California Conservative

Politics is a costly business. Takes a lot of money to run a successful election. But looking ahead to 2008, there’s more than dollars at stake. Listening to DNC Chairman Howard Dean, who recently spoke with reporters at the S.F. Chronicle, the new currency for trading is “people of color.” At least, that’s the way he makes it sound.

On Monday, the paper reported:

“Dean was outspoken — as usual — as he trolled California this week, stoking his party’s coffers, and meeting with grass-roots activists. His San Francisco visit was at the tail end of a cross-country road trip, and Dean said that he will continue to pound the pavement — and the GOP — to get the Democratic message across to new voters, particularly in minority communities.”

What exactly is the “Democratic message?” The Chronicle kindly provides an audio of the Dean interview.

The MSM and blogosphere have reported abundantly on Dean’s inciteful rhetoric dismissing Republicans as simply “a white Christian party,” and for this he’s taking some heat. But there’s more to the story.

FOXNews’ Brit Hume interviewed Susan Estrich this afternoon, asking her the question (paraphrasing): “Dean is no dummy. Could there be a strategy behind all of this behavior?”

She believes the answer is no. However, Howard Dean provides a better answer to the question, as we learn by studying his own words.

We provide a partial transcript of the interview as follows:

(Chronicle: “Dean responds to a question from reporter Portia Li with the World Journal about a poll showing a slide in support for Republicans among Asian and women voters. Later in the roundtable interview, Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci asks a follow-up question about Dean’s recent aggressive tone toward the GOP”)

“The Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people…

They’re a pretty monolithic party…
They all behave the same and they all look the same…
It’s pretty much a white, Christian party…

And the Democrats have got everybody to think of.

It’s a coalition of independent groups. But we got to make sure we’re a party, and that’s why I got to spend time.

But I think we’re a more welcoming party, because that’s the kind of people we are.
We have to deliver on jobs, housing, and business opportunities, college opportunities, and so forth…

I think there has been a lot of progress in the past 20-30 years. There are those that are angry with the President for his immigration policy.

We’re trying to develop a very close relationship with the Asian-American community…

There will be some party loyalty because people will remember we were there…

That’s really what I’m trying to do.

If I come in here 8 weeks before the election, we’re not getting anywhere. I’m just asking for your vote. You’re still mad at the lesser of two evils.

So, that’s why I’m here 3 1/2 years before the election.

We want different kinds of people to run for office, too. We want a very diverse group of people running for office. African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinos…

Y’know, I think Villaraigosa’s election in Los Angeles is incredibly important for the Democratic party.

Bush can go out all he wants and talk about “this [the RNC] is the party of opportunity,” y’know, and he can make his appointments…

[contemptuous tone] Condi Rice or…uh, what’s this guy’s name…the commerce secretary…he was just on to the…uh…terrorists.

But you can’t succeed electorally in the Republican Party if you’re a person of color.

There are very few people who have succeeded. You can pick some out…J.C. Watts…I’m trying to think of an Asian-American who’s been a success…

Because this [the DNC] is really the party of opportunity for people of color…and communities of color.

So we’re hoping to cement that relationship, so it’ll always be that way.”

What can we conclude from this coercive rhetoric?

The Dean/DNC Strategy is twofold: (a) Actively pander to minorities on all fronts, and (b) If you say something enough times, no matter how untrue, it will be believed by those who don’t know any better. (Yeah, it’s kinda like the “old” strategy, only this time they’re starting sooner)

However, the challenge facing the Democrats today is that “minorities” are smarter, making more money, and feeling more conservative.

What may’ve worked for the last 30-40 years is becoming transparent: manipulating people and communities by color for the purposes of political gain.

When Republicans reach out, they’re conveying a largely optimistic message. In the most basic terms: You work hard (or want to work), you want a safe community and good schools to raise your kids, you want to practice your faith, you care about national security, you want to invest in America, and you don’t want the goverment to take too much of your money.

This message resonates across all races because it makes sense. It is hopeful. It is positive.

To the contrary, The Dean DNC is preaching a message of divisiveness and negativity. He proclaims: “We have to be tough on the Republicans…the Republicans don’t represent ordinary Americans, and they don’t have any understanding of what it is to have to go out and make ends meet.” By demonizing Republicans, Dean wants minorities to feel excluded and unwanted by anyone other than the Democrats. He is underestimating their intelligence. He remains defiant.

Fortunately, most voters know better.

RELATED:

An Angry, Arrogant Party With No Ideas

“El Decano Blanco” — The WSJ weighs in: “Howard Dean–scion of Park Avenue, former governor of Vermont, a state that is 96.8% people of pallor–is faulting Republicans for being white, even though he himself is whiter than an albino polar bear with dandruff.”

Racial Profiling:
All Things Conservative offers a chart for the 2004 election (CNN data)

The mouth that won’t stop roaring
Howard Dean Reveals A Truth
Democrats Criticize Howard Dean: Keep Up The Good Work

Ben Johnson provides a strong round-up.

The GOP’s Big Tent: GayPatriot adds more perspective.

UPDATE: (6/14)
PoliPundit has more.

UPDATE: (10/24)
Michelle Malkin explains “how Dems win the black vote”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 8th, 2005 at 7:54 pm and is filed under Activism, California, DNC, Election 2008, Liberals, Media, RNC, San Francisco. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.