Graham on 'short list' for VP spot: Dean campaigns in Tallahassee

The Tallahassee Democrat ^ | Nov 5, 2003 | Bill Cotterell

[EllaMinnow]

Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Tuesday that Southerners must stop basing their votes on "race, guns, God and gays" and forge a multiracial coalition that focuses next year's presidential election on jobs, health care and a foreign policy reflecting American values.

In a wide-ranging luncheon address to the Capital Tiger Bay Club, the former Vermont governor also said U.S. Sen. Bob Graham is on his "short list" for vice president - if he wins the top spot at the Democratic National Convention in Boston next summer. Dean called Graham, who said Monday that he won't run for re-election to the Senate, "one of the greatest public servants in the United States."

An enthusiastic throng of Dean supporters filled the courtyard of the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center to greet Dean, the first active presidential candidate to campaign in Tallahassee.

Meanwhile, Florida Republican Party Chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan called a news conference early in the day to say that Dean - the surprise front-runner of the nine Democrats challenging President Bush - represents "the old, tired ideas of Democrats past."

After his Tiger Bay speech, Dean was asked about his recent remark that he wants to be "the candidate for the guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks." Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., and the Rev. Al Sharpton criticized him for saying it, but Dean explained that Democrats can appeal to conservative Southern voters the way Franklin Roosevelt did - by attacking Republicans on taxes, lost jobs and health insurance.

"What are these people doing, voting for a president of the United States who gave a $26,000 tax cut to the top 1 percent, when they don't even make $26,000?" Dean said. "We need to put back the coalition that FDR had together, because when white working people and black working people and brown working people vote together in this country, that's when we have social progress.

"We have got to stop having our elections in the South based on race, guns, God and gays - and start having them based on jobs and health insurance and a foreign policy that's consistent with American values."

Dean, who signed a law allowing "civil unions" for gay couples in Vermont, declined to comment on the Episcopal Church ordaining a gay bishop in New Hampshire. He said it was the business of the church, not the government.

Dean took a swipe at Gov. Jeb Bush for rushing through a law two weeks ago overriding a court order and resuming the feeding of Terri Schiavo, a Tampa woman who has been in a "persistent vegetative state" since 1990. Dean, a physician, said politicians should stay out of medical matters.

"I would be embarrassed if I were the Legislature or the governor; what business does the governor have, to interfere with a private family matter in a right-to-die case?" said Dean. "I am tired of people in the Legislature thinking they have an M.D., when they're really having B.S."

Tiger Bay Club president Janet Hinkle told Dean he doesn't need to "whistle Dixie" when campaigning in the South. The political luncheon club presented him a NASCAR poster, an FSU ball cap and an empty beer can to carry around.

'Depressing list of gripes'

Jordan, the state GOP chief, said Dean's opposition to the war in Iraq and his pledge to repeal Bush's tax cuts will not sit well with Floridians. She said he is appealing to "a tiny, arrogant elite who will pick the Democratic nominee," with policies meaning higher taxes, less accountability in education, "federal control of health care" and a weakening of American military and diplomatic efforts abroad.

"His entire agenda is nothing but a depressing list of gripes," she said.

Dean said Graham, who dropped out of the presidential race Oct. 6, "was the candidate I felt closest to" in joint appearances.

"I told Bob Graham the day he made the decision to drop out (of the presidential race) that he would be on the short list, and he is on the short list," said Dean. "He is one of the greatest public servants in the United States."

On another hot topic for Florida, Dean said he favors lifting the travel embargo on Cuba - but not right now. Reporters asked Dean after his speech about relations with Fidel Castro, who is hated by thousands of Cuban-American exiles in Miami-Dade County.

"I was originally in favor of that," Dean said of easing relations with Havana. "The only problem is, it's an inopportune time. You can't appear to reward Castro for imprisoning dissidents, which is what he's just done."

[EllaMinnow]

Doctor Dean came to my town yesterday, and I managed to miss the whole thing. Lucky me!

[wimpycat]

Sounds like Zell Miller was right about Democrat strategy to win over the South. They think putting a Southerner on the ballot will make Southerners forget that the DNC ignores Southern Democrats on social issues.

Well, it's Howard Dean, so what can you expect?

[EllaMinnow]

Tiger Bay Club president Janet Hinkle told Dean he doesn't need to "whistle Dixie" when campaigning in the South. The political luncheon club presented him a NASCAR poster, an FSU ball cap and an empty beer can to carry around.

I'm ashamed to say that Janet Hinkle was my next-door neighbor and first best friend when we were very small girls. She's a life-long southerner, and she doesn't get it.

[Guillermo]

Graham is the obvious choice for VP.

Clinton > Southerner

Carter > Southerner

LBJ > Southerner (?)

There is NO WAY they can win without a Southerner on the ticket. And I don't think a Southern VP candidate will be enough.

The only thing Dean's got going for him in the South is his NRA rating.

[EllaMinnow]

The local take on Dizzy Dean.

[wai-ming]

Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Tuesday that Southerners must stop basing their votes on "race, guns, God and gays" and forge a multiracial coalition that focuses next year's presidential election on jobs, health care and a foreign policy reflecting American values.

I don't think that telling people how to vote, or what they "must base their votes on" is going to win Mr. Dean many friends in the South.

[js1138]

Graham is a Southerner? Only to the folks in Tallahassee and Miami.

[wimpycat]

Why Bob Graham and not John Edwards, then? Edwards is a Southerner, too. He's younger, better looking and he's in better health than Graham.

Being a Southerner is not a guaranteed win in the South. Yes, of course, Clinton won the Presidency twice, but he didn't win North or South Carolina either time. We saw him coming, as they say, and knew him for what he was. (I know there are other Southern states that Clinton lost both times, but I don't have time to look them up.)

And Carter was a one termer. Southerners enthusiastically gave him a chance, but after seeing what a FUBAR he made of things, decided to go for the Californian instead. Except for Georgia. Georgia stuck by him.

[wimpycat]

I've heard him talk; if he's not a Southerner, he's good a mimicking Southern accents.

[cyncooper]

Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Tuesday that Southerners must stop basing their votes on "race, guns, God and gays" and forge a multiracial coalition

Ooooooookey Dokey.

What a creepy jerk.

[cyncooper]

Why Bob Graham and not John Edwards, then? Edwards is a Southerner, too. He's younger, better looking and he's in better health than Graham.

Because this event was in Florida and el creepo was pandering. He'll never pick that senile fool as a running mate.

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>"His entire agenda is nothing but a depressing list of gripes,"

No socialist has thought up an original idea since Marx coauthored with Engels. Make no mistake about it. Hatred Powered Howard is a tie-died in the Grateful Dead T-shirt Socialist.

[cyncooper]

I'm ashamed to say that Janet Hinkle was my next-door neighbor and first best friend when we were very small girls.

I'll trust politics was not the order of the day then. You are absolved.

:)

[Happy2BMe]

"Graham is the obvious choice for VP.

Clinton > Southerner

Carter > Southerner

LBJ > Southerner (?)

There is NO WAY they can win without a Southerner on the ticket. And I don't think a Southern VP candidate will be enough."

NOTE TO ALL DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: KEEP BASHING THE SOUTH!

(This is for you Dean: How many of them drive pickup trucks?)

Send it to the DNC for mass distribution.

More like foot in mouth (Bigfoot, that is!)

I asked to see what a METROSexual looked like and BAM!

Howard Dean

Howard Dean says he's running for President, and on paper he's quite a candidate. He's the longest-serving Democratic governor. He signed the first law in the country to allow gay unions. And, he's got the endorsement of America's favorite president-that-isn't: Martin Sheen.

Google Search for Metrosexual

HELP!

metrosexual (aka Male Democrat) (MET.roh.sek.shoo.ul) n. A dandyish narcissist in love with not only himself, but also his urban lifestyle; a straight man who is in touch with his feminine side. —metrosexuality n. Example Citation: The only problem facing the metrosexual in an otherwise carefree existence is the inescapable effects of ageing. If 30 is 45 in gay years, then 26 is retirement age for the metrosexual — and no amount of biotechnological, rehydrating, whale sperm dermo-care can alter that. —Jonathan Trew, "I love me so much," The Scotsman, July 24, 2002

---

[EllaMinnow]

Dean, a physician, said politicians should stay out of medical matters.

Then Dr. Dean should stay out of politics.

[GUNDEK]

Once again Governor Dean shows that he does not understand Southern conservatism. Racal issues play almost no role in Southern politics any more, except for the race baiting that comes from the left. Main stream Southern voters believe in a conservative social, fiscal, and foreign policy. On “main stream” issues such as taxes, abortion, welfare, schools, guns, and the environment not to mention the more liberal agenda against marriage and religion Southerners consistently find themselves better represented by Republicans. Mr. Dean continues with his recent insults toward Southerners by using the same tired Democrat tactics that lost them the South to begin with the only difference is that now he is waving the Confederate flag while insulting Southern conservatives. The only good thing that I can say about his most recent statement is that he came right out and called Southern conservatives racist and homophobes. Lets be honest, the South has always been socially conservative, yes there is a strong streak of populism in Dixie but even that is becoming a thing of the past. The Democrat party is not a party for Southern conservatives any more, it has become a party for the most violently liberal in our country and promotes a social agenda that goes against Southern values.

[.cnI redruM]

Having a physician reform the health care system is like having a garage mechanic design and build interstate highways. He has nowhere near the expertise he claims to actually posess when he waves around his stethescope for the cameras.

[Guillermo]

Fla has more Electoral votes, and is considered to be "in play" moreso than NC.

[wimpycat]

Good point. The only way NC would vote for a Democrat for president these days would be if somebody like Zell Miller was the nominee.

[JohnnyZ]

Fla has more Electoral votes, and is considered to be "in play" moreso than NC.

Electoral calculation only goes so far. Ideally you'd want a VP who'd be appealing AND electorally significant. Sen. Mary Landrieu would qualify.