Dean Lashes Out At Iowa Voter Who Confronted Him on Negative Campaigning

Talon News ^ | January 13, 2004 | Jimmy Moore

[Triple]

Democrat presidential front-runner Howard Dean took out his frustration on a voter in Iowa on Sunday by engaging in a distasteful temper tantrum before a group of his supporters.

Dale Ungerer, a Republican from Hawkeye, Iowa who voted for Bush in 2000, was deeply concerned about the negative rhetoric coming from Dean in his speech, including harsh criticism of President George W. Bush on his Iraq policy and the economy.

After Dean finished his speech to the audience at the Oelwein Community Center, he asked the overwhelmingly pro-Dean crowd of supporters if they had any "questions, comments or rude remarks" to make in reaction to what they had just heard.

The 66-year-old Ungerer quickly jumped at the opportunity to speak directly to Dean and share with him his concerns about the campaign being run by the Democrat presidential candidates.

"Please tone down the garbage, the mean-mouthing of tearing down your neighbor and being so pompous," Ungerer urged Dean and his opponents at the beginning of his three minutes of comments. "You should help your neighbor and not tear him down."

Ungerer continued by suggesting to Dean that he and the rest of the field of Democrat candidates should stop dividing the country with "slam, bam, and bash Bush" tactics. Ungerer was loudly booed by the Dean supporters who attempted to silence him.

Dean, who became visibly disturbed by the suggestion that he has not been engaging in relevant debate of the issues during his campaign, reacted first by stating slowly, "George Bush is not my neighbor."

Ungerer quickly retorted by saying, "Yes, he is."

But Dean's propensity for lashing out his anger came to full fruition for all to see as he quickly interrupted the voter.

"You sit down," Dean shouted back at the startled senior citizen. "You had your say. Now I'm going to have my say."

Predictably, the Dean supporters cheered, and Ungerer was not given an opportunity to respond.

Dean repeated his notion that Bush wants to "harm this country" with his policies on the economy and Iraq.

Despite his recent assertion that his religious faith guides his daily life, Dean continued with his tirade by ridiculing the Bible and people of faith.

"It's not the time to put up any of this 'love thy neighbor' stuff," Dean exclaimed. "I love my neighbor, but I'll tell you I want that neighbor back in Crawford, Texas where he belongs."

Dean continued to unleash attacks against Bush and ridicule the Biblical notion of "love thy neighbor."

"That is exactly the problem," Dean quipped. "Under the guise of 'support your neighbor' we're all expected not to criticize the president because it's unpatriotic."

Dean added, "I think it's unpatriotic to do some of the things that this president has done to this country."

Ungerer left the room while Dean was still speaking. Dean mentioned the voter one more time when talking about overtime pay by saying that Bush's policy on that issue is another reason why he "differed with [Ungerer] so vociferously."

After the heated verbal exchange with Dean, Ungerer told reporters that Dean reacted to him the way he did because it fits his character perfectly.

"He put me down definitely because he is who he is," Ungerer said.

Dean has long been accused of being short-tempered by his Democrat opponents and has admitted he needs to be physically restrained from acting out on his temper at times.

"If someone punches me, I am apt to chase them down, and I need to be restrained by the people who know better and have been in the game longer than I have," Dean recently told MSNBC.

The Democrat caucus election in Iowa is on January 19.

[Triple]

Dean shows utter contempt to the President, and many of the oters in Iowa.

[Constitution Day]

I hope there's a camera around the next time he REALLY blows his top.

[Polybius]

"If someone punches me, I am apt to chase them down, and I need to be restrained by the people who know better and have been in the game longer than I have," Dean recently told MSNBC.

Sounds just like the guy whose finger we need on the nuclear button. < /sarcasm>

[avg_freeper]

Next week on FOX, "When Democrats Attack!".

[MEGoody]

"George Bush is not my neighbor."

Dean shows us yet again that he has no biblical knowledge.

By the way, did you see how red Dean's face got? It was a hoot.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

Either the ABC or NBC nightly news anchor labeled the elderly voter "Long-winded". Seemed a bit derrogatory to me.

Wonder if the voter had been yelling at President Bush if they would have called him "courageous, bold, principled"?

Truth in media...

[cupcakes]

Dean, who became visibly disturbed by the suggestion that he has not been engaging in relevant debate of the issues during his campaign, reacted first by stating slowly, "George Bush is not my neighbor."

___________________

This of course to the Bible of Dean, the same one where he says gay behavior is perfectly cool in God's eyes. Good grief, the fact that Dean maybe did not understand what this guy said makes me wonder if he has read even one verse from the Bible? I'm sure the man was making a reference to how one treats their neighbor based on the Bible.

[beelzepug]

"Next week on FOX, "When Democrats Attack!".

I hope somebody is standing by with the Slim Whitman records!

[KellyAdmirer]

Dean is a menace as a potential leader in the nuclear age and must be stopped. The only worse choice would be the nincompoop Dr. Strangelove who is gaining as Dean self-destructs.

[cynicom]

Little men that have always had their way do not react well with the masses.

[DesertDreamer]

Dean's behavior in this circumstance was typical, predictable and disturbing. I hope the RNC archives a copy to be used as needed. There are situations that deserve a virulent response. Party policy differences are not one of them.

Dean is in serious need of a new debate coach. His WWF consultants are not working out so well.

[Defiant]

Right, like that little pipsqueak ever chased anyone down and beat them up. He's got the kind of angry shout that people who know they won't get into a physical confrontation have, like doctors yelling at nurses. Let's see how tough he is in a forum where he's not protected. He's all talk, and what this country likes in its leaders is quiet confidence, not little man braggadocio.

[Liberty Valance]

Dean is a little thin skinned IMO. NOT Presidential material.

[truthingod]

I hope Dean continues to show us just what he is-an angry man. Eventually the voters will see him for what he is too.
George Bush is a great man and you can tell he does care about people. That's is the difference between Bush and Dean-character and love.

[beelzepug]

"Little men that have always had their way do not react well with the masses."

Dean is like Kim Jong Il without the funny hair.

[gridlock]

Wonder if the voter had been yelling at President Bush if they would have called him "courageous, bold, principled"?

He would have been "speaking truth to Power".

I hope Dean manages to hold it together for another few weeks. It wouldn't do at all to have him self destructing before the South Carolina primary. After that, we can let nature take it's course...

[truthingod]

Maybe Don King is available to coach Mr. Dean. It seems he plans on "going after everybody"-it sounds like the big hype before the big fight-one which he will lose.

[freeangel]

"Dean shows us yet again that he has no biblical knowledge"

But that is his "interpretaion" of the Bible--and one that many democrats espouse since "interpretation" of not just the Bible, but the Constitution and morality that they feel must legislate on the majority of people in this country.

[ricer1]

"Why did God give Howard Dean a mouth? So he'd have some place to put his foot."
-- James Taranto

[princess leah]

He really IS the face of the democratic party: ANGRY, OBSTINATE, UNHINGED, and soon to be DEFEATED!