Reply #71: Frenchie, here is Dean's statement: [View All]

[Totally Committed]

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement reminding President Bush that in case he hadn't noticed, ordinary Americans have been doing their part. They have been making sacrifices, they have been suffering. Meanwhile President Bush has failed to rein in skyrocketing gas prices. Now, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, as Americans pull together to do their part, and gas prices again explode, Chairman Dean suggested that perhaps it's time for President Bush to finally use whatever influence he may have to call on his friends and campaign
contributors in the oil and gas industry to bear their fair share of the burden:

"Under the Bush Presidency over the past five years we've seen skyrocketing gas prices and oil companies reaping record profits, while ordinary Americans struggle to pay their bills -- yet the President has seemingly looked the other way. Americans are always willing to shoulder their fair share of the burden, and they have been. Now it's time for the President to step up and put the needs of the American people ahead of profits for his pals in Big Oil. So while he's asking ordinary Americans to do more, he ought to show some real leadership, and call on his friends in Big Oil to join in the sacrifice and stop gouging American families at the gas pump."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=52439

As you can see, it was about the oil prices mostly, and did not have the "teeth" that Wes's comments did, by a longshot. And, it was a statement issued by and paid for by the DNC. If he were speaking for himself it proabably would have been stronger. Maybe it just seems weaker now because Wes's was so strong, and more directly about Katrina? I dunno.

I gotta say one more time: Bill Clinton's sticking up for Shrubber just broke my heart. If he manages to get the media to stop talking about Shrubber's lack of leadership, or makes the electorate more comfortable with him again, by virtue of that support, I will never forgive him. "There's no way President Bush could have known those levees would break."... I about fell off my chair. Anyone here think his words of support for W will get the media to back off?

TC