Dean Disarms Hecklers with National Anthem

Reuters ^ | 01-20-04 | Staff

[veronica]

CONCORD, N.H. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean on Tuesday unleashed an unlikely weapon to disarm hecklers -- the U.S. national anthem.

When a rally at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord was interrupted for a second time, the former Vermont governor led his supporters in a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to drown them out.

Earlier, Dean had called for security to remove a couple of protesters who were shouting and waving the Confederate flag, a divisive symbol of racism and slavery in the South. As they were hustled out, Dean requested they not be "manhandled."

Last year, Dean was roundly attacked for making an insensitive remark about wanting to be the candidate for "guys with the Confederate flag on their pickups." He later apologized for the remark.

Dean criticized the hecklers, saying they "refuse to respect our right of free speech" and told the crowd:

"But you can exercise your right to vote and that's the way we're going to take back our country. The way to deal with what you have seen this afternoon is to vote."

[bcoffey]

the former Vermont governor led his supporters in a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to drown them out.

But apparently he didn't know the words... as we're discussing on an earlier thread.

[Gritty]

He sang it, but he didn't know all the correct words!

[veronica]

He's really gone off the deep end. :)

[Humidston]

Jay Leno did a bit on his show last night. He said Dean is now wearing sweaters to "soften" his image. Leno says, "Now Dean looks like a rabid Mr. Rogers."

[bolobaby]

And it wasn't particularly "rousing" either.

Sigh... Reuters...

[Morgan's Raider]

Dean criticized the hecklers, saying they "refuse to respect our right of free speech" and told the crowd:

Or maybe Dean refuses to recognize the hecklers' right of free speech?

[Dog Gone]

Uh, oh. He's going to lose the confederate flag supporters he used to have...

[07055]

Lay off Dean! We need him to stay in the race.

[Paul Atreides]

who were shouting and waving the Confederate flag, a divisive symbol of racism and slavery in the South.

Ah, Reuters: doing their usual bang-up job.

[Az Joe]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bcoffey]

Uh, oh. He's going to lose the confederate flag supporters he used to have...

That's it! He was trying to sing the Confederate National Anthem!! LOL

[RoseofTexas]

NOOOOOO Dr. MAD How, not yet!!! Wait until you get the nomination... after that you can have all the nervous break downs you want...DAMN! This guy would've been easily cowboy whipped by our W!! SHAME!

[Prime Choice]

the Confederate flag, a divisive symbol of racism and slavery in the South.

That's funny. I was taught in school that the Confederate flag was a symbol of the Confederacy and that it was a symbol of states' rights superseding federal authority.

Yes, it's true that the symbol was stolen by a bunch of filthy racists and propped up as their own. That doesn't mean it is, though. If it does, then the peace symbol should not be tolerated because it is a divisive symbol of anti-Americanism.

[RWR8189]

Brit Hume said they were from the LaRouche campaign.

That is about the only guy that makes Dean look sane.

[Ohioan]

Earlier, Dean had called for security to remove a couple of protesters who were shouting and waving the Confederate flag, a divisive symbol of racism and slavery in the South.

One would have hoped for a more objective description from Reuters than that. I do not doubt that Dean was being heckled. That is the price of being a controversial candidate. But Reuter's dismissal of a long respected symbol of a large section of America, in this manner, is contemptible to say the least.

I am on my way out of here to go to dinner, or I would take the time to hatch some examples of how one could trash British symbols by a similar technique, not that I would blame Great Britain for whatever collection of Reuter's staff hatched this piece.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[JimVT]

Having just watched the irrational screaming about going to "New Hampshire......and every other state and then to "the White House"....while rolling up his sleeves and frothing at the mouth....I'm thinking....

.....can a doctor prescribe valium for himself?

[luigi]

protesters who were shouting and waving the Confederate flag, a divisive symbol of racism and slavery in the South.

I have lived in either Georgia or Florida almost all of my life, and I've known a lot of guys who flew, or wore, or displayed the Confederate flag, and it was never, never, meant to be racist or divisive. Now, this "fact" gets reported as news. Unbelievable.

[RandallFlagg]

Someone please tell me that a FReeper caught this in their computer and saved it.....

[PRND21]

Howard Stern played the "angry" Dean speech today with Nazi "Triumph of Will" sounds effects in the background.

Dean is Toast