Just saw Dean speak at the Annual Black Caucus Conference

[WheresWaldo]

He spoke to a room that was standing room only. Many of the DC city council members have endorsed Dean. Some of the things he talked about include:

- He can win the south if he won over just 10% of whites who tend to vote republican. Given the state of the economy, etc, he thinks he can pull it off.

- He wants to talk about race directly and not beat around the bush. He said he wants to emulate Clinton in that regard.

- He's for afirmative action because prejudice and racism exist. Even the best of people subconciously have an affinity for the familiar and whoever is the same color skin as they are. As such, he acknowledges that there is institutional prejudice etc. etc. that affirmative action can help minorities overcome.

I think its interesting how in last nights debates, Rev. Sharpton went so far as to address Dean as "Brother Dean". I think although Dean is from Vermont, widely seen as a predominantly "white" state, Dean has won the support of many minorities which can only help his campaign.

oh yeah, I actually got to meet Dean!!! I shook his hand, he made a point to shake it, there was a big crowd and all, I had made eye contact with him, and he reached out and said "thanks for your support."

[hedda_foil]

1. He's 5'8/34" -- won't fudge for 5'9"

I've met him too and that seems right to me.

[Demobrat]

6. He gets a lot taller

once he opens his mouth.

[caledesi]

7. Amen! He stands taller than Kerry when he speaks.

[Cha]

8. I swear I read he was 5'9'' and 3/4"...Dean you see the photo

of all the candidates standing on stage before the last debate?

I don't think Dean looked short at all! Full Disclosure~ I'm 5'4" so maybe that has something to do with it! :)

[AWD]

2. 5-9

He's 5-9

But he shrinks to 4-11 if you ask a few erry-Kay an-fays.

[gristy]

3. Thanks for the very good summary

I've shaken his hand on two different occasions.

[Rose Siding]

4. He stopped at a high school there today, too

In the DC area, I mean. Good stuff

Democrat Dean calls for blunt talk on sex, AIDS

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26161874.htm

[deutsey]

5. Thank you for this!

:thumbsup:

From what I've heard, he's going to be at Howard U. in DC early next month. I hope to be there...

[caledesi]

9. Howard at Howard U? How appropriate!

[Cha]

11. Really Really!

[Cha]

10. Thanks for the exciting report! Now I have to ask.. how tall you

are? :D ..If you hadn't of mentioned Dean's height we would be talkin' about the South now!

Didn't Sharpton call Dean .."Brother Howard" after the stab in the back by geppy? :-(

So glad you got to shake the hand of the man that so Many of us want to be :dem: President Of The United States Of America'! :kick:

[WheresWaldo]

12. Edited out the height comment from post

"On a negative note, I had expected Dean to be a bit taller. Any chance anyone know how tall he is???"

As for me, I'm 5'10" so I'm not that tall.

[Cha]

14. Thanks for "editing" that comment out! Don't want censorship..

but to me it is just so Unimportant! I think Dean is a Good looking person as well as being intelligent and very talented! We got ourselves a Winner, People!!

[WheresWaldo]

13. DEAN AND THE SOUTHERN/MINORITY VOTE

Although Dean seemed to be well recieved at the Black Caucaus, winning the south will remain a challenge. I think he's hoping that the white people suffering due to the poor economy, lacking helathcare, etc, will help him win a few states in the south. If he wins the primary, I suspect he'll have a southern running mate, i.e. Clark or Edwards, but maybe even Sen. Graham. Sen Graham is not that impressive though, his presentation is lacking, and he coauthored the patriot act.

Theres even a chance he could ask someone like Rev. Sharpton to be VP. Deans turning the Dem party and usual way of business on the head. A black VP might be "oh too much" for the flag waiving ultra patriots. But the man is a Reverend, you think he might attract some of those religious conservative compassionate types??? just a thought. If Gore ran with the first Jewish VP candidate, could Dean run with the first Black VP candidate?

I think a Dean/Clark ticket more viable though, more likely to win the ultrapatriots who want to "kick some ass" and those that are really concerned about national security.

just some thoughts. replies???

[Cha]

15. I think Dean and his team could storm through the South and

bring all kinds of People in! Disenchanted repubs, People struggling with bush's induced poverty, Blacks who we want in our fold but some other Dems have taken "for Granted"!

People without jobs no what their social class!

It's too early for me to think about a VP yet!

[LiberalTexan]

16. Howard's running mate

I was listening to NPR this morning and I tended to agree with one of the panelists (I think it was David Corn from The Nation). He said that it takes a special personality to run for president. Each of these people believes they can do it. They will not settle for second. Thinking that you can pull a VP candidate from the pool to ask them to be a running mate is pretty far-fetched. I tend to agree. It's almost an insult to the other candidates. Personally I would love to see some of these shining stars have a chance to be VP but it's condescending to assume that they would step down to do the #2 job and not the #1 that they've been working so hard for.

[Cha]

17. Was not Al Gore running for Pres when Clinton won and picked

him for VP? I don't really know I just thought I remembered that?

From reading others here on DU...it's been mentioned that maybe some aren't ready yet..to be Prez.. Won't it fun when this is all over and we can settle in on beating bushead?