Some Democrats distance selves
On Wednesday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said that while Dean was "doing a great job" as party chairman, "I don't think the statement that the governor made was a helpful statement."
She later added that it "is not a fair assessment to characterize the Republicans" the way Dean did.
Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Tuesday that Dean is doing a good job, but is not the party’s spokesman.
Last weekend, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and 2004 vice presidential candidate John Edwards criticized Dean for his recent remarks, saying he doesn’t speak for them.
Biden, asked about Dean Wednesday during an interview on the Don Imus radio show, also said the chairman is doing a good job.
“A lot of things he does say, I agree with,” Biden said. But he also said that Dean “has views that are slightly different than mine ... But look, he’s a lightning rod. ... It’s probably good that there’s a guy out there that’s a lightning rod ... .”
Biden, however, added that he thinks “the rhetoric is counterproductive.”
“I think this country has a purple heart, not a red heart or a blue heart,” Biden said. “If we can’t bring this (country) together, man, boy, we’re really in deep trouble.”
© 2005 The Associated Press. |
