Are Democrats Really Unhappy with Deanspeak?

Fellow Democrats are criticizing DNC Chairman Howard Dean's shoot from the lips style, but are they really unhappy or are we witnessing a good-cop-bad-cop scenario.

On recent occasions, Dean has said many Republicans ''never made an honest living in their lives," described the Republican Party as ''pretty much a white, Christian party," and declared that House majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas, who is facing ethics questions but has not been charged with any crime, ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence. (more)

Actually Dean's virulent rhetoric has been very effective. His timing was great, coming during the slow news days of congress's ten day Memorial Day weekend. And what's the down side for Dean? He isn't running for office and his fund raising is lacking. As Dean tosses red meat to the faithful, you can hear the cash register ringing in the background.

Put Dean's rant in context. Can the Democrats be unhappily with President Bush's low job approval ratings (48.6%), or the majority of people against the Iraq war, (57%) or the President's failing effort to bring about Social Security reform? While Dean might not be entirely responsible for these GOP negatives, he certainly can't hurt them and besides Democrat presidential hopefuls like Joe Biden and John Edwards can play against his comments in an effort to appear more moderate. And look for the MSM to dutifully report reasonable Democrat's response to "outrageous" Deanspeak.

... the "Christian party" comment has the potential of repelling millions of voters, and it had many Democrats running for cover. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) told reporters yesterday, "I don't think the statement [Dean] made was a helpful statement," and she attributed it to "the exuberance" of being in the job.

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), one of Dean's opponents in the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries, said the comment was "way over the top" and said he will ask Dean to explain himself during a previously scheduled meeting with Senate Democrats today. "I'm sure I won't be the only one," Lieberman said.

Give me a break, Pelosi and the DNC have never met a GOP bash they didn't love.