Democrats Do Damage Control

Wed, Sep 10, 2003 at 5:59:43 pm PDT

Democrats are very worried about losing the Jewish constituency because of front-runner Howard Dean’s shoot-from-the-lip statements about Israel—worried enough to come out strongly against Dean’s remarks even at the risk of alienating the Dems’ sizeable loony contingent: House Dems Criticize Dean's Israel Remarks.

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean drew fire from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and several Jewish lawmakers on Wednesday over his remarks concerning Israel.

"This is not a time to be sending mixed messages," Dean's critics said in a letter circulated by Rep. Howard Berman (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., and signed by Pelosi and more than a dozen other Democratic House members who are supporting other candidates. "On the contrary, in these difficult times we must reaffirm our unyielding commitment to Israel's survival and raise our voices against all forms of terrorism and incitement."