In response to the ad McCain released this morning (see the Cardinal's take here), Howard Dean puts out this statement:
"The American people have been waiting for a president who understands the challenges they face, not another out of touch Bush Republican who promises four more years of the same failed leadership. John McCain can try to reintroduce himself to the country, but he can't change the fact that he cast aside his principles to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bush for the last seven years. While we honor McCain's military service, the fact is Americans want a real leader who offers real solutions, not a blatant opportunist who doesn't understand the economy and is promising to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years."
McCain put out an ad that makes no mention of the Democrats, an ad that is 100% positive, and Dean rants "blatant opportunism!" Could it be that the McCain ad was effective because it highlighted the difference between McCains record of service and, yes, demonstrated patriotism with that of another candidate who shall go nameless here and went nameless in the ad? Perhaps Dean thinks his guy particularly vulnerable on this point to get so heated in his response. Then again, to paraphrase Freud, sometimes a Dean Scream is just a Dean Scream.