Dean courts wide spectrum (Howard Dean Declares self a "Metrosexual" - Not humor)

Denver Post ^ | 10/29/03 | Joey Bunch

[Phantom Lord]

Dean courts wide spectrum

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean tried to be all things, except George W. Bush, to all voters on fundraising stops in Boulder and Denver on Tuesday.

The pack-leading Democrat hit all the marks, courting fiscal conservatives and social liberals. He bashed the war and pumped up his plans for universal heath care, renewable energy and investments in schools, highways and broadband Internet for everyone.

Dean declared himself a "metrosexual," the buzz phrase for straight men in touch with their feminine sides, as he touted his accomplishments in "equal justice" for gay and lesbian couples.

But then he waffled.

"I'm a square," Dean declared, after professing his metrosexuality to a Boulder breakfast audience with an anecdote about being called handsome by a gay man. "I like (rapper) Wyclef Jean and everybody thinks I'm very hip, but I am really a square, as my kids will tell you. I don't even get to watch television. I've heard the term (metrosexual), but I don't know what it means."

At a luncheon in Denver, Dean surged past the issues and got down to more immediate business, spelling out the main reason for his fourth Colorado visit in the past year.

"This is all about raising money to beat George W. Bush," he told a full ballroom at the Oxford Hotel.

Dean had two breakfast appearances in Boulder, one for $100 a plate that followed a smaller gathering at $500 each. He did the same double bill in Denver. He took away more than $50,000 in Boulder. Denver fundraising totals were not available Tuesday evening.

Between fundraising, Dean delivered a fiery oratory at the University of Colorado, drawing a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd in the hundreds.

"That dude's right," said junior "Spud" Williamson, wearing camouflage pants and purple spiked hair, about Dean's assertion that the extra $87 billion Bush is seeking to rebuild Iraq could have bought health insurance for every American.

Colorado Republican Party chairman Ted Halaby issued a full page of blistering criticism of Dean's remarks at CU.

"What I find the most alarming is his unapologetic stand against the war on terrorism and his continuing refusal to support our troops with the financial aid required to keep them safe while in harm's way," Halaby wrote.

Dean will have a tall order to beat Bush in Colorado, but a better chance than any other Democrat, said pundits seasoned in the state's conservative taste.

"If you appeal to the moderate vote, you can win in Colorado," said eternal Democratic optimist Rollie Heath, Dean's close friend.

Heath didn't have such luck. He got trounced in his bid for governor last year against Republican Bill Owens.

A lot has changed since then, Heath said. The economy has continued to sour under Bush, Iraq is an albatross and the incumbent president's position on health care is nonexistent, he said.

"Howard is a doctor; he understands health care, and health care is a huge issue and a huge industry in this state," Heath said.

Denver pollster and political analyst Floyd Ciruli said Dean has a Bill Clinton appeal: a dynamic small-state governor who comes across as a Washington outsider.

[Phantom Lord]

Dean is Crab People!

[Bikers4Bush]

Lol!!!! "You just had to push it didn't you?"

[LanPB01]

Ping for this important breaking news.

[retrokitten]

LMAO!!!

[thoughtomator]

Just when you thought the Democrats couldn't get any wierder...

[Semper Paratus]

If he wins the election, America has trully lost its mind.

[bigfootbob]

Dean is a crab people and Gen. "Weasley" Clark is Mr. Slave.

[Frank_Discussion]

This brings up my view of the guy and the way he waffles, summed up in a new nickname:

Soylent Dean

[woofie]

Wasnt he with The Village People ?

[Phantom Lord]

Crab People Bump!

[Pukin Dog]

The only thing missing is the tank. Someone get that fool on top of a tank, let him zip around just long enough to make a fool of himself, and we can all go home.

[Aquinasfan]

"That dude's right," said junior "Spud" Williamson, wearing camouflage pants and purple spiked hair, about Dean's assertion that the extra $87 billion Bush is seeking to rebuild Iraq could have bought health insurance for every American.

Dude, get a job.

[Consort]

He's just trying to be sibylized.

[asformeandformyhouse]

Howard is a doctor; he understands health care

I'm voting for Clark. His healthcare plan is much better. He's proposed using time-travel to take us back to when healthcare was less expensive. :)

[Phantom Lord]

Ask these wackos how $87 billion could buy health insurance for every American when Medicare alone is hundreds of billions of dollars and the health care sector of the economy is near $2 Trillion.

[T'wit]

Which side of the bed does a metrosexual sleep on, his side or his feminine side?

[dts32041]

MY God Kenny is dead, since others go the crab people going.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

HLL has him pegged.

He's Frankenstein's monster who's head doesn't match his body.

[TADSLOS]

That dude's right," said junior "Spud" Williamson, wearing camouflage pants and purple spiked hair, about Dean's assertion that the extra $87 billion Bush is seeking to rebuild Iraq could have bought health insurance for every American.

Spoken like a future Dean Cabinet appointee. I see a landslide of chads burying rats alive a comin'...

[flashbunny]

Talk like people, taste like crab.