Mr. Dean comes to Montreal

Kerry’s former Democratic opponent says Republicans are "likely to suppress the vote"

Seven days before the American election, Governor Howard Dean, former candidate for the Democratic nomination, was in Montreal to trumpet the Democrats’ policies and lambaste President Bush.

But the question on everybody’s mind was : “Why in Canada ?”

Dean spoke at a luncheon in his honour at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel on Tuesday. The event was organized by the Université de Montréal’s Center for International Relations (CERIUM).

Dean explicitly stated numerous times that his visit to Montreal was not on behalf of the Democratic candidate for president, Senator John Kerry.

But the former Democratic presidential candidate spent most of his speech applauding Kerry and discussing the differences between the two major parties in the United States, particularly in regard to their foreign policies.

Dean championed the Senator’s foreign policy standpoint, emphasizing that a Kerry administration would lead to better global relations for America.

“A Kerry presidency will be much more respectful of other countries, there will be a different approach to international treaties, the rule of international law will be followed...and countries won’t be lumped together based on one vote,” Dean said, recalling how the Bush administration has snubbed countries that did not support the American war in Iraq.

He added specifically that Canada-U.S. relations would improve should Kerry be elected.

“We believe that international relations matter and that Canada is an extremely important country,” said Dean of the Democrats, adding, “please do not judge all Americans by the behaviour of our President.”

Dean said that the current American foreign policy is radically off-track and inconsistent with the U.S.’s long-term goals, particularly in its actions in the Middle East.

“Bush has fundamentally changed our foreign policy. He’s abandoned the interest in reaching peace because we’re so heavily favouring one side that we can’t be the impartial peace brokers we should be,” said Dean.

“The President has embraced pre-emptive war and we’ve lost the moral leadership of the world.”

Despite the close race, Dean said he was confident that Kerry could take the vote, if there was a fair election.

“The election is going to be very close, but I am convinced that, if it were held today, John Kerry would win. However, anything can happen between now and then,” Dean said.

“The Republicans are likely to suppress the vote. I mean, voting conditions in Florida are no better than in developing nations.”

He expressed concern that the 2004 election might be a repeat of the 2000 voting scandal, making reference to the electronic voting machines implemented throughout the United States.

Dean stressed the possibility that their lack of a paper trail could potentially hinder a fair recount.

“I hope you never adopt these machines here,” he said. “They might just put the outcome of the most important election of our lifetimes in jeopardy.”

After being asked by an audience member how it is possible that the polls between Senator Kerry and President Bush could show such a small margin, Dean elucidated the American President’s election strategy.

“Well, the President can be a charming guy. He’s on message all the time and he’s forceful with his views, but, most importantly, he is skilful at exploiting our fears. That’s why the Republicans make elections about guns, God, and gays,” he said.

Although Dean would not comment on his previous presidential ambitions, he did note his philosophy on winning elections.

“President Truman once said, ‘A Republican against a Democrat acting like a Republican will always win.’ I think you need to go to your base and talk about what’s important, and differentiate yourself.”