Dean: I Didn't Say 'Panic Attack' [Yes, He Did]

NewsMax.com, Fox & Friends ^ | Jan. 19, 2004 | Carl Limbacher

[Carl/NewsMax]

Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean denied that he ever suffered from "panic attacks" during a Monday morning interview with Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends," insisting that neither he nor a reporter who recently interviewed him had used that term to describe an episode where he hyperventilated upon taking office as Vermont governor in 1991.

Citing a recent interview he gave to People magazine, Dean complained to "Fox & Friends" host Steve Doocy, "I think if you read People magazine it says no such thing. The quote that you just read, it didn't say anything about a panic attack."

People's interviewer did, however, twice ask Dean about past "anxiety attacks," prompting the former Vermont governor to detail his hyperventilation experience.

Noted People's Ann Driscoll, "It sounds as if you had a little bit of an anxiety attack when you got the word that you were now governor."

"I did," responded Dean. "I hyperventilated and I started hyperventilating and I thought, You better stop that or you won't be much good to anybody. . . . To suddenly get told that you have responsibility for 600,000 people — it provokes a little anxiety."

And in fact, it turns out that Dean himself has used the term "panic attack" to describe his old ailment.

Just three months ago, the Associated Press reported, "The candidate, who rarely talks about his personal life, said his brother's capture and death caused him to seek therapy for bouts of anxiety. Dean was quoted calling the episodes 'panic attacks,' although his aides said he quickly described that as a poor choice of words."

Still - despite his own use of the term - Dean complained Monday that Fox had hit him with a low blow.

"It's amazing to me the kind of stuff that you just did," he told Doocy. "It says nothing of the sort that I had a panic attack in People magazine. I'm shocked that you'd say such a thing."

[Tall_Texan]

To suddenly get told that you have responsibility for 600,000 people

And that's the problem with leftists. They aren't *responsible* for 600,000 people they are *accountable* to 600,000 people. No wonder these guys get so twisted up.

[kitkat]

I smell PANIC!

[Wumpus Hunter]

And he's one of the "best" the rats can come up with!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Well, to be literally fair, the People interview did NOT use the term "panic attack," it spoke of "anxiety attacks." I think as a medical matter there's no real difference, but Doocy would have been better off speaking of anxiety attacks.

[OldFriend]

Once again I find Dean's comments about his brother's death to be quite bizarre.

Dean's brother's remains were only found about a month aga. He had been declared missing for all this time.

Why would Dean say he was disturbed over his brother's death. This is the second time he refers to his brother's death.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Believe me, I am on the verge of a panic attack every time I think Howard Dean could possibly become the next President of the United States. I start to hyperventilate when it dawns on me that he could be responsible for a nation of over 200 million.

[ConservativeDude]

you beat me to it...sick isnt it?

[cspackler]

The candidate, who rarely talks about his personal life, said his brother's capture and death...

Doesn't the term "capture" imply that he was there on a military mission? I'm still under the impression that he was basically just screwing around somewhere that he shouldn't have been.

[Mark]

Physician, heal thy self.

[cynicom]

Somewhere in his rantings he has said that the shrink said the death of his brother was the root cause of his "attacks". Maybe he did'nt like his Mama or his Nanny, one never knows.

[kingu]

I just don't believe these RATs sometimes. Why make a bigger issue out of it? There's an old rule of thumb - When you discover yourself digging a hole, don't get a bigger shovel.

He said panic attack. Whee! Come on, Dean, you went through medical school, and the best defense you can come up with is trying to justify it, or adjust it, after the fact? If a reporter came after you for saying 'Bush makes me sick,' you don't defend yourself by saying that Bush once gave you the flu. You say, "That's a figure of speech - only a lunatic would believe such a thing. Are you being obsessive for any particular reason?"

Thank you, Dean, for proving that you are unfit for any political office, much less the office of President.

[in the Arena]

And that's the problem with leftists. They aren't *responsible* for 600,000 people they are *accountable* to 600,000 people. No wonder these guys get so twisted up.

Bingo...

[caisson71]

Dean's brother was not in the military but was given military honors when his remains were brought back to Hawaii for positive ID. I suspect Dean's panic attack was due to being surrounded by military personnel pissed at the elaborate ceremony for his brother which was far in excess than those for the real military men recovered from Nam.

[Clara Lou]

Dean has done it again. He is his own worst enemy. He won't take Iowa. I hoped that he would, but it will be nice to see him try to explain away his failure to win.

[LisaMalia]

Hey, I've had panic attacks. Nothing to be ashamed of. Is Dean trying to say it is?
Well, he's managed to alienate most every other segment of Americana, why not panic attack sufferers?.....;)

Keep sticking that foot in your mouth Deanie.

[SpyGuy]

Question: When Dean rebuffed Doocy, did Doocy respond with the facts contained within this article? I doubt it. Otherwise, the exchange would surely have been reported in this story.

Even the (generally) right-leaning reporters on Fox News don't qualify as "hard journalists." They either don't do the neccessary research in advance to have the facts in hand (Doocy should have been able to cite both times when Dean made those remarks), or they don't have the guts to actually challenge their guests, exposing them as liers.

[cspackler]

Dean's brother was not in the military but was given military honors when his remains were brought back to Hawaii for positive ID.

Yup, I remember that part. Is it not highly unusual for civilians to be given full military honors? Under what circumstances would that be considered "normal"? (Assuming by your tag that you have more knowledge on the subject than would I)

[Dionysius]

"I did not say 'panic attack'. Now shut up and sit down before I beat the crap out of you!"