Dean Gets Standing Ovation from Arab-Americans

Reuters ^ | 10/18/03 | Tom Brown, Reuters

[harpu]

DEARBORN, Mich. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean received a standing ovation from an Arab-American audience on Saturday when he attacked leading conservatives and figures from the religious right.

Dean, one of seven Democratic presidential candidates to address the Arab American Institute's national leadership conference in Dearborn, (Dean) pointed to an American flag and named some of the people he said it did not belong to.

"It does not belong to General Boykin, or John Ashcroft, or Rush Limbaugh or Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson," the former Vermont governor said to cheers in the packed hotel conference room in the Detroit suburb which is home to one of the highest concentrations of Muslims and Arabs outside the Middle East.

"This flag belongs to every single American, including every single American in this room, and is the hope and aspiration for many other folks who are not yet citizens," he said.

The message was warmly received by the crowd of about 300 as Dean named Ashcroft, the U.S. Attorney General and a prominent spokesmen for America's conservative or religious right, along with Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, the senior Pentagon intelligence official who has told Christian gatherings that Muslims worship an "idol."

His speech was repeatedly interrupted by applause as he condemned violations of civil liberties, racial profiling and abuse of authority under the USA Patriot Act, the anti-terror legislation championed by Ashcroft that passed after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Hundreds of Muslims and Arabs were detained in roundups after the attacks and Dean said the detentions and deportations of an untold number of immigrants based on secret evidence were unlawful and should be repealed.

"Today we see another shameful chapter in American history. Because John Ashcroft touts the Patriot Act around this country does not make John Ashcroft a patriot," he said.

"The war on terror cannot become a war on civil rights and freedoms. We should not have to chose between securing our homeland and securing the blessings of liberty. We can have both, otherwise the terrorists have won and we will not permit that."

Dean also won applause by reiterating his recent promises to send former President Bill Clinton to the Middle East as his peace broker if he is elected next year.

[harpu]

Dean's pandering to Muslims WILL come back to haunt him next year. This BOZO is dumber than dirt!

[Vaduz]

He is at best a sheep hearder.

[jocon307]

"Dean's pandering to Muslims WILL come back to haunt him next year."

Yeah, ya think? I hope so. I can't beleive the dems now want to split this country between the Muslims and the leftists who love them and everybody else.

Now I could be wrong, but I have a very hard time imagining that blacks and hispanics are going to enjoy being lumped in with Arabs and Muslims.

And why is Dean b*tt-kissing Bill Clinton now? That's certainly a new note in their cacphonous song.

[Founding Father]

Many years ago I was constantly the "victim" of profiling every time I flew---many times being the only passenger subjected to a search (what with the long hair, backpack and wire rim glasses and all , I guess)----I survived!!!!

I see no problem with profiling.

[capt. norm]

I hope he goes as far as dressing in typical Muslim garb and they publish the photos.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Dean's pandering to Muslims WILL come back to haunt him next year. This BOZO is dumber than dirt!

Davis in California tried to pander to the Mexican-American voters by promoting drivers licenses for illegal invaders.

What was he thinking?

Dean is copying Davis's idiocy by turning off the majority of Americans.

I hope the bum continues to showcase his talent for dividing America.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Let him pander. They'll cut his throat like any other infidel's when the opportunity arises.

[101st-Eagle]

Who does this jerk think he is? What qualifies him to determine to whom the flag "belongs"?

It sure doesn't belong to those on visas sucking on the American teat to live and train here to blow up American civilians.

[ZeitgeistSurfer]

Dean's pandering to Muslims WILL come back to haunt him next year.

I don't think so. Get ready for the most evil presidential campaign of all time. The media will simply erase from its memory anything that doesn't fit the dim's program. 2004 will set new standards for outright lying and propaganda by the left. They have decided that GWB is the devil incarnate and that anything they can do to remove him is fair game. We will feel like we live in some communist country it will be so bad.

[KC_for_Freedom]

They have decided that GWB is the devil incarnate and that anything they can do to remove him is fair game.

And the reason they do this is power, that they feel is ebbing away. They came so close to stealing the election in 2000 and now the evil Bush has solidified his position and is facing a high probability of re-election and the democrats like Dean are fighting like the cornered rats that they are.

[Missouri]

(Dean) pointed to an American flag and asked "What is that?".

[ItsOurTimeNow]

(Dean) pointed to an American flag and named some of the people he said it did not belong to.

"It does not belong to General Boykin, or John Ashcroft, or Rush Limbaugh or Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson,"

Doesn't Coward Dean have any new material? He's used these lines in several speeches over the last few months...

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Dean Gets Standing Ovation from Arab-Arabs...

[Missouri]

Doesn't Coward Dean have any new material?

I seen my first "Howard Dean for President" bumper sticker the other night drivering home. On the other side of the bumper was a DEMOCATICUNDERGROUND.COM bumper sticker (DU). I had felt like my home town had been invaded by the worst scum possible.

[Semper Paratus]

He's used these lines in several speeches over the last few months...

And when he accepts the nomination you'll hear it again, and again.

[Dryman]

These are the kinds of comments that drag me from the lurking realm. Isn't it odd that Dean can call those people Un-American and we hear nothing of it.

I only hope this comes back to get him. It may not.

Remember the Sheeples attitude...
"He did get the trains to run on time."

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I seen my first "Howard Dean for President" bumper sticker the other night drivering home.

There's three Dean-heads who hang out on an overpass on 195 East every morning...waving signs, hanging banners, etc.

They are the reason I leave my gun at home.

[Missouri]

They are the reason I leave my gun at home.

LOL !!

Sounds like justifiable homicide.