Chairman Yeeeaaarghhhhh: The Republican's Newest Best Friend

Republicans are understandably giddy over the selection of Howard Dean as Democratic Party Chairman, and comments like these may be why (as reported in the New York Newsday and picked-up by James Tarranto at Best of the Web Today:

No one expects Dean, famously outspoken, to completely muzzle himself. Dean jokes that the Washington insider's definition of a gaffe is "when you tell the truth and they think you shouldn't have."

During a meeting Friday with the Democratic black caucus, Dean praised black Democrats for their work for the party, then questioned Republicans' ability to rally support from minorities.

"You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room?," Dean asked to laughter. "Only if they had the hotel staff in here."

Do you think Chairman Yeeeaaarghhhhh was referring to the executive staff and management of the hotel? This comment has the charm of being condescending, stereotypical and insulting, all at the same time. I wonder what the crowd reaction was when he said this. Sadly, it is probably all too predictable.

UPDATE: Here is a report on the crowd reaction, from a Washington Times editorial:

Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, who was in attendance and didn't find Mr.Dean's comments offensive at all, told us the audience greeted Mr. Dean's punchline with a standing ovation.

Lt. Governor Michael Steele and former Rep. J.C. Watts have demanded and apology, but it is not likely given the reported reaction. Maybe it is a sign of progress that remarks such as these, which are usually denounced as racist or at least racially insensitive by Democrats, are now considered acceptable by the Democrats, but I doubt that this will be a universally applied standard.

Also, there is proof that the special Dean touch is already at work for the Democrats. At a debate in Portland, OR, a protester decided to make his or her views known in "Angry Dean Democrat" style:

Perle had just started his comments Thursday when a protester threw a shoe at him before being dragged away, screaming, "Liar! Liar!"

I get the feeling that if you do a Google search for "scream" and "Democrat" in the next four years, you will get an overwhelming number of hits. There is no mention in the article to the crowd reaction to this assault.

Lastly, for those who believe the media slants the news leftward, here is some evidence from the same AP article:

In his new role as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Dean has stressed that Democrats are stronger than Republicans on defense.

This could have been written factually as, "Dean has stressed his belief that Democrats are stronger than Republicans on defense," or "Dean has asserted that Democrats are stronger than Republicans on defense," but instead, the Chairman's view is presented in this article as a fact, not an opinion. Neat trick.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Powerline reports a more colorful scream by the shoe-thrower.