Hard to love a pretender.

Although, I would make an exception for Chrissy Hynde.

[babzilla]

8. I blame Gary Hart

Damn Gary "Dean has no foreign-policy" Hart for withholding this truth.

It's bad enough that Hart had to badmouth Dean for deigning to consult him as a trusted Democratic leader on foreign policy. But when Hart goes and conceals the accepted foreign policy positions from Dean -- he's just being a bad sport.

I would love to see a one on one debate and watch Dean wither under cross examination of his own words.

LOL that is quite a fantasy Kreepy Kerry, Kreepy Kerry

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Run!

[babzilla]

11. I would...

...but someone locked the Gym doors. Help?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Weenk..weenk...weenk...weenk!

[clar]

14. Just today

you told me that you had NEVER attacked Dean here, that you only posted facts and articles. You just belied that assertion. You have consistently smeared Dean. Fine. Just don't claim that you haven't. I'll call you on it every time I see it. And I'd like to note that I wouldn't dream of attacking Kerry or any other candidate in this way. Truly offensive.

[blm]

22. What are you talking about?

This is the political arena. if you doubt what I say, read Kerry's foreign policy speech and then read Dean's delivered much later.

Gary Hart said what he said. I listen because I trust Hart's judgement on foreign policy matters.

[Andromeda]

47. Kerry would probably be the one to wither.

If Dean's words are all "stolen" from Kerry why would Kerry be so critical of Dean? Sounds a little schizophrenic to me.

[DrFunkenstein]

12. How Kerry Is Going To Take The High Road On I/P

Kerry has every intention of taking his Jewish wife on vacation to Israel - paid in full by a hawkish pro-Israel lobby, of course - visit Sharon and promise to quadruple not just loan guarantees for "construction" projects, but also military aid.

Then he is going to respond to the inevitable questions his supporters will have about his position by pandering to them, making extra care to overstate his case, and then backtrack when the Democratic leadership spanks him for alienating a core constituency.

Not that he will renounce his even-handed pledges to Sharon and AIPAC, but appearances do matter in these cases. Then he will explain that he is the only one truly following in the footsteps of Bill Clinton.

Did I mention he will also follow Bush's lead in calling for a two-state solution and stand up to Sharon on the "separation wall" land grab? Well, the first part, at least.

And that is how Kerry will demonstrate his Presidential mettle.

[clar]

16. Ugh

Sorry to see you sinking into the muck

[KaraokeKarlton]

24. I've just lost a lot of respect for you Funk

You supposedly got involved in that petition to ask Dean to come out and make his position clearer on this very issue. He does so and you bash him by using his wife? That's really cheesy and you really should be ashamed. It also really makes me wonder if you really care about this issue at all.

[madfloridian]

30. I agree, not nice. What petition?

I thought it was good quick response.

[KaraokeKarlton]

33. He posted a petition to Dean on the Israeli/Palestinian Issue

I think the DLC and Kerry campaign purposely tried to "trap" Dean by suing the fact that he actually listens to his supporters and has the balls to answer tough questions. I think they planned to try to portray him as a "Jew hater" (despite the fact that his wife and kids are Jewish) because they can't beat him honestly. That is the behavior of pure scum in my opinion. I will never vote for either Kerry or Lieberman after this. This is so disgusting. Dean will survive it, and only get stronger from it, of that I'm sure. But the fact that they would do this to a person is just disgusting.

[DrFunkenstein]

39. Pure Scum, Aye?

Why does everything have to come back to anti-Semitism? Why do you use quotes? Did someone call him that?

Seriously, where are you getting your information from?

Most importantly, if Dean made any move to renounce his pledges/compromises to Sharon, I would drop this subject in a heartbeat. So, don't tell me he is "listening" to his supporters. He has done nothing at all to make me think he has changed his mind since his trip to Israel. If you show me anything suggesting this, I will never bring it up again.

[sandnsea]

21. Oh goody, he's the only honest broker now too

Another reason to vote for Dean!!!

(Howard, when you're in a hole, stop digging)

[Rose Siding]

23. You know, that's exactly what it says!

*After* you put on your magic glasses.

[sandnsea]

25. Well he sure does

"if they do not wish to play the role of honest broker"

Neither one of them ever said this. He's being smug and insinuating he's the only one that would be an honest broker in the ME. The man can't even admit he made a mistake without slinging dirt. I am so sick of Howard Dean.

[LuminousX]

26. Honest Broker

You can't be an honest broker if you are seen as a shill for one side.

[sandnsea]

27. Go read the Pelosi article

Then come back.

[w4rma]

28. Lieberman and Kerry did attack Dean for saying he would be 'evenhanded'

Would Lieberman or Kerry make good 'honest brokers' in the I/P peace talks with that kind of attitude?

[blm]

31. Dean retracted the evenhanded remark.

He said he shouldn't have used it.

[w4rma]

32. He said he regretted using it. He did not retract it nor apologize for it

Dean, Pelosi Find Agreement on Israel
Presidential Candidate Dean, Rep. Nancy Pelosi Find They Agree on U.S. Role in Middle East

WASHINGTON Sept. 12 —

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean have cleared the air and decided they agree about the United States' role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dean, a former Vermont governor, called Pelosi Thursday after hearing that she had signed a letter objecting to his comment that the United States should "not take sides" in the Middle East dispute. Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said the two agreed that the United States should be an honest broker, but must remain committed to Israel's right to exist.
…
Dean sent a response Friday to the signers, thanking them for their letter. He said he is committed to Israel's peace and its special relationship with the United States, but U.S. leaders must earn the Palestinians' trust to negotiate peace.

Dean said he would follow in President Clinton's footsteps and make every effort to bring peace to the region from his first day in office.

"I will not allow a split to emerge in our party on this critical issue, and I am sure you share my commitment to that goal," he wrote.
…
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20030912_1901.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=111861

[blm]

35. He said he "shouldn't have used it."

That's retracting. He's adrift and found a security blanket with Clinton's position. It's laughable that it is being spun here as a demonstration of Dean's genius.


http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/10/elec04.prez.dean.mideast/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Under fire for saying that the United States should be even-handed in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, 2004 Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean Wednesday said he would not abandon the long-standing policy of strong U.S. support for Israel.

"We do have a special relationship with Israel. We would defend Israel if necessary. I think that is well-known," he told CNN. "However, we are also the only country capable of bringing peace to the Middle East, and when we sit at the negotiating table, we do have to have the trust of both sides or we will never succeed."
Dean also said he would "strongly speak out against violence of any kind in the Middle East. That's what I mean by being even-handed."
"You must condemn all civilian killings, including any terrorist attacks," he said.
However, in retrospect, Dean said he should not have used the term "even-handed."

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

41. He regretted it because there are idiots out in the world

who would try to turn "even-handed" into "I'm a member of Hamas."


Sometimes "even-handed" just means "even-handed." As a matter of fact, "even-handed" always means "even-handed."

[Rose Siding]

42. Some hysterics don't understand the English word

"Evenhanded",

(Main Entry: even·hand·ed
Pronunciation: "E-v&n-'han-d&d
Function: adjective
Date: 1605
: FAIR, IMPARTIAL
- even·hand·ed·ly adverb
- even·hand·ed·ness noun)

...Dean engages to diffuse that irrational hysteria, and he's adrift? Fun.

[sandnsea]

36. evenhanded, not taking either side...

is NOT being an honest broker. It's being a lieing broker. Because as it says in the Pelosi article, we always defend Israel's right to exist. That automatically puts us on that side if it ever came to any sort of full war.

Being an honest broker admits that, first and foremost. But within the context of I/P negotiations, we take no sides and make no demands. That was Clinton's process. That is John Kerry's process and who goes a little further requiring parallel progress. I have no idea what Lieberman's process is because I've never been interested in him enough to read it.

It's diplomacy and words mean specific things. They don't mean what you think they mean just because it's what you think. Dean NEEDS a diplomacy expert on his campaign NOW.

[Andromeda]

49. You really need to keep up!

:crazy:

[UnapologeticLiberal]

46. Where can I find a copy of this?

I would like to see what she had to say

[babzilla]

54. here is the letter

September 10, 2003

The Honorable Howard Dean
P.O. Box 1228
Burlington, VT 05402



Dear Governor Dean:


We are writing to respond to your comments on the Middle East at a recent campaign event and in Tuesday's candidate debate and explain why we believe it is wrong to say the U.S. should "not take sides" in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

American foreign policy has been - and must continue to be - based on unequivocal support for Israel's right to exist and to be free from terror. The Palestinians have at best been ambivalent about their willingness to accept Israel's existence and from Yasir Arafat on down they have promoted or acquiesced in the use of terrorism as a tactic in their struggle. It is unacceptable for the U.S. to be "evenhanded" on these fundamental issues.

All of us want a genuine peace process to succeed, and all of us accept the legitimacy of a Palestinian state once the Palestinian leadership and people recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and not only renounce the use of violence but at last take action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure inside the Palestinian Authority. Time and time again, the Israeli people have shown their willingness to take risks for peace. But they will only do so with the knowledge that U.S. support for Israel will not waver.

It is important for America to help facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict, but in playing this role we must be true to our values and make sure that all parties clearly understand our policies. This is not a time to be sending mixed messages; on the contrary, in these difficult times we must reaffirm our unyielding commitment to Israel's survival and raise our voices against all forms of terrorism and incitement.

Sincerely,

Howard L. Berman
Nancy Pelosi
Robert Matsui
Steny Hoyer
Martin Frost
Nita Lowey
Tom Lantos
Edward Markey
Chet Edwards
Ben Cardin
Steve Rothman
Steve Israel
Gary Ackerman
Barney Frank
Rahn Emanuel
Adam Smith
Anthony Weiner
Chris Bell
Adam Schiff
Hilda Solis
Robert Menendez
Shelley Berkley
Robert Andrews
Joseph Crowley
Jose Serrano
John Larson
Ellen Tauscher
Dennis Cardoza
Patrick Kennedy
Linda Sanchez
Harold Ford Jr.
Brad Sherman
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
Alcee Hastings

[Andromeda]

48. Uh, things have changed ...

Dean and Pelosi have made amends and have agreed to work together on a ME solution. You need to keep up. Don't have a link, sorry, but there are threads in LBN and GD that go into detail.

[LuminousX]

52. a link

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0913dean-israel13.html

[poskonig]

29. If 'honest broker' is bad, is 'DIShonest broker' good?

If being an honest broker is poor policy, the implication is that being a dishonest broker will solve our foreign policy problems. I'd rather be honest.

[sandnsea]

37. Honest Broker is GOOD policy

Saying we take no sides is being a dishonest broker. We always defend Israel's right to exist which means we've already taken that side. Within the I/P negotiations we take no side, except that Israel WILL exist and anything that interferes with that will not be accepted.

[valniel]

34. Improved fourth paragraph

Of course, Hamas is a terrorist organization, and {to call its members "soldiers" was a grave mistake}

[Larkspur]

38. Tossing the gauntlet back at Kerry and Lieberman

"Instead of engaging in petty political gamesmanship, I call on Senators Lieberman and Kerry to lay out exactly how - if they do not wish to play the role of honest broker at the negotiating table - they could ever carry on the legacy of Bill Clinton and Yitzhak Rabin as peacemakers and to explain what they would do to recreate the hope and the promise of the peace process of ten years ago."

Love it! Calling Kerry's and Lieberman's attacks on his I/P position petty. That's exactly what it is. This response by Dean is a la Harry Truman. Go Dean!

[DrFunkenstein]

40. Sounds More Like An Attempt To Shift Terms To Me

Now he's an honest broker. After all, can't take sides against the soldiers of Hamas. I guess if they were gone, I suppose it would be a good thing.

What kind of "peacemaker" promises to QUADRUPLE the military aid to one side of a conflict?

[sandnsea]

43. Honest Broker is US Policy

I hate to use the word nuance here and I really don't think it is, but I guess try it.

We do not claim an even-handed approach to I/P or do we claim to have absolutely no side. We take the position that Israel has a right to exist and we will provide military aid to that end.

But within the context of the I/P conflict, we are honest brokers. We come to it with no preconceived notions or opinions on how the conflict should be resolved. We don't make demands on either side. Except for the fact that Israel does have a right to exist and we will always defend that, that's our side. That was Clinton's policy.

To now throw in Hamas as soldiers legitimizes them as equal to Israeli soldiers. It may be applicable if they are actually having some sort of ground fight, but not in a broad way because they primarily attack civilians and intend to attack civilians.

The differences here are essential in my mind. They show such a lack of understanding of foreign affairs that it is a little frightening. I wouldn't call Dean out of it just yet, but he has to get a diplomacy expert on his campaign because he can't afford one more blunder of this magnitude. The Republicans will bury him with this next year otherwise.

[Malikshah]

44. Dean's statement is clear--read up on them

Equating Hamas with soldiers--

Go to the statements and the context in which they were made first.

Of course, as Tucker Carlson used the line on Crossfire...maybe it's a workable line to destroy Dean...

Oh joy more of the same eating of the young here

[sandnsea]

45. I did, It's clear to me too

And I have no idea what Tucker Carlson said and don't care, but he's not running for President claiming to be able to lead a Middle East Peace Process either.

[LuminousX]

53. I don't understand

How saying you will be even-handed doesn't directly imply you support Israel's right to exist?

[Tim The Enchanter]

55. The High Road (Dean's response to Gephardt's attack)

I must say that, although I have been disappointed with some of Dean's missteps lately, I am pleased that he is defending himself with poise. It gives me some confidence that he can work himself out of the corner.

"It is a sad day for Dick Gephardt when he compares ANY Democratic candidate running for President to Newt Gingrich and his divisive policies," Dean said. "No Democrat in the presidential race bears any resemblance to Newt Gingrich on any major issue. And for Dick Gephardt to suggest otherwise is simply beyond the pale."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A936-2003Sep12.html

[DrFunkenstein]

56. I Must Admit

The Newt Gringrich comment sounds pretty desperate. It is like the Dean supporters who say Kerry votes with Bush 60% of the time. Naturally, there is going to be overlap on non-controversial topics. But I see nothing wrong with - as I understand it - Dean criticizing medical bureaucracy. Kerry speaks forcefully against such bureaucracy, and I am glad that Dean does the same.

[renie408]

57. Isn't there enough REAL stuff

going on that these people would have better things to do than to freak out over Dean using a possibly inappropriate ADJECTIVE? I think that this is where the Democratic Party f*cks itself. All the insane worrying over maybe/possibly/might be offending someone and making sure that you only make the comments from the PC Handbook.