Anti-Defamation League director criticizes Dean for pandering

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Dean, who recently pledged that he would begin speaking about faith on the campaign trail, is off to a rocky start — and earning a frosty response from the head of the Anti-Defamation League.

The candidate, a Congregationalist whose wife and children are Jewish, began trumpeting his fealty to Jesus around the Christmas holiday in what he acknowledged was a bid to connect with Christian voters in Southern states. Last October, Dean had talked up his Jewish family's background during a meeting with Jewish communal leaders.

Those moves are "patronizing to both communities" and "in poor taste," said ADL national director Abraham Foxman. "You talk to Jews and tell them how Jewish your family is. You talk to Christians in the Bible Belt and tell them how much you love Jesus. We've gone beyond that."

Dean certainly is pushing it. Since he began his God jag, he has likened the Democrats' campaign to Jesus' squabbles with the Pharisees 2,000 years ago, saying the presidential contest "ought to be about evicting the money-changers from the temple" ñ not realizing, perhaps, that the Gospel story and the 'money-changer' disparagement have formed the basis of oh, 1,900-plus years of anti-Jewish polemic. He also flubbed a question asking him to name his favorite book in the New Testament. He named Job, which as we know is part of the Hebrew Bible — known to Christians as the "Old Testament." He later corrected himself.

But Dean is nothing if not ecumenical. The New York Times overheard him channeling his inner Muslim, using the expression "Inshallah" ("God willing"), which is often heard across back fences in Vermont. And at a Chanukah party in New Hampshire, Dean recited the Hebrew blessing over the candles, just as ñ great moments in presidential campaigning — he did impromptu during an interview with the Forward in November 2002.

Foxman, who issued a statement Tuesday "to remind everybody that (religious talk) has limited viability and credibility in an election campaign," said the ground rules are: "there's nothing wrong with being proud" of one's faith, but "it's not a reason to vote for anybody."
http://www.forward.com/issues/2004/04.01.09/news5.campaigncon.html

[quinnox]

1. Dean is the ultimate panderer

"I want to be the candidate for those with confederate flags on their trucks" - Dean.

Depending on the crowd, he will say what he thinks they want to hear.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. The KING of pander.

Using religion for political gain is very distasteful to me. It reminds me of what a republican would do. :shrug:

[Padraig18]

3. It's gonna be that kind of night. obviously.

I'm gonna pass in the nightly installment of the "Trash from my closet to throw at Howard Dean".

Good night.

[Sensitivity]

4. ADL just upset at his "even handed" approach to Mideast

[the populist]

6. Is that why...

Is that why one of his campaign chairmen is a former AIPAC director? That's quite evenhanded...

[blm]

10. Dean already backtracked from his "evenhanded" remark.

Typical.

[Upfront]

5. Poop

Who cares? LOL

[artr2]

7. Another thread in the ignore box

keeps my blood pressure down

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. See no evil, hear no evil...

[maddezmom]

8. this isn't good for Dean

:(

[killbotfactory]

9. How dare Dean express his faith...

Only fundy's and Lieberman are allowed to do that!

Off with his head!

[spooky3]

12. Did ADL object to Dean's October comments?

Or did they see them as supportive of their community at that time?

If the latter, then their current objections ring very hollow.

[incapsulated]

13. Heh

This was too funny:

The New York Times overheard him channeling his inner Muslim, using the expression "Inshallah" ("God willing"), which is often heard across back fences in Vermont.

:)

Anyways.

Having the ADL national director diss you before the primaries isn't good, period. Not for any state with significant Jewish votes.

[MoonRiver]

14. In a way, he resembles *. He has a loose, impulsive way of communicating

But, at least, he's smart and knows how to speak correct English! Still I seriously worry about the damage Rove can inflict on Dean by using all these gaffes.

[RetroLounge]

15. Poop

eom

[zulchzulu]

16. Wait! This just in! Howard changed his mind on who God is!

He's going to go after the Zorastrian vote any day now. They gots some money, bro.