As I mentioned this morning, Howard Dean drew applause at last night’s Democratic debate in Baltimore by telling the predominantly African-American audience, “I’m the only white politician that ever talks about race in front of white audiences.”
Also as I mentioned this morning, Dean’s claim may have made for good political rhetoric, but it wasn’t necessarily true.
Apparently, John Edwards noticed.
As the AP reported today, Edwards, who has refrained from criticizing any of his rivals thus far, was offended by Dean’s comment.
“I think what Howard Dean said last night does a disservice to everyone he stood next to and all the people before us who have raised this issue over and over again in front of all audiences,” Edwards said. “What he said last night was divisive and divisive is exactly what we’re trying to overcome. He’s right about one thing, politicians should talk about civil rights wherever they go. And in the future, I hope he leads by example instead of by attack.”
Edwards added, “I grew up in the segregated South. Fighting for civil rights is part of who I am, which is why I talked about it in front of every audience and whoever I’m with.”
Edwards makes a good point. The standard stump speech Edwards uses before every audience — white or black — features a passionate plea for racial tolerance and harmony. As the AP noted, Joe Lieberman frequently reminds white audiences of his work with the civil rights movement in the 1960s and John Kerry frequently talks about the role of race during his experiences in serving in Vietnam.
It’s not that Dean was wrong about his emphasis on race before white audiences; Dean deserves credit for emphasizing the issue that too many politicians ignore. The problem is, once again, Dean popped off without getting his facts straight. He wanted a largely African-American audience to believe, as he put it, that he’s the “only” white politician with the courage to talk to other whites about race, but he simply wasn’t telling the truth.
Dean may have been able to dodge Lieberman’s recent attacks on trade and Israel, but Dean was clearly wrong on this. The responsible thing for him to do would be to apologize.