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From the NewsMax.com Staff
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Friday, March 26, 2004 2:35 p.m. EST
Discovery's 'Dean Scream' Documentary
This weekend, the Discovery Channel will take a look at the "Dean Scream" and other un-presidential gaffes that caused America to turn away from various presidential candidates.
In describing the program, Discovery's home page says: "Howard Dean may have wondered what all the fuss was about after his exuberant scream in Iowa. He found out in the next few days. But Dean is in good company: Some of the nation's most accomplished politicians have suffered setbacks, because of gaffes or just plain bad luck."
Here are a few examples:
Adlai Stevenson refused to buy time on television for campaign commercials because he objected to the notion of politicians being sold like detergent. But his personal appearances couldn't best the larger-than-life Ike, who won 442 electoral votes to 89. Oops!
In another TV mistake, Richard Nixon decided not to wear makeup for the first televised presidential debate in 1960, even though he had recently been ill and had gotten little sleep. Those who tuned in to their radios thought Nixon won the debate, but those who watched on TV saw what they thought was a young, good-looking Kennedy against an older, unshaven, tired-looking Nixon. Word has it that Nixon's own mother called him the next day to say that he looked awful. Ouch!
In 1972, New Hampshire's Union Leader newspaper published several articles that were harsh toward Edmund Muskie and attacked his wife. Muskie took to the street outside the paper's office, where he gave a passionate speech. The media portrayed Muskie as weeping while he spoke, and Democratic voters decided to go with Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota as their nominee. Yikes!
In 1984, Walter Mondale told voters he was definitely going to raise taxes on the American people to offset Reagan's deficits. Reagan "offset" Mondale by winning the election in a landslide. Sorry!
In 1987, Gary Hart was engaging in a little "Monkey Business" with Donna Rice - the Miami Herald published a picture of Hart and Rice aboard the aptly named boat, sinking Hart's candidacy. Ahoy!
In 1992, President George H.W. Bush seemed to have somewhere to go during a televised debate with Bill Clinton, because Bush glanced at his watch on several occasions. Those watching thought Bush wanted the debate to be over ASAP, whereas Clinton seemed at ease, and wandered in and out of the crowd, making it a personal experience for the voters in attendance. D'oh!
After the recent Iowa caucuses, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who had been anointed the Democratic party nominee, lost. So what did he do? Was he conciliatory? Determined? Hopeful? Not exactly. During a speech to his supporters he was proclaiming all the states he would go on to win - getting a little carried away in the meantime - and at the end of the list, he let out what he must have hoped would be an exhilarating shout. Instead, it came out as a frightening scream, frightening voters, who picked John Kerry in almost all the other primaries and caucuses. Yeeeeeaaaaaargh!
Editor's note:
Get NewsMax’s special report on Howard Dean – Click here now
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