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Jumping the shark for Jesus: the Dean response

21 comments on Jumping the shark for Jesus: the Dean response

Jumping the shark for Jesus: the Dean response

: Howard Dean smells opportunity from the religious right’s, uh, extreme reaction to the Schiavo matter. He’s right. But he’s also characteristically, uh, blunt and I wonder whether that’s the best way to take advantage of the opportunity.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who has accused congressional Republicans of “grandstanding” in the Terri Schiavo case, said his party will use it against the GOP in coming elections.

“This is going to be an issue in 2006, and its going to be an issue in 2008 because we’re going to have an ad with a picture of (House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay saying, ‘Do you want this guy to decide whether you die or not? Or is that going to be up to your loved ones?’” Dean said in West Hollywood, Calif.

Dean, answering questions at an Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality event on Friday, went on to say: “The issue is: Are we going to live in a theocracy where the highest powers tell us what to do? Or are we going to be allowed to consult our own high powers when we make very difficult decisions?’”

21 responses to “Jumping the shark for Jesus: the Dean response”

  1. austin Avatar
    austin

    Thank God for people like Dean. He is exactly what we need to keep the Republicans in power for the foreseeable future.

  2. paladin Avatar
    paladin

    Unfortunately for Howard Dean, a bunch of Democrats voted with Republicans on the TS legislation. I wonder when someone will point this out to him.

    It’s also amusing that Dean is attempting to make a big deal out of Republican politicians “grandstanding”. Certainly no Democrat would stoop to such a thing. (Snort-snicker-guffaw!)

  3. tim wg Avatar
    tim wg

    Is Dean proposing to re-defeat Terri Schiavo? It sounds like music to my ears. BRING IT ON!!!

  4. Linda Edwards Avatar
    Linda Edwards

    There were several earlier postings that blasted the bulk of the Democrats for remaining silent on this issue. I remarked that maybe the Democrats were staying out of this matter because they should. And they still should.
    Even if this is going to be part of the Democratic Party’s strategy in 2006 and 2008 (as if there were any doubt), Dean would be well advised to learn some subtlety.

  5. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt responded to Dean’s promise to politicize Terri Schiavo’s tragic death: Dean’s “outrageous remarks help underscore why Dean is the leader of the minority party. :):):)

  6. zeppenwolf Avatar
    zeppenwolf

    “This is going to be an issue in 2006…”
    No! No, please Mr Dean, anything but that!
    “Are we going to live in a theocracy…”
    Yes, yes, that’s it exactly! Nobody cared about Terri except us religious zealots, and yes we’re working hard to build a theocracy– you know, faith-based initiatives, and…
    …and that cross on the seal of Los Angeles that was so insidiously tiny that nobody even knew we’d hidden it there until that dastardly ACLU noticed it, and…
    ..and, well, and all that stuff.
    Have mercy on our souls, Mr. Dean. If you use Terri against us religious wackos, the Republican party will never resurrect.

  7. EverKarl Avatar
    EverKarl

    Mark your calendars, kids, because today was the day that Linda Edwards and I agree on something. There’s a reason why the old saying about not getting involved when your opponent is destroying himself is an old saying.
    BTW, I’m sure the media will make as big a deal out of Dean’s statement as they did that supposed GOP talking points memo, right? After all, that memo was drafted by a staffer to a first-term Senator, whereas Dean is the chair of the DNC. So ABC News, CNN, etc. will give this story big play, right?
    [crickets]

  8. Gary Johnston Avatar
    Gary Johnston

    For Pete’s sake, Dean said the issue would be Republican meddling on personal issues. This is an old Democratic saw (think abortion) that finally has a hook most people understand and paid attention to. He didn’t say “we’re going to use Terri Schiavo as a hobnailed club.” That was the reporter’s lede – smart way to get the story noticed, but an exagerration of what Dean seems to be saying. That’s going to inspire a little of the same partisan dick-swinging as Tom DeLay’s muddled quote about judicial activism that Democrats made out to be a death threat. And I think that’ll be it.
    Also, you people are waaaaaay too impressed by insta-resposes from party HQs. “Tracey Schmitt really zinged him! Tee hee!”

  9. Susan Nunes Avatar
    Susan Nunes

    First of all, the Schiavo case was NOT a personal matter the minute Michael Schiavo took it upon himself to go to court to get Terri’s feeding tube removed.
    It’s no more a “private matter” than if MS had taken a gun and shot her.
    So spare us that nonsense.
    Second of all, Howard Dean needs to SHUT UP and concentrate on organization. The DNC needs somebody who can communicate instead of somebody who does the other side’s work for them.
    He’s as embarrassing as those fools on “my side” who thought he’d make a great chairman.
    Democrats need to stay away from the Schiavo case entirely, especially those who didn’t know anything about it but continue in knee-jerk mode.

  10. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    Let’s see, Dr. Dean certainly showed incredible foresight in saying: “The issue is: Are we going to live in a theocracy where the highest powers tell us what to do? Or are we going to be allowed to consult our own high powers when we make very difficult decisions?’”
    OMG, Dr. Dean is questioning whether higher powers have a say in our lives? Perhaps by using the plural he thought to make a distinction between heavenly powers, or the trinity which usualy is referred to in the singular ‘God’, and the rabble running around with signs citing the deity for their political stands. While I certainly question the lower powers who are trying to set themselves as God’s reps here on earth, I don’t question the higher powers’ authority; I sure do question any ‘powers’ who even in misspeaking would question the authority of those higher powers.
    If Dr. Dean doesn’t see the distinction, he is certainly deserving of the complete rejection by the Democratic party … oh, yes, that already happened in NH, etc.
    However, this statement is so ill conceived as to be mindboggling. Can anyone imagine the head of the Democratic party aligning me with the likes of everkarl, etc.? Massive blindness.
    By the way, in the matter of illconceived, see the WaPo Lead Editorial today: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59554-2005Apr16.html

  11. Tim Russo Avatar
    Tim Russo

    A Democrat in favor of banning the fillibuster….at http://www.democracyguy.com

  12. JD Avatar
    JD

    This should be re-titled as:
    Jarvis “smells opportunity” to bash Dean and the Democrats so he’ll win some points with the Republicans who frequent this board.
    I completely have to agree with Gary when he said:
    For Pete’s sake, Dean said the issue would be Republican meddling on personal issues. This is an old Democratic saw (think abortion) that finally has a hook most people understand and paid attention to. He didn’t say “we’re going to use Terri Schiavo as a hobnailed club.” That was the reporter’s lede – smart way to get the story noticed
    The only thing I’d add is that it was a smart way for Jeff to win some brownie points for by attacking the dems.

  13. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    JD: Oh, I agree with the substance of what Dean said but he said it with characteristic bluntness and so far this morning on the a.m. shows, that was the focus of the take. GMA: “The old Dean is back.” It’s a tactical question: He should be making the other side look over-the-top (which they most certainly were) rathern than approaching the top himself.

  14. Charlie (Colorado) Avatar
    Charlie (Colorado)

    Sure is nice that the Democrats aren’t going to make a political issue out of Schiavo like Mel Martinez’s guy did.

  15. Jersey Exile Avatar
    Jersey Exile

    T.S.’s case is typical of the intrusive attempts at social engineering coming from this latter-day generation of so-called “conservatives”, and Howard Dean is absolutely right to make this an issue.
    What the majority of people on this comment thread seem to miss is that the Tom DeLays and other outraged talking heads are way out of step with the American public on this issue. The more that the GOP tries to stick its nose into the personal affairs of the average citizen, the less attractive neoconservatism is going to seem to voters.
    Hate him all you want, but it’s Howard Dean’s job to capitalize on the Republicans’ missteps. Criticizing him in this regard is just plain silly. At this point the Dems have nothing to lose, so why not go for the jugular?

  16. Harry O Avatar
    Harry O

    While the MSM will, undoubtedly, forego pointing out that Dean is politicizing the Schiavo case while browbeating the Republicans for doing so, it just ain’t so and some independent voters will see it as such.
    I would also be careful in believing that the public is solidly behind the Democrats on this. The poll questions were seemingly skewed and are not confirmed, but, indeed, contradicted by the Zogby poll.
    There is also the question of how the Democrats profit from this case. What do you say? Reminds me of the argument over the estate tax. All the arguments seem almost useless after the tax is labeled the “Death Tax”. Reasonable arguments against the Republicans’ handling of this may founder if they are able to label their opponents as “Supporters of Death” or some such.
    I agree that Dean would be better to leave this alone and not make it a major issue.

  17. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Maybe Dean is using this to push his pro-euthanasia stance. He did support that in 2003,did he not? Of course, it’s wrong to speak of morals according to the Bible and believe Terri’s life was not anyone’s to take. But Deaniacs want our morals to be imposed on us by those men in black robes who subvert democracy ,as from the judicial pulpits, they push their leftist agendas. I prefer my morals to come from a Bible and not some leftist judge.

  18. Chris Francis Avatar
    Chris Francis

    Sadly, Dean’s response comes a little late. Where was the decision to make this an issue a few weeks back when the Dems were too scared to stand up for individual freedoms? After all, 2/3rds of the public — if the polls are any guide — were on their side. Take the “we’re going to make this a political issue” out of it for a few moments and think about Dean’s core point about living in a theocracy. The Dems had a chance to reframe the debate and they blew it. I’m afraid a year from now, let alone three, the Schiavo case won’t even show up in the short-term memories of many voters.

  19. jj Avatar
    jj

    Dean ó Delay, what the hell ever happened to moderation, moderation, what the hell ever happened to moderationÖ

  20. Oliver Avatar
    Oliver

    Stating factual information when you’re Howard Dean is now “over the top”? I mean, it’s not like the top senator in the country is going to be making appearances with anti-judge extremists… oh, wait. Nevermind.

  21. Section9 Avatar
    Section9

    Sorry, but by 2006 the Schaivo issue will be yesterday’s news. Nobody cares already.
    This is just Dean being, well, Dean. He’s God’s gift to the Republican Party. Or he’s Karl Rove’s idea of a well placed Sleeper Agent.