I wish Howard Dean would stop criticizing "Republicans"

[baby_bear]

Don't get me wrong; I love Dean. But I heard him interviewed on the radio the past day or two and he kept criticizing Republicans for doing this or believing that, etc. I wish he would keep his criticism specific to the Bush administration, because we need to make Republicans feel comfortable in coming over to the Kerry camp for this election. I know that is what I am trying to do with my Republican friends and acquaintances. I have really toned down my anti-Republican rhetoric and am reserving it for the Bushies. I know some Republicans who I believe are dismayed by Bush but just aren't comfortable saying it out loud.

Let's try to bring those folks into the fold, not stereotype them so they feel they have to stick with Bush if only for personal pride reasons.

I am not endorsing any move to the right by Democrats; on the contrary, I'd like to see the party embrace liberalism proudly once again. What I'm endorsing is a sane vote by all in this election. And voting for Bush is not sane, except for those who thrive on terror and war and debt and fear.

s_m

[zmdem]

1. Good point

It's hard to sell a Ford owner a Chevy if you insist he was a moron for ever buying a Ford. Flies, honey, vinegar.

[jjmalonejr]

2. Howard Dean is not ADDRESSING swing Republicans

He has very little appeal with them. He's addressing the base and making sure they stay with Kerry.

[madfloridian]

5. Actually, a lot of his supporters were moderate Republicans...

who felt their party left them. We had several in our group here. They are still active now that it is DFA in name.

[TeacherCreature]

15. half the people at my meetups were republicans

They loved him

[savistocate]

3. Very hard to get around it..

those Iv'e heard ,call-ins on RR at AAR & Franken have expressed as much conciousness of the change hard Right has made in R Party as they have with seeing the ..dead end.. around "the corner" Bush has said he's turned.

Onecannot sterotype them more than they've done themselves.
Denials--the WH high offcls naming a covert CIA agent!--having intel on Aug 6 (+) of alQ "determined to strike in US"..not acting on it, hiding it. Exploiting politically the trgedy..witholding funds
for heros and victims. Planning Iraq attack even from day one
WH take-over..leaving the "hunt OBL into the caves" in Afghanistan to pursue greater war profits ..military/construction
contracts, oil revenues transferred to their own investment corps.
Disappeared $$$billions --another interum gov head of Iraq, this a former Saddam assasin. Denying the undeniable, defending indefensible.

[salin]

4. Dean is filling a role

many folks need to hear this kind of criticism to get reenergized, or activated for the first time (anywhere from voting for the first time, to volunteering for the first time.)

By filling this role - Kerry and Edwards don't have to - and they look more presidential.

[baby_bear]

9. That's a good point, Salin

Kerry and Edwards can focus on the Bushies while the others point out how the whole R party has gone over the top.

s_m

[TexasSissy]

6. Yes, that's a good point. He should be specific as to the people

he's talking about (the Bushies), rather than generalize. Unless he's talking about the Repub Platform, in which case he should refer to that.

But maybe he's trying to sound like he's not Bush-bashing. Can't win for losing, I guess. Maybe he should just do what feels natural to him (except yell).

[madfloridian]

7. That makes me feel uncomfortable a little.

They really do criticize us. They did after all get us into this mess we are in with the help of a lot Democrats. Someone has to be critical if we are to get back on track.

The Republicans as a party attacked those who knew the war was dead wrong....both verbally and physically in many cases.

I know what you are saying in a way, but he usually does qualify it now with right wing. However, this hush Dean is not a good thing.

Hushing up fellow Democrats so as not to offend is not productive. Someone has to do it. He has been on the road 6 days a week for months trying to get candidates elected to local offices and state offices.

I feel he has earned the right to say what he wants. He is being so good now that if he is asked not to attack Republicans anymore, he will say ok and hush. For now. I feel we have been Democrats all our life, and we as well have earned a right to question our leaders and the party in power.

[depakid]

8. I guess you're not interested in getting Congress back

The problem in this country lies with Republicans- every single one of them. Unless the Dems nationalize the election- and make it about what the Republicans do- not just what George Bush does, we'll end up having every potential policy and decent judicial nominee blocked.

Howard Dean understands this. So do the Republicans. I wish the rest of the Democrats would come to this realization too.

[DrFunkenstein]

10. A Valid Point - I Disagree, But It I Definitely See Your Point

I think our first priority is separating Bush from his own Party by making him seem beholden to its most extreme factions of big business and religion. The effect will trickle down into the Congressional races on their own.

[madfloridian]

11. You don't think it would help Kerry to have more Democrats in congress?

I would think it would be a tremendous help to him.

[WI_DEM]

12. this is Dean's role--he is working the base while Kerry/Edwards

are courting the swing voters.

[janx]

13. I think it's pretty well understood at this point who and what

Dean is talking about.

[mandyky]

14. Any Republican listening to a Dean interview knows

Dean is talking about GOP politicians, not the people. Remember Dean wants to be the guy who appeals to the pick up truck with confederate flag decals - he knows the people of the GOP are voting against their self-interest. Dean's Republican remarks mean GOP Pols!

[JNelson6563]

16. How do you think they made "liberal" so evil?

It is time for being a "Republican" to be unfashionable.

That party is not Republican anymore it is neo-con and the two must now become cloosely associated.

It's high time. I hope Dean takes the time to continue with the backbone implants on the Dems, and that he makes a stop here at DU.

Julie

[bklyncowgirl]

17. Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal, Liberal

You hit the nail on the head. The right wing went hard after all Democrats and hardest of all after moderates like Bill Clinton.

I'm not saying slam all Republicans. Point out the good guys among them, sure, make it clear that their party's been hijacked by a bunch of radicals, you bet, but go after the right wing neocons with no mercy shown!