Free Republic

Top Democrats are increasingly concerned that they lack an effective plan to turn out voters this fall, creating tension among party leaders and prompting House Democrats to launch a fundraising effort aimed exclusively at mobilizing Democratic partisans. At a meeting last week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi criticized Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean for not spending enough party resources on get-out-the-vote efforts in the most competitive House and Senate races... Pelosi -- echoing a complaint common among Democratic lawmakers and operatives -- has warned privately that Democrats are at risk of going into the November midterm elections with a...

Let me steal the opening from Ruth Marcus' column on Alberto Gonzales yesterday and repackage it for my own purposes: Howard Dean is achieving something remarkable, even miraculous, as DNC Chairman: He is making Terry McAuliffe look good.Surveying the wreckage of Dean's latest imbecilic utterings, grotesquely overwraught analogies, and phony calls for unity, one really has to wonder: has there been a greater buffoon leading one of the two major parties in recent history? Republicans remain thrilled by Dean's rise, of course, not only because he has an uncanny ability to make the Democratic party look bad with cringe-inducing headlines...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean on Wednesday called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki an "anti-Semite" for failing to denounce Hezbollah for its attacks against Israel. Al-Maliki has condemned Israel's offensive, prompting several Democrats to boycott his address to a joint meeting of Congress and others to criticize him. Dean's comments were the strongest to date. "The Iraqi prime minister is an anti-Semite," the Democratic leader told a gathering of business leaders in Florida. "We don't need to spend $200 and $300 and $500 billion dollars bringing democracy to Iraq to turn it over to people...

Democratic chairman speaks at conference By Philip J. LaVelle UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER July 16, 2006 Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean accused President Bush last night of being weak on national defense and absent in the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. In remarks at San Diego State University, Dean urged activists to fan across the nation – including deep into the heart of Republican-rich “red” states – to tell voters that Bush has failed as president – including in national defense, which Republicans tout as their core strength. Advertisement “There are a lot of things we...

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean accused President Bush last night of being weak on national defense and absent in the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. In remarks at San Diego State University, Dean urged activists to fan across the nation – including deep into the heart of Republican-rich “red” states – to tell voters that Bush has failed as president – including in national defense, which Republicans tout as their core strength. “You know, people say the Republicans are tough on defense. How can you be tough on defense if five years after 9/11, Osama...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The head of Alabama's Republican Party has an offer for Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean: She'll pay for the plane ticket if he will come campaign with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Lucy Baxley. Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh said today she would foot the cost of Dean's flight to Alabama if he'd come stand with Baxley and explain his party's position on issues including abortion, gay marriage, gun rights and taxes. Cavanaugh made her comments ahead of an appearance by Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman in Birmingham. Baxley spokesman Jeff Bridges says he didn't know whether the Democratic lieutenant governor...

Statement by Howard Dean on the New York Court of Appeals Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage 7/6/2006 2:05:00 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: National Desk Contact: Damien LaVera of the Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148 WASHINGTON, July 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement in response to the decision by the New York Court of Appeals that the state constitution does not guarantee the right to marriage for same-sex couples, but that the state legislature could provide this: "As Democrats, we believe that every American has a right to equal protection under the law and...

Dean calls justification used in New York ruling on gay marriage 'bigoted, outdated' Today in New York: New York's highest court today turned back a broad attempt by gay and lesbian couples across the state to win the right to marry and raise children under New York State's marriage law, saying that denying marriage to same-sex couples does not violate the state constitution. In a 4-2 decision, the Court of Appeals found that the state's definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, enacted more than a century ago, could have a rational basis, and that...

Showing once again the bankruptcy of ideas in the Democratic Party, Party Chairman, Howard Dean, said that he thinks the U.S. is about to return to the era of the 1960's. "We're about to enter the '60s again," he wistfully told a religious conference in Washington D.C. on June 27th. Of course, he tried to back track almost as soon as he said it warning that, as he weakly tried to explain it, he didn't mean a return to the race riots and anti-war demonstrations that typified the era. No, he said he meant that we are moving toward an...

To: National Desk, Political Reporter Contact: Stacie Paxton or Mark Paustenbach, 202-863-8148, both of the DNC Communications Staff WASHINGTON, June 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean delivers the Democratic Radio Address this week, where he calls on the Bush Administration to end its commitment to a failed strategy in Iraq and talks about Democratic efforts to implement an Iraq policy that's both tough and smart. Democrats agree that 2006 must be a year of significant transition in Iraq, and that the Administration must outline real benchmarks for success so that Iraqis can take control of their...

They feel an increasing intellectual estrangement from and impatience with the activists who people their base of support. And this is something new. On the Democratic side, it is not just as bad but worse. They don't only think they're more sophisticated than their base, more informed and aware of the complexities. I believe they think their base is mad. You can see their problem in their inability to get a slogan. Which, believe me, is how they think of it: a slogan. "Together for a Better Future." "A Future With Better Togetherness." Today for a better tomorrow, tomorrow for...

DNC Chairman Howard Dean on Karl Rove Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the news that top Bush advisor Karl Rove will not be indicted despite disclosing the identity of a covert agent during a time of war: "The prosecutor’s decision not to indict Karl Rove does not diminish the fact that Karl Rove was involved in leaking the identity of an intelligence operative during a time of war. Karl Rove does not belong in the White House. If the President valued America more than he valued his connection with Karl Rove, Karl Rove would...

Dean on Iraq Resolution Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the House Republicans’ politically-motivated, non-binding resolution on Iraq: "Today’s vote on the misguided Republican Iraq War resolution was yet another example of the GOP-led Congress playing partisan political games instead of demanding real accountability. The Bush Administration’s ineptitude and reckless policies have gone unchecked for three years. Our troops, their families and the American people deserve a real plan for success in Iraq from the Bush Administration, not a permanent, open-ended commitment to a failed strategy. It is irresponsible for President Bush to say this...

DNC CHAIRMAN DEAN: ROVE HAS REAL SIN Tue Jun 13 2006 08:29:32 ET DNC Chair Howard Dean on NBC's 'TODAY': 'If Karl Rove had been indicted it would have been for perjury. That does not excuse his real sin which is leaking the name of an intelligence operative during the time of war. He doesn't belong in the White House. If the President valued America more than he valued his connection to Karl Rove, then Karl Rove would have been fired a long time ago. So I think this is probably good news for the White House, but its not...

To: National Desk Contact: Damien LaVera of the Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148 WASHINGTON, June 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today gave the keynote address to the National Stonewall Democrats conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The following are excerpts of Dean's remarks as prepared for delivery. "I want to start today by thanking you for standing with me. Not just through the recent controversy over my CBN interview, but for standing with me as we have fought side by side for equal rights under the law for all Americans. That fight continues, and the Democrat Party is...

Howard Dean says Democrats must have faith in their ability to attract religious voters. The former presidential candidate, who will speak at this weekend's Oregon Democratic Convention in Eugene, says his party must do a better job of winning the support of evangelical Christians, who have voted Republican in recent elections. To that end, Dean recently appeared on Pat Robertson's "700 Club." The appearance wasn't without its bumps. Dean had to later apologize to gay-rights leaders for incorrectly stating during the program that the party's platform said "marriage is between a man and a woman." Still, Dean, the chairman of...

Democrats Gather For Religious Outreach Training Convention Planned For Eugene EUGENE, Ore. -- The Democratic Convention is coming to Eugene this weekend. It will offer a half-day training session on religious outreach, an important part of the Democratic Party's attempt to extend beyond its core secular issues. The religious outreach is part of an overall emphasis in this convention on training Democratic activists for success at the ballot box and in policymaking. Session and speech topics include Internet strategy for grass-roots activists, how to use the party's new voter file database and ways Democratic leaders can broaden their appeal to...

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE: 62-36 From Governor Dean: "We congratulate Senate Democrats for their continued leadership, led by Leader Harry Reid, on the important issue of comprehensive immigration reform. Democrats have consistently fought for immigration reform that strengthens our borders, protects U.S. workers and their wages, reunites families and allows hard-working immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law the opportunity to earn the right to apply for the responsibilities of citizenship. "While the Senate bill is better than the Republican bill passed by the House with the President's backing, the next important step of reconciling these measures could erase...

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Wednesday that there is no comparison between the ethical problems faced by U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D- La.) and what he termed the Republican "culture of corruption" in the nation's capital. A GOP spokesman dismissed Dean's criticism as "trying to sell a fundamentally flawed campaign slogan." "There's a difference between the involvement of Congressman Jefferson in activities for which there's been no indictment and the culture of corruption that extends throughout the White House, the vice president's office and both houses of Congress," Dean said during a press conference at the DNC headquarters...

When mega-pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church opened last year in its new Houston home, a most unlikely guest was on hand for the celebration: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). This month, Howard Dean went on Pat Robertson's "700 Club," asserting that Democrats "have an enormous amount in common with the Christian community, and particularly with the evangelical Christian community." Democrats these days are a party on a mission to persuade evangelical Christian voters to consider converting -- to the Democratic Party. Just as Republicans have worked at peeling off some African American voters from the Democratic Party, evangelical voters...