How Well Are Dean's Discussions of Faith Going Over w/ The Voters?

[rucky]

In poll form to avoid nasty debate, so please pick the one that matches most closely with your analysis. Not necessarily your personal view, but how you see most other voters taking it...

[1floridademocrat]

1. Asking a lot..

For this to be an impartial vote around these parts.

[rucky]

3. First Post & You Already Figured That Out

Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[newyawker99]

11. Hi 1 floridademocrat!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Bucky]

2. But has he done it?

I heard him say he'd talk about religion and God, but has he really done it all that much since the announcment. All I've heard since is the two references to Job--the one implying the Book of Job was in the New Testamentand the Newsweek interview in which he said he felt "a little more Job-like" since Kerry started attacking his tax plan.

The second mention is not that good an analogy since God killed off Job's children, wiped out his farmlands, burned down his house, and then covered him with scabs and boils. Interestingly, God did not criticize Job's tax plan, so I think the analogy breaks down under close scrutiny.

In fairness to Dean, he almost certainly doesn't think that Job's in the New Testament. He was simply entertaining two thoughts in his mind and let the sentence his uttered while thinking reflect both trains of thought. One was about the lessons of Job and the other was probably something about the Gospel books. Maybe he's feeling self conscious about not mentioning enough Christian books from the Bible. But the confusion stems from him talking and thinking at the same time.

I don't care too much for Dean, tho I admire what he's accomplished greatly. But I do find it refreshing that we have a candidate out there who talks and thinks simultaneously rather than memorizing sound bites for regurgitating later. If this leads to more gaffes, then it's Deans own fault for not being as disciplined in his thinking as Clark, or as rote in his patter as Gephardt, or as entrenched in his cultural viewpoints as Kerry or Sharpton.

On the balance, that's not that terrible a problem to have.

[KittyWampus]

4. One Need Not Talk In Soundbites

one must merely use some discretion in speaking. You did point this out. May I elaborate?

When I post on DU, more often that not as I type... my internal "editor" helps me refrain from saying anything inflammatory or too stupid ( :dunce: ) Sometimes that editor does a better job than than others.

Dean seems to lack this "editor" and this is a fatal flaw in a public speaker on a National Stage.. unless that speaker is a Republican and the media is forced to make those gaffes "endearing".

Again, there is a double standard... Junior gets a pass. Dean will not. And Dean is incapable of changing/improving.

By the way, limiting his access to reporters right now could be a big hit for Dean. They will be less sympathetic.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. I flagged the Job Gaffe

but the pandering across the spectrum (the one with the most votes) is also partof the problem.

[jujube2]

6. I voted for history of pandering because it came closest to my take on it

really it has less to do with a general history of pandering (though there is one) and more to do with he just plain comes across phony whenever he talks about it. And it is especially gaudy since he railed against other candidates talking about "guns, god, and gays" in the south.

He even identified it as pandering then.
And yet those are turning into his three biggest issues now.

[rucky]

7. The difference...

He's turning these issues on their ends.

It's a preemptive strategy for the general election, where we know that Rove will create wedge issues o' plenty for him. Discussing them now to clear the air is not inconsistent with calling them wedge issues - which is what they are. He's avoiding being put on the defensive in the future, without being accused of avoiding the issues by summarily dismissing them as wedge issues. Now he can do both.

[Capn Sunshine]

8. A couple of comments is hardly a "discussion"

Deans "pandering" is due to your perception that anything he says is insincere.

I thought we wanted to move religion off the national discussion. Maybe Rove will attempt to frame this otherwise, but if you keep repeating "education priorities" when they say religion, he'll have to re frame that real quick.

The politics of divisiveness won't fly this time around.

Dean's regular stump speech has difused this in advance.

[rucky]

9. And How Exactly do We Disagree On This?

I support what Dean is doing. Never mentioned pandering.

[w13rd0]

10. Haha...

...this is too funny. Well, I guess we know the direction this place has taken. Hey, where's the "Clark" option. Oh wait, I see it now.

[sandnsea]

12. Stupid because he said religion shouldn't be an issue

We need to stop being divided on god, guns and gays. Then he turns around and starts talking about Jesus. And screws it all up when he does. There's so many reasons this is going to hurt him, it's tough to pick just one. I swear I don't know how many times the man has to piss all over the parade before people see what a disaster he is.