Dean: GOP trying to 'weasel out' of McCain's 100 years comment

[madfloridian]

From The Hill. Dean spoke to the Communications Workers of America today.

Dean: GOP trying to 'weasel out' of McCain's 100 years comment

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), accused Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the Republican Party of trying to deceive voters about what McCain really meant when he comment on a possible U.S. presence in Iraq for 100 years.

"The truth is that John McCain is a weak candidate," Dean said in a Wednesday morning speech. Referring to McCain's comment, Dean said: "I know they're all trying to weasel out of it over there at the Republican Party."

McCain said a long-term American presence would be acceptable if casualties and violence subside.

In a red-meat speech to the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Dean was highly critical of McCain on the issues of Iraq and healthcare. The former Vermont governor also targeted McCain for mistaking Shiites for Sunnis.

"We honor John McCain's military service, but not every war hero ought to end up in the presidency of the United States," Dean said. "If you can't tell the difference between the Shia and the Sunnis, then America ought not to be in Iraq for 100 years."

Dean is getting attacked by the RNC for daring to attack their candidates. It infuriates them. How dare he?

[islandmkl]

1. but...but...he was a POW and he's a hero...

indeed

[Justitia]

2. I love that Dean is never afraid to land a punch on the republicons!

If only our elected reps were so fearless.

[DJ13]

3. Hillary isnt helping Dean, as she has been defining McCains comment in...

....McCains favor during a few of her campaign appearences.

She has said the McCain didnt mean 100 years of war, and she's been spouting the GOP lie that he meant a Korean type of presence there instead.

Which side is she on again, I've lost track.....

[madfloridian]

4. More from Dean in that speech about McCain...From First Read

In remarks this morning before the Communications Workers of America, Dean went after McCain. “We have seen overwhelming enthusiasm for our candidates all across the country because voters are hungry for change, not more of the same failed Republican leadership we’d get with John McCain as president,” Dean said, per excerpts of his prepared remarks. “That’s why nearly 30 million Americans have turned out in Democratic primaries and caucuses, and why we’re setting turnout records in just about every state. We are beating Republican turnout in the South, the West, the Midwest and the Northeast.”

“We’re going to beat John McCain because John McCain is not a strong candidate,” Dean added. “He’s out of touch with the American people. And after 26 years in Washington, all he offers is more of the same. He’s shown that this election year, as he changed his positions on key issues in order to win.” More: “Yesterday he once again got the basic facts in Iraq on the ground wrong. What that tells the American people is that he will continue the open-ended commitment to fighting President Bush's war in Iraq. Senator McCain has made it clear he’s willing to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years. But he has not said if he will keep permanent bases in Iraq, and he has not offered a plan for a way forward in Iraq. One hundred years in Iraq is not a plan.”

RNC chairman Mike Duncan issued this response: “Rather than debate the issues facing our nation, Howard Dean is making it clear that he intends to make the Democrats’ campaign about character attacks and personal insults. Dean’s rhetoric has been vitriolic for months and today’s comments are nothing more than a reflection of the increasingly divisive and destructive nomination battle within his party.”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/09/870999.aspx

[tblue37]

5. He is one of the finest human being we have in the political arena today.

Brilliant, honest, honorable--and with the courage to state truths that need to be stated. His 50-state strategy gave us back the House and Senate, as well as several governorships. If we win the presidency this year and gain a larger margin in the two houses of Congress, it will be because Howard Dean refuses to simply cede states to the GOP.

It broke my heart when the MSM destroyed his campaign in 2004, but it does ahve its upside, because he is doing so much for us as head of the DNC.

[uponit7771]

6. I think for the 5% of voters that blog we should keep the preasure on.

[cali]

7. thank heaven for Howard

No one else is going hard after McCain.

[Zachstar]

8. Go dean!! Keep the pressure on the republicans with their 100 years and Bomb Iran McCain!

The republicans are making stupid decisions and we need to be there to insure the people vote them out of office!

[samsingh]

9. we can't let them