Where was Dean?

[marcologico]

I just heard an NPR Morning Edition interview with GOP flack Ken Mehlman on the subject of Social Security (100% baloney, naturally, including the reasons Democratic reps will not want to be left behind) that ended with the words, "We also extended an invitation to Democrat Howard Dean."

Is Dean now ducking the press on Social Security, and if so, why?

source: the story isn't on NPR's website yet ("A listing of today's stories will be posted at approx. 8:30 a.m. ET") but this is where it ought to show up:

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=3

[aquart]

1. Oh, let's wait to find out what Mehlman lied about first.

We know he's lying about something because, well, he's Ken Mehlman. So let's not get excited.

[OKNancy]

2. Las Vegas

Dean is scheduled to make a speech at a huge AFL-CIO meeting this morning in Las Vegas.

http://www.nysun.com/article/9847

Labor has always been of huge importance to Democrats. I think where he is now is a lot more important than some early morning NPR show that few listen to.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. They don't have telephones in Las Vegas?

:shrug:

[OKNancy]

22. Of course they have telephones

Is that a rhetorical question? I would imagine that if the east coast time is at about 5:00am, Dean would be asleep in Las Vegas.

[RogueTrooper]

3. Using Republican generated media to attack a Democrat

y'all must be mighty proud of yourself.

[Eloriel]

83. that's Marco's job --

or at least that's what I'd guess from my observations of the kinds of things he posts: All Dean-bashing, all the time. If I didn't know better (cough, cough) I'd think that he came here to DU for the express purpose of stoking anti-Dean sentiment and/or disenchantment and disappointment with our new DNC Chair who, as others have pointed out, can NOT be everywhere at once nor all things to all people. In just a few short weeks he's done a spectacular job, IMO. BUT, you'll never please everybody, especially those who are predisposed against it.

[tkmorris]

4. Oh fer pity's sake Marco

Perhaps Dean received multiple invitations at the same time. Perhaps the man can't be everywhere at once. It's a radical idea I know but maybe he felt that an appearance at some other event carried more weight than battling the ignoble Ken Mehlman on the increasingly corporate NPR.

Your Quixotian crusade against Dean is amusing but maybe it's time to lay it down huh? Dean is the DNC chair, trashing him doesn't help us. Let it go.

[Demeter]

9. We Really Need to Clone Dean

because God knows we can't depend on one man to revive the Democratic Party and the nation all by himself!

[Nickster]

13. Can you imagine? One Dean for every state? YAY! n/t

[lojasmo]

33. That's what the honorable Wm. J. Clinton says...see Sig. EOM

[w13rd0]

5. Dean is speaking with local media...

...this is getting really tiresome. Lack of hobbies perhaps?

[Why Syzygy]

6. That's what I read

... here at DU actually.

National media leaves a lot to be desired.

I trust him to make the right decisions.

[marcologico]

37. Social Security is not a local story. n/t

[marcologico]

38. I don't think talking to pro-life Democrats in Jackson, Mississippi is any

substitute for defending Social Security on a national news show.

[Blue_Roses]

75. this is a serious issue and I commend Dean for coming

to a very tough state to talk about these issues. He's doing this right and just because he didn't address Social Security at the same time doesn't mean he is "substituting it" for one issue or another. There's alot of work to do between now and the next election and Dean's doing what needs to be done--reaching out to the most southern backwards states.

But one thing he definitely needs to hound is election fraud. We will never win with election fraud going on the way it has been in the last few elections.

[Capn Sunshine]

90. WHY don't you support the Chair of the DNC?

why? All you do is criticize his every move.

[KoKo]

7. Didn't you just do this post ? Different issue but you asked

"Where is Dean?" What's it to you where he is? :shrug: Have you written your Senators about this? Your congresspersons?

We know that the Repugs just love to hate Dean and so whatever is in the press is nothing but another attempt to make Dems do what they want by setting the agenda. Dean knows what he's doing and I trust him. So should you.

[sendero]

8. Dean is not a senator..

... he has no vote. Your feeble and transparent attempts to call him out are now beyond annoying all the way to stupid.

Dean does not have to explain to you why he didn't speak to NPR. Frankly, they are little better than FOX and if I were a congressperson or spokesman for the party I'd tell them to pack sand.

I'm sorry your man comes up lacking on a regular basis, and your only response is to trash people who are doing what he cannot or will not.

Just don't get the idea that everyone here isn't aware of your motivation.

And BTW - where was Jonh Kerry in the weeks after the "election" when he could have done something about Ohio? I know, he was "working behind the scenes" wasn't he? Or was he "calculating the possible damage to his 2008 run if he opened his mouth"? It was clearly the latter. His political expediency on the IWR vote cost him the presidency and now his political expediency on election fraud will cost him a second chance. Too bad.

[marcologico]

10. Where was Kerry? He's been hammering SS on TV for a month. From Jan. 30,

for example, an entire thread on the subject:

"Excellent comments by Kerry on 'SS Privitization' on Russert Today!"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1546840

p.s. thanks to KoKo01 for starting that thread :)

[sendero]

11. Well...

... at least his is doing half his job.

[John_H]

12. Christ. How many times do I have to point this out?

The entire social security debate is still more proof of what I've been screaming about like a broken record since november 3: The strategists, operatives, consultants, and spokespeople that brought us four years of losing are still in place.

The fact that republicans and mediawhores, not dems, are beating chimp's ass on social security is a result of this fact. Believe it or not, the elected party leaders do not make decisions about radio appearences or even most of the press strategy but rather sign off on schedules and memos--in other words, they generally do what they're told.

Get used to it folks. It's going to be a long two years--unless we rank and file dems start raising holy hell.

[NoPasaran]

15. Oh gee another day another of your flamefests

zzzzzzzz

[Capn Sunshine]

91. What I'd like to know is why every day he attacks the head of the DNC

every.single.day.

[WI_DEM]

16. the sad fact is that even if Dean had been on this program

you probably would have found fault there too. Let's face it nothing Dean does will ever please you.

[AntiCoup2K4]

17. Marcus, get over it

Geezus :eyes:

[lojasmo]

18. Mehlman: GOP must reach out to black voters

Hmmm....sounds like he was RESPONDING to Dean's criticism of the GOP for failing to include blacks.


Move along....nothing to see here Just more trolling flamebait.

[cestpaspossible]

19. There's no point

in accusing Dean of 'ducking the press' -- that charge is obviously ridiculous. We don't know the reason he didn't appear, but that is probably the most unlikely explanation. However, Dean should be going toe to toe with Mehlman at every opportunity so it was a mistake to not appear.

[Capn Sunshine]

20. Worst. Smear. yet.

You know, some folks really know how to grind an axe. I'm thinking of starting a Fund at DFA to send those folks on their computers with no thoughts and too much time to camp, where they can get outdoors , away from the beltway, breathe the fresh air of a new day, and look around at natures wondrous beauty.

Too much time in the basement just can't be good. It seems to make folks bitter and unfocused.

No matter who pays them.

[AZCat]

24. That would make a great Simpsons episode

Homer could be contracted to be a counselor at a camp for pale obsessive netziens when some of his co-workers get ensnarled in the grip of a political website.

:)



Edit: don't need capitals everywhere...

[Capn Sunshine]

26. Sometimes life imitates art

especially at DU

[AZCat]

27. Someday someone will make a "Trekkies" style documentary...

about the "blogger revolution" and we will cringe at the mischaracterizations while our children laugh at us.

Such is the cycle of life, I guess.

[Padraig18]

21. Another day, another Dean smear from marcologico.

Everyone who's surprised, raise your hands.

:eyes:

[Rose Siding]

23. Where is he? Hopefully not anywhere rising to Mehlman's bait

[Norquist Nemesis]

25. Going to where it would have a better impact

than 'responding' to more GOP attacks from the likes of Mehlman.

[Cuban_Liberal]

28. Kansas? Las Vegas? Mississippi?

He has an incredibly full schedule, since he's trying to rebuild the party from the ground up, so I can likely guess he was doing something about that, rather than responding toquestions from some RW shill/talking head on TV.

:eyes:

[Vickers]

29. He was probably out drinking or gambling

Or pushing old ladies to the ground?

:shrug:

[lojasmo]

30. Would anybody call this ducking?

"We believe that a lifetime of work earns you a retirement of dignity," he said. "We will not let that be put at risk by leaders who continually invent false crises to justify policies that don't work, in this case borrowing from our children, shredding our social safety net in the process."

DNC chair Howard Dean

[Capn Sunshine]

31. Looks like someone already did

very helpful to the DNC cause, all right.

[lojasmo]

32. This is indeed good for democrats, the party, and the DNC....

Ah, no, wait....this kind of stuff benefits republicans....my bad.

[dsc]

34. Could you be more dishonest?

I listened to the report this morning (they reair the hour here at 7) and unlike the dishonest portrayal you tried to feed us, it is clear that this is a series on NPR not a debate. The interview was conducted in MEHLMAN'S OFFICE not some neutral venue. It was clear to any honest person that Dean is going to be on at a later date. I intend to bookmark this thread to remind myself just how craven you can be.

[lojasmo]

35. What! I'm SHOCKED! SHOCKED I say! :eyes: EOM

[marcologico]

36. There's no mention of a series. Here are the final words, from the audio

file which I just listened to:

"Republican party chairman Ken Mehlman spoke in his Washington office. We've also extended an invitation by the way to Democrat Howard Dean."

link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4517515

There's no mention of a series, or of a report tomorrow from Howard Dean, or of anything indicating that Dean has even replied.

If Dean ducked an invitation from NPR to defend Social Security on its morning news show, which is heard in every U.S. city several times per day -- and it appears that he has -- I'd like to know why.

[LittleClarkie]

41. Aw dude!

"We *have* also extended an invitation," as in "and maybe he will take us up on it." Not "we extended an invitation" as if it were something in the past which he declined.

It's clear from what you just posted that they are indeed talking about a future event, should Dean take them up on it.



Do these two men look like they want their supporters to be fighting with each other?

[marcologico]

42. If Mehlman can answer a reporter's phone call so can Dean.

And frankly there's no excuse for not answering it. Incidentally Kerry had a long chat with those twerps THE MORNING AFTER HIS CONVENTION SPEECH.

[dsc]

55. It wasn't a phone call

They were in his office as was clearly pointed out in the piece. The questions were clearly designed for Melhman and not Dean. It was a tailored piece. You know that.

[Discord]

62. it probably would have been the ol'

Bait and switch. I don't blame him for not going into a Repug challenge that would have been a setup for them to just give Dean more bad press. They would take only the bits and pieces that reflected badly on Dean and those would be the only ones aired.

[dsc]

56. It was in Melhman's office

The interview was advertised twice as an interview. It was labeled an interview at the beginning of the piece. It wasn't billed as a joint appearence nor intended to be one. It is clearly intended to be part of a series.

[marcologico]

59. Mehlman answered the phone and agreed to an interview. Dean could have

done the same. That's how most interviews work -- the reporter calls first to make an appointment. They don't just walk into somebody's office.

BTW there are NPR affiliates (and telephones) everywhere in the country.

[dsc]

60. This is clearly intended to be a series

and you damn well know it. This was an interview and was billed as such and not a joint appearence. Dean will be on in due time.

[marcologico]

61. I gave you the link. There's no mention of a follow-up or series :)

:) edit to add emoticon and smilies :)

[dsc]

71. Oh really

If it wasn't a series then why oh why did they have Dean on the radio today. Yep that is right at the very same timeslot they had Melhman on yesterday they had Dean on today (they covered his speech to the MS Democratic party at which he raised 90k).

[marcologico]

72. Really. Today they repeated that Dean refused to speak to NPR:

"We've extended a similar invitation to the new Democratic party chairman Howard Dean. His staff says he's put off national interviews until a bit later."

They even sent a reporter to Jackson and he refused to speak to her. The best she could get was a quote from the Mississippi party chair and a quotation from his speech ("we are gonna embrace pro-life Democrats"), and not a word about Social Security.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4519273

That's not exactly stepping up to the plate.

[Capn Sunshine]

86. More disingenuous talk

"National interviews (---) a bit later" is about a zillion miles from "refusing" isn't it ?

Why don't you support the head of the DNC?

[Discord]

93. he's undercover...

a mole sent from the RNC to propagate lies and hatred towards the head of the DNC. They are afraid he'll run in '08 so they want to get a head start against Dean... ya know... just in case.

[marcologico]

58. The story was not advertised or edited as a part of a series.

See for yourself:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4517515

:)

[LittleClarkie]

39. He's alittle busy right now

He's "Red State" boy at the moment.

Marco, please could you cut the new DNC Chair some slack until he's been in there a couple of months at least. I don't expect him to comment on every issue. I do, however, expect him to get the party grassroots hopping and modernize the party as a whole. That's an organizational thing, not a spokesman thing.

[marcologico]

40. Ripeness is all LittleC and there'll be plenty of time for whistlestopping

when SS reform is dead and Dubya is fighting to save his political hide. Dean needs to be on the horn talking about SS and Gannon, to NPR and whoever else he can get to listen, which is just about anybody at the moment.

[lojasmo]

43. Remember, the DNC has a website.

And e-mail, and a snail-mail address, and a phone number.

They've all been given to you in your other three or so posts.

Get to work.

[marcologico]

46. If NPR calls, I'll answer :)

[madfloridian]

44. Yoohoo, here he is...joining with the unions to fight for Social Sec.

Look right here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2005/mar/01/030110061.html
AFL-CIO leaders, Howard Dean plan political strategy in Las Vegas
By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean met Tuesday with top union leaders to discuss labor's political strategy, including a campaign to oppose President Bush's plan for Social Security reform.

"The fate of the Democratic Party and the fate of labor are intertwined," Dean said after his closed-door meeting with the AFL-CIO's Executive Council. "It's in both of our interests to work together, and that's what we're going to do."

The AFL-CIO plans a massive campaign against privatization of Social Security, hoping to defeat the proposal and boost the union's political strength in future elections.

President Bush plan has proposed allowing workers under age 55 to divert 4 percent of their pay into personal accounts. Workers could then choose among a handful of investment choices, including government bonds, stock index and other mutual funds.

"We know that we have to organize a response that is bigger and better to turn the unity and the participation of our 2004 political operation into a permanent culture of mobilization in local unions," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said."

[marcologico]

45. That's all good, but he's the publicity guy now, not the policy guy.

If he wants get involved in both, fine, but everybody's got to help get the message out, especially the chair.

[DFLforever]

48. No, He's the policy guy, not the publicity guy.

My opinion is every bit as good as yours, marco.

[madfloridian]

49. You are such a cute little guy.

I won't get mad because you did not read what I posted. I will just not pay attention again. Someone suggested I post this, I did. And I am off to other threads.

I do not argue with closed minds.

[marcologico]

50. Thanks. I read it. Like I say, it's all good, but Sweeney doesn't need

Dean to tell him how to organize the AFL-CIO. Dean has one job that he and only he can do and that's, well, let's just say holler at the top of his lungs so the entire country hears him loud and clear!

[madfloridian]

51. Oh, I know, marco polo....you are right.

That Dean is always butting his nose in.

[Discord]

63. dontcha think...

that it's a wiser strategy to talk about important issues on your own terms and in your own time? Rather than to jump every time a Repug throws out a challenge. They WANT Dean to act rashly. They WANT him to get riled up. Then they WILL trash him even further. What your expecting him to do is bad political strategy and would be nothing than Dean spending the interview defending an outright ambush and would end up being reputational suicide. I mean if the bully at school calls you out to the playground while all HIS friends are around, are you gonna walk into a bad situation just because you got called out or would ya deal with the bully on your own terms or catch him while he wasn't with all of his buddies?

[marcologico]

66. I see what you're saying, and I agree that NPR is biased, but

that's goes with the territory. Kerry for example did it all the time, and yeah they asked him stupid gotcha questions and tried to trip him up, but he just put up with it and got his message out. At least to me! :)

p.s. I think Dean could handle an NPR interview.

[Discord]

68. I think he could too.

but the point is not to act rashly just because you were called out. His message will get out and he has already made many comments about the SS issue thru better and more effective venues than a Repug biased show while blowing off the AFL/CIO who happens to support our side of the SS issue. So yeah, lets blow off our supporters and walk into a media smear in a republican office. It would have been the worst thing he could do to get HIS message out there.

[Capn Sunshine]

89. WHY don't you support the head of the DNC?

Just curious

[marcologico]

67. welcome to DU!

where Discord reigns!

:toast:

[Discord]

69. Thanks!

I'm hoping to learn alot and broaden my political knowledge here as well as talk with others who can share thier views and opinions with me as well as hopefully hear my thoughts on different issues as well.

[RetroLounge]

79. But apparently Logic Doesn't

:eyes:

RL

[lojasmo]

77. Hmmm....republicans want it-marco wants it. what follows?

Marco is a _________.

[marcologico]

84. I don't want Social Security privatization or any other GOP "reform."

Democrats need to be fighting this issue, not running from it.

[Capn Sunshine]

87. WHY Don't you support the head of the DNC?

Just curious.

[bitchkitty]

65. Oh, please.

Reading through this thread, I started having my doubts about you, and this post just confirmed them.

Howard Dean is Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Think about that for a minute. Have a little coffee to help fire those synapses.

Get the picture? Good.

[DFLforever]

47. Delete

[REP]

52. Feeding Babies To Puppies, I Believe

After that, he was cancelling Christmas and then calling children at random to tell them that their parents were dead. Just another busy day for Dr "Demon" Dean.

[Andromeda]

53. Well, all I can say is....

THEY are at it again. Mehlman and his gang of loathsome pond-scum, I mean.

Don't believe everything you hear on the news or read in the newspaper, especially from a Republican source, unless it can be verified.

NO Republican says anything about a Democrat unless it's to put that person (Democrat) in a bad light. Repubs are good at doing that.

When Republicans make an issue out of ANYTHING, you can be pretty sure it's a manufactured issue -- fresh from the ROVE BOOK OF DIRTY TRICKS.

When Dean says something about S.S. it's going to be on HIS terms at a time and place of his own choosing and not at some pea-brained idiot's whim who is clearly trying to upstage Howard Dean.

[tsuki]

54. Well said. Did anyone listen to the interview? I must say it was

one of the strangest interviews that I have ever heard. The moderator asked a question, and Mehlman waxed some talking point. Sometimes the answer had nothing to do with the question. It was like a student that stole the answers to a test, and then the teacher rearranges the questions.

It was a terrible interview, a propoganda piece. Having Dean there would have lent credibility.

I am personally glad Dean wasn't there. He won't get a fair shake from the media, and he is right where he should be, at the grassroots level. Time to leave the national media for the local.

[Eloriel]

92. And I think Dean is savvy enough to know that

Well said.

[fujiyama]

57. I think

he's keeping a low profile for the moment.

He's going around trying to pacify right wing Dems that have their panties in a wad that consider Dean "too liberal".

These people are abetting in damaging the party. For all the shit Dean takes from many (and I'll admit I've been critical as well), nothing hurts the party more than our own elected party members voicing disingenuous concerns over whether he's "too far to the left".

I think he's had some luck though in addressing these peoples' concerns, which I say is good news. As long as he can get the party on the same page (or atleast the same book), maybe we'll have some luck in coordinating a half way coherent message.

[Discord]

64. funny...

but Dean is probably the LEAST liberal of the Dem's who ran in '04

[WI_DEM]

70. according to news reports he was plotting strategy to oppose Bush

SS "reform" program with AFL-CIO leaders.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RetroLounge]

78. Another day another Dean Bash by marcologico

:eyes:

Yawn...

RL

[madfloridian]

80. A kick for Dean who was in Las Vegas walking the walk..not just talking

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2005/mar/01/030110061.html

Dean meets with AFL-CIO

Let's give this a swift kick for honesty.

[Capn Sunshine]

85. WE know where Dean was

But then again, we care about the truth. There's clearly another agenda at work here, and we all know what it is.

[madfloridian]

88. I just figured out what is going on with this. Check your inbox, Capn.

I think I know what is happening here.

[Individualist]

81. Flamebait

What's next - an accusation that he's a serial killer?

[Teaser]

82. DEbating the issue makes it an issue.

Republicans alone talking about it is just that. Republicans. And everytime they do it, their ratings go down.

[Moderator]

94. Locking.

This thread has become inflammatory.