Posted on 01/11/2004 7:32:43 PM PST by neverdem
Sharpton Blasts Dean on Race in Debate)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Under fire in a campaign debate, Howard Dean conceded grudgingly Sunday night that he never named a black or Latino to his cabinet during nearly 12 years as governor of Vermont.
"If you want to lecture people on race, you ought to have the background and track record to do that," Al Sharpton snapped at the Democratic presidential front-runner in an emotionally charged exchange in the final debate before next week's kickoff Iowa caucuses.
"I will take a backseat to no one in a commitment to civil rights in America," Dean said moments later, eager to have the last word.
Dean, leading in the polls in Iowa as well as nationwide, also drew criticism from Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio for saying he could balance the budget without cutting Pentagon spending. And Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri questioned Dean closely about whether he could cut payroll taxes without harming Social Security.
Dean said he could. "I think cutting the payroll tax is not a bad idea," he said. "We will not touch Social Security."
Dean also said he would defer any middle class tax cut until he had balanced the budget - something he has previously pledged to do midway through a second term in office.
The debate unfolded a little more than a week before Iowans begin the selection of national convention delegates who will pick an opponent for President Bush.
"We're past all this preliminary stuff. It's time to choose a president," said Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, reflecting the feeling of all the contenders who have spent more than a year traversing the state and visiting all 99 of its counties.
Recent polling showed Dean and Gephardt in a close race in the state, with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Edwards trailing. The outcome will begin the winnowing process in the race for the nomination. Dean hopes for a win to validate his claim as campaign front-runner. Gephardt's aides say he must win. Kerry and Edwards hope for strong finishes to sustain their campaigns in New Hampshire, whose primary follows Iowa by eight days.
The two-hour debate was billed as the Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum, designed to focus the contenders on issues of concern to minorities, and Sharpton's aggressive questioning of Dean accomplished that.
"You keep talking about race," the former street activist chided Dean when he had a turn to ask a question. He said that not one "black or brown held a senior position, not one...It seems as though you've discovered blacks and browns in this campaign," he said.
Dean bristled at that and said it was untrue. He said he had had "senior members" of his staff who were minorities, but Sharpton cut him off and said he was asking about his Cabinet, which has fewer members.
"No, we did not," conceded Dean, whose state has a population that is nearly 98 percent white.
Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, who is African-American as it Sharpton, defended Dean. "Rev. Sharpton, the fact of the matter is we can always blow up a racial debate and make people mad at each other."
Minutes later, Dean returned to the subject, noting that he has the endorsements of more members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus than any other presidential hopeful.
For much of the evening, it seemed that a candidate's place in the polls dictated how often and sharply he or she was attacked.
"I was beginning to hope someone would attack me," said Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who participated in the debate although he is not competing in the caucuses. No one did.
Instead, they saved most of their ammunition for Dean, the surprise of the campaign so far, the former governor of a small state who moved from relative obscurity to front-runner during 2003.
Kucinich challenged him to say when he would cut middle class taxes; Gephardt prodded him on Social Security, and Kerry even challenged him on his trademark issue - opposition to the Iraq war.
"I think Gov. Dean has had it both ways," he said. Kerry said that in fall 2002, Dean spoke in support of congressional legislation that would have given Bush the authority to use force in Iraq, so long as he notified Congress in advance.
The event was broadcast by MSNBC and hosted by the network's Lester Holt and Maria Celeste Arraras of the Spanish-language network Telemundo.
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| Rank | Location | Receipts | Donors/Avg | Freepers/Avg | Monthlies | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Iowa | 220.00 |
7 |
31.43 |
134 |
1.64 |
35.00 |
2 |
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In other words "Al, lets save that for the Republicans."
Tax cuts in six years? How courageous.
They missed Al's killer quip about Dean waving around his endorsments from blacks.
"You only need cosigners if you have no credit".
ZING!
From the mouth of one found guilty of libel, how much credit?
Dean is lucky with enemies like these. Maybe it's his Sister Soljah moment?
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