Dean blasted for Confederate flag remark
By Charlotte Eby, Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Sunday, November 02, 2003
WAVERLY, Iowa -- Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean's rivals blasted the former Vermont governor on Saturday for saying that he wanted to be "the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks."
Dean made the statements in an interview with The Des Moines Register while explaining his position on gun rights and has made similar statements in the past when describing how Democrats need to reach out to southern voters.
But during campaign stops Saturday in Waverly, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry said Dean's remarks were an example of how Dean is pandering to the National Rifle Association.
"For Howard Dean to suggest that he still wants to be candidate of the Confederate flag-fliers and those who run against common sense on assault weapons is to run away from the principles of our party. It's to be the worst kind of politics as usual. I think it's craven, and I don't think our party wants a nominee who doesn't realize that Confederate flags belong in museums," Kerry said.
Dean has said he favors the federal assault weapons ban, although the Kerry campaign says Dean told the NRA in an endorsement questionnaire more than a decade ago that he opposed it. Dean has enjoyed the support of the NRA during his time as governor of Vermont and has said most gun control issues should be left to the states.
Kerry also took issue with Dean's statements that Democrats lost the White House in 2000 because they didn't appeal to voters who support gun rights.
"I want to be the candidate of the NAACP before I'm the candidate of the NRA and guys who have confederate flags in the back of their trucks," Kerry said, drawing applause from a crowd at the Waverly library.
Dean's remark also drew fire from Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt.
"Apparently, Gov. Dean believes that if we sacrifice our support for reasonable gun legislation like the assault weapons ban, we will win the support of those that disagree with us on bedrock Democratic values like civil rights. I absolutely disagree with him," Gephardt said in a statement.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards called the remark "nothing short of offensive."
Dean spokeswoman Sarah Leonard said Dean has always supported the assault weapons ban and Kerry and Gephardt are trying to distort Dean's record on gun legislation.
Dean responded to the criticism in a written statement, saying that for his opponents "to sink to this level is really tragic."
"I want people with Confederate flags on their trucks to put down those flags and vote Democratic -- because the need for quality health care, jobs and a good education knows no racial boundaries," Dean said.
Michael Blackwell, a black Democrat from Cedar Falls and a University of Northern Iowa professor backing Kerry, said Dean's remark could hurt his chances with black voters.
"It's at best a very insensitive remark to make," Blackwell said. "And to claim that he's searching for those people that carry the Confederate flag, calls into question his position as a member of the Democratic Party."
But Effie Burt, a black Democrat from Waterloo who is supporting Dean, said he only means he's reaching out to voters who traditionally have voted Republican.
"You can just look at it one way if you want, but I think he's opening up his arms to all new voters," Burt said.
Dean made the statements in an interview with The Des Moines Register while explaining his position on gun rights and has made similar statements in the past when describing how Democrats need to reach out to southern voters.
But during campaign stops Saturday in Waverly, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry said Dean's remarks were an example of how Dean is pandering to the National Rifle Association.
"For Howard Dean to suggest that he still wants to be candidate of the Confederate flag-fliers and those who run against common sense on assault weapons is to run away from the principles of our party. It's to be the worst kind of politics as usual. I think it's craven, and I don't think our party wants a nominee who doesn't realize that Confederate flags belong in museums," Kerry said.
Dean has said he favors the federal assault weapons ban, although the Kerry campaign says Dean told the NRA in an endorsement questionnaire more than a decade ago that he opposed it. Dean has enjoyed the support of the NRA during his time as governor of Vermont and has said most gun control issues should be left to the states.
Kerry also took issue with Dean's statements that Democrats lost the White House in 2000 because they didn't appeal to voters who support gun rights.
"I want to be the candidate of the NAACP before I'm the candidate of the NRA and guys who have confederate flags in the back of their trucks," Kerry said, drawing applause from a crowd at the Waverly library.
Dean's remark also drew fire from Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt.
"Apparently, Gov. Dean believes that if we sacrifice our support for reasonable gun legislation like the assault weapons ban, we will win the support of those that disagree with us on bedrock Democratic values like civil rights. I absolutely disagree with him," Gephardt said in a statement.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards called the remark "nothing short of offensive."
Dean spokeswoman Sarah Leonard said Dean has always supported the assault weapons ban and Kerry and Gephardt are trying to distort Dean's record on gun legislation.
Dean responded to the criticism in a written statement, saying that for his opponents "to sink to this level is really tragic."
"I want people with Confederate flags on their trucks to put down those flags and vote Democratic -- because the need for quality health care, jobs and a good education knows no racial boundaries," Dean said.
Michael Blackwell, a black Democrat from Cedar Falls and a University of Northern Iowa professor backing Kerry, said Dean's remark could hurt his chances with black voters.
"It's at best a very insensitive remark to make," Blackwell said. "And to claim that he's searching for those people that carry the Confederate flag, calls into question his position as a member of the Democratic Party."
But Effie Burt, a black Democrat from Waterloo who is supporting Dean, said he only means he's reaching out to voters who traditionally have voted Republican.
"You can just look at it one way if you want, but I think he's opening up his arms to all new voters," Burt said.
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