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November 13, 2005
Dean Dodges Mehlman (UPDATED)
According to the Drudge Report, DNC Chairman Howard Dean wimped out of appearing on NBC's "Meet The Press" across from RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman.
Moments before taping was to begin with host Tim Russert, Mehlman asked Dean outside the NBC studio’s green room: “There’s still time for us to go on together Governor.” Dean declined with a shrug of his shoulders and an uncomfortable cackle and then proceeded to walk away into the green room.DRUDGE has learned MEET THE PRESS producers have been working to get a head to head Dean/Mehlman appearance on the program since Dean was named chair back in February. Dean and his handlers have repeatedly turned down the request. The former Vermont governor only agreed to do this week’s program if they appeared in back-to-back interviews.
Mehlman brought up Dean’s unwillingness to appear alongside him during the show: “I was hoping that Chairman Dean would be on sitting next to me this morning. Maybe we can do that on a future program. Look, he's somebody I've enjoyed getting to know. We meet in a lot of green rooms….”
Tim Russert: “We invited him -- do you have a question for him?”
Former Dem Party Chair Terry McAuliffe participated in regular head-to-head appearances with his Republican counterparts during his tenure from ‘01 to ‘05. McAuliffe went head-to-head with Republican chairmen at least five times on MEET THE PRESS alone, going up against past GOP chairs Ed Gillespie (twice), Marc Racicot (twice) and Jim Gilmore (once).
Could his cowering be related in away to the fact that Chairman Dean has done so poorly as Chairman of the Democractic Party and has failed to be competitive in fundraising? Or perhaps it is a simpler reason, maybe he just doesn't want to get his clock cleaned by Ken Mehlman.
UPDATE: This story doesn't end. As reported by the Washington Times, Ken Mehlman challenged Chairman Dean by proxy (since Dean was apparently too frightened to sit across from Mehlman) to condemn the racist remarks made towards Maryland's Lt. Governor Michael Steele. Dean rank and filed, ignored the challenge, and proceeded to whine and whimper.
"There's been an utter silence in response to what have been vicious and racist attacks on Michael Steele in Maryland," Mr. Mehlman said.Mr. Mehlman on "Meet the Press" called on Mr. Dean to "condemn this kind of racist and bigoted activity. It's wrong."
"He's had racial epithets thrown at him. He's been derided on a Web site that the Democrats have. And while some Democrats in Maryland have criticized it, there's been utter silence from national Democrats on this important issue," Mr. Mehlman said.
"I would also hope he'd condemn the following: There are a whole bunch of Democratic candidates and Republican candidates around the country. But Charles Schumer and the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] chose one candidate [Mr. Steele] to go after his credit report and engage in identity theft against him," Mr. Mehlman said.
Mr. Russert put forth both questions to Mr. Dean, who said "moral values" should bring a "better tone in our political campaigns."
"I don't like that stuff," Mr. Dean said of the credit-report incident.
Mr. Dean declined to address the statements against Mr. Steele, but said, "I didn't hear Ken condemning the chairman of the Maryland party when he called me an anti-Semite."
The Washington Times also reports that John M. Kane, Maryland's Republican Party chairman, was not involved in the incident Dean refered to, according to a Lexis-Nexis search.
Dean also complained about things uttered of him.
"So far I've been called a racist, a terrorist, an abortionist, and anti-Semitic," Mr. Dean said.
Aww, poor Chairman Dean. Perhaps he lost his backbone in his fall from the top of the list of Democratic candidates for President. Maybe his skin has gotten thin from all thta global warming. As I have said before, the Democrats have no problems dishing it, but they just can't take it, as illustrated with the 'KKK' (Kerry, Kennedy Klan) joke made last week.
John Kane is demanding an apology from Howard Dean. Don't count on ever hearing from Chairman Dean.
Posted by Aaron at November 13, 2005 12:59 PM
Copyright © 2007 by author. May not be copied, published, or otherwise used (except for brief quotes) without express permission of author. Articles published with permission by Pardon My English.
-->Comments
>>According to the Drudge Report,
Enough said really.
Posted by Um Yeah ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pardonmyenglish.com//nav-commenters.gif)
at November 13, 2005 05:57 PM
UY: Drudge is correct on this one. Dean dodged. I suspect Dean realized his short fuse would get him in trouble. When one has a short fuse, it's hard to face someone who lies and spouts already-debunked GOP talking points.
Posted by Androminos at November 14, 2005 09:10 AM
Fair enough.
He doesnt even have to say anything, the Republicans are imploding well enough on their own.
Look how desperate Aaron etc. are to talk about ANYTHING but their boy failing miserably.
Posted by Um Yeah at November 14, 2005 09:35 AM
Fucking hilarious. I love the spin you guys come up with. Dean is an idiot, not just a gentleman with a "short fuse". He couldn't take on Mehlman and he knew it, why? He's just a big-mouthed idiot who thinks that yelling and screaming something loud enough gets you what you want. Kind of like your typical 2 year old, but not nearly as cute or innocent. At least have the decency to point out the hacks in your party...
Posted by Delicate Thunder at November 14, 2005 11:23 AM
Fucking hilarious. I love the spin you guys come up with. Dean is an idiot, not just a gentleman with a "short fuse". He couldn't take on Mehlman and he knew it, why? He's just a big-mouthed idiot who thinks that yelling and screaming something loud enough gets you what you want. Kind of like your typical 2 year old, but not nearly as cute or innocent. >>>>>>>>At least have the decency to point out the hacks in your party..."
I think this is UY's point. In the real world of what's happening "of importance" in politics, you don't see i/it here. Still laughing?
Posted by Russ at November 14, 2005 12:55 PM
Hmm, seemed to think it was important enought to bash Drudge, until a fellow lib pointed out that it was correct. Then he goes to the old "who cares there's more important things".
I agree, it's trivial, but hey, this IS the jackass that leads your party... Apperently he has no convictions.
Posted by Delicate Thunder at November 14, 2005 01:29 PM
Classic UY. "I don't believe it". Then, when told the truth by someone you WILL believe, go off on a red herring.
Andy...as opposed to the already-debunked talking points and ravings of the Democrat party spokesman? You think the Dem chief fund-raiser is any worse at shouting party talking points than the Rep chief fund-raiser?
Posted by Sarge at November 14, 2005 02:18 PM
""So far I've been called a racist, a terrorist, an abortionist, and anti-Semitic," Mr. Dean said."
Truth hurts, huh Howie?
Posted by Delicate Thunder at November 14, 2005 02:52 PM
I was hoping that Dean would be a different kind of DNC chair. Unfortunately, he is, and I've been pretty disappointed with him. The democrats don't know who they are or what to do these days, and they thought they needed "spirit". Well, they did, but they should have considered WHICH spirit they needed. Dean has a lot of piss and vinegar but as far as I'm concerned the democrats act more like they are running for student government than real government. It's nice that he has heart, too bad he's short on brains.
Posted by Some Fella at November 14, 2005 02:56 PM
Hey Delicate,
Can you site any evidence that supports you claim that Dean is any of those things? I mean, he claim he's a terrorist. Any evidence he has planted bombs, made death threats, etc? Or can you attribute one anti semitic remark to him?
Posted by Herbert92X at November 14, 2005 03:19 PM
Fella, I'd not say Dean lacks brains, being a qualified doctor and all. He just doesn't have what it takes to make the national scene and that involves leaving your negative emotions in Vermont. The People just aren't gonna vote for a guy who has veins popping out on his head and gets all "toothy" in his rage....let alone having "rage" at all. However, being the head of the DNC has more to do with fundraising than anything else and he's not doing so well there in these off-years when compared to his Republican counterpart.
Hell, it'd be a fun show to watch those 2 go at it. Maybe next time, after he's had his amygdala removed.
Posted by Sarge at November 14, 2005 04:58 PM
Haha re: amygdala. Yeah, I was being glib when I said he had no brains. I think you're dead right, he's just not right for this job. I thought that the portrait of Dean on the campaign trail was being manufactured and I didn't pay it much mind, but I've come to other conclusions since then. To my mind, this is just a symptom of how the democratic party is searching for a soul. Someone told them they needed more passion (big shocker) and they saw how Dean fired up the base (and pulled in those bucks during the campaign). I think Dean would make a fine student body president.
Keep in mind that I have even more disdain for the republican party, but the gap has been narrowing in recent years. A friend of mine said it right, that the democrats are addicted to failure. Besides, I don't know what they stand for other than stopping republican excesses. I can go along with that in these excessive days, but what will they have if sanity ever reasserts itself? Jesus, the sixties was forty years ago, go find an agenda.
Posted by Some Fella at November 14, 2005 05:06 PM
Sarge and Blunder.
You guys support a lying simian.
Since when would anyone trust your character assesments?
Posted by Um Yeah at November 14, 2005 05:46 PM
Yeah UY, didn't think you had something to say. Take a population psychology class, if they offer it at your pathetic school....then MAYBE you'd understand a little.
Posted by Sarge at November 15, 2005 09:41 AM
What school do I go to?
Posted by Um Yeah at November 15, 2005 10:00 AM
What schools did I go to?
Posted by Sarge at November 15, 2005 10:03 AM
I asked first.
Posted by Um Yeah at November 15, 2005 12:59 PM
I stopped school yard whining after the first grade.
Posted by Sarge at November 15, 2005 01:18 PM
Apparently you havent.
Posted by Um Yeah at November 15, 2005 02:48 PM
http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=428&sid=622881
Posted by Um Yeah at November 15, 2005 11:47 PM
Wow....haven't had a not-commented-on irrelevant off topic link by you in a while. Good to see you've still got it in you.
Posted by Sarge at November 16, 2005 11:37 AM
OT?
The Steele thing was part of the updated topic.
Posted by Um Yeah at November 16, 2005 05:38 PM
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