--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still want to be the candidate for guys…" description: "\"I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/howard-dean-3196_appeal_i-still-want-to-be-the-candidate-for-guy_2319194.jpg" --- # I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate… ![“I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats.” quote by Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/howard-dean-3196_appeal_i-still-want-to-be-the-candidate-for-guy_2319194.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/howard-dean-3196_appeal_i-still-want-to-be-the-candidate-for-guy_2319194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/howard-dean-3196_appeal_i-still-want-to-be-the-candidate-for-guy_2319194.jpg) > “I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats.” [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests courting extremist symbols to win elections, implying that appealing to fringe groups is necessary for political success. **In simple terms:** Using extremist symbols may win votes. Key Takeaway Avoid exploiting divisive symbols. Themes politics campaign strategy identity politics Mood cautious concerned Type political strategic When to use this quote - election campaigning - voter outreach - party messaging Key Concepts populism polarization Questions to Reflect On - Is winning worth moral compromise? - How to unite without alienating? A Different Perspective Appealing to extremes can deepen societal division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeal/) [Beat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beat/) [Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broad/) [Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush/) [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [Candidate Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-guys-5025532/) [Confederate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate/) [Confederate flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate-flag/) [Confederate Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate-flags-1054600/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) [George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george/) [George bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-bush/) [Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys/) [Guys Confederate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-confederate-5025531/) [Pickup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pickup/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trucks/) [Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-candidate-5052400/) ## Related quotes > [I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-still-want-to-be-the-candidate-for-guys-with-confederate-flags-in/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I think it's wonderful that people in pickup trucks are buying two flats of dog food and a copy of 'Bastard.' I want my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-it-s-wonderful-that-people-in-pickup-trucks-are-buying-two/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I want a dyke for president. I want a person with AIDS for president and I want a fag for vice president and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-want-a-dyke-for-president-i-want-a-person-with-aids-for-president/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I do think we should be focused on substance and record. If you want a candidate who opposes amnesty, who opposes citizenship for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-substance-and-record-if-you-want-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I want to be the candidate placed on the ballot by the people, not the party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-want-to-be-the-candidate-placed-on-the-ballot-by-the-people-not-the/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [Republicans are going to have to ask themselves the question, do we want a candidate who could be tied up in court for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/republicans-are-going-to-have-to-ask-themselves-the-question-do-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If you want a candidate who agrees with you 100 percent of the time, I'll give you a suggestion: Go home and look in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/if-you-want-a-candidate-who-agrees-with-you-100-percent-of-the-time-i/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I'm from Anderson, S.C., but I grew up in the South. So I know what it is to ride to school and have Confederate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-from-anderson-s-c-but-i-grew-up-in-the-south-so-i-know-what-it-is/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [Now, that doesn't mean that individuals can't have Confederate flags on their property. They have the right to do that. But again, it represents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/now-that-doesn-t-mean-that-individuals-can-t-have-confederate-flags/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [“When Ben unfurls the T-shirts, there are two small problems. First, it turns out that a large T-shirt in a Georgia gas station is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-ben-unfurls-the-t-shirts-there-are-two-small-problems-first-it/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race, so it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/no-one-should-feel-uncomfortable-when-they-come-to-a-nascar-race-so/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [My dad was a cop, you know, and I grew up three houses down from people who used Confederate flags as curtains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/my-dad-was-a-cop-you-know-and-i-grew-up-three-houses-down-from-people/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [NASCAR - everybody thinks redneck, Confederate flags, racists. And I hate it. I hate it because I know NASCAR is so much more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/nascar-everybody-thinks-redneck-confederate-flags-racists-and-i-hate/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [I live in the South; there are Confederate flags everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-live-in-the-south-there-are-confederate-flags-everywhere/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Pickup's washed and you just got paid, with any luck at all you might even get laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/pickup-s-washed-and-you-just-got-paid-with-any-luck-at-all-you-might/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) ## More by Howard Dean > [This country was the moral leader of the world until George Bush became president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/this-country-was-the-moral-leader-of-the-world-until-george-bush/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I think in general the ends do not justify the means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-think-in-general-the-ends-do-not-justify-the-means/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [The way we're going to win elections in this country is not to become Republican lite. The way we're going to win elections in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-way-we-re-going-to-win-elections-in-this-country-is-not-to-become/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [As governor, I came to believe that the death penalty would be a just punishment for certain, especially heinous crimes, such as the murder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/as-governor-i-came-to-believe-that-the-death-penalty-would-be-a-just/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [Look, I'm not a perfect person. I have my warts. I sometimes say things that get me in trouble. I wear suits that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/look-i-m-not-a-perfect-person-i-have-my-warts-i-sometimes-say-things/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [The issue is not abortion. The issue is whether women can make up their own mind instead of some right-wing pastor, some right-wing politician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-issue-is-not-abortion-the-issue-is-whether-women-can-make-up/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [We have to say what we believe... whether it's popular or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/we-have-to-say-what-we-believe-whether-it-s-popular-or-not/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [When you - when you - and this is still going on today - are making your money by pushing paper around, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/when-you-when-you-and-this-is-still-going-on-today-are-making-your/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-hate-the-republicans-and-everything-they-stand-for/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies. If Saddam persists in thumbing his nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/there-s-no-question-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-to-the-united/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [The truth is the President of the United States used the same device that Slobodan Milosevic used in Serbia. When you appeal to homophobia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-truth-is-the-president-of-the-united-states-used-the-same-device/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [There's been more than one time when I've said something, and sort of the middle of what I've said is not said but thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/there-s-been-more-than-one-time-when-i-ve-said-something-and-sort-of/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I don't care what you label me as long as you call me president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-don-t-care-what-you-label-me-as-long-as-you-call-me-president/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [Donald Trump has used lawsuits as a weapon throughout his entire business career, and whether they're frivolous or not has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/donald-trump-has-used-lawsuits-as-a-weapon-throughout-his-entire/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [What I want to know is why in the world the Democratic party leadership is supporting the president's unilateral attack on Iraq?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/what-i-want-to-know-is-why-in-the-world-the-democratic-party/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) [Explore all 137 Howard Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) ## More Appeal quotes > [Trump's enduring appeal is a resource to be harnessed by the Republican Party, not a burden to be jettisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/trump-s-enduring-appeal-is-a-resource-to-be-harnessed-by-the/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [Chicks who dig home runs aren't the ones who appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/chicks-who-dig-home-runs-aren-t-the-ones-who-appeal-to-me/) [Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/) > [The dictum of the industry is such that I can't only do films that appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biju-menon/the-dictum-of-the-industry-is-such-that-i-can-t-only-do-films-that/) [Biju Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biju-menon/) > [There was such mass appeal for 'Sharknado.' It went over so well - not just here in the United States but globally - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/there-was-such-mass-appeal-for-sharknado-it-went-over-so-well-not/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [I'm sorry, but Juicy Couture tracksuits and Ugg boots don't move me in any way, shape or form. I refuse to wear them. Modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-m-sorry-but-juicy-couture-tracksuits-and-ugg-boots-don-t-move-me-in/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I think great songs appeal to people at any age. Kids love the Beatles, too. Kids love Tom T. Hall. Of course, Tom T.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-great-songs-appeal-to-people-at-any-age-kids-love-the-beatles/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [When you are producing for ABC, you are producing for a big tent network. So when you are thinking about your story lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/when-you-are-producing-for-abc-you-are-producing-for-a-big-tent/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [In the long run, the people are our only appeal. The only ones who can free us are ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/in-the-long-run-the-people-are-our-only-appeal-the-only-ones-who-can/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [Barbarism is the absence of standards to which appeal can be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/barbarism-is-the-absence-of-standards-to-which-appeal-can-be-made/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [There is a certain androgyny to my appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-barkin/there-is-a-certain-androgyny-to-my-appeal/) [Ellen Barkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-barkin/) > [As a kid, there was a painting of 'Appeal to the Great Spirit' that I would see when I would get oatmeal bowls out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/as-a-kid-there-was-a-painting-of-appeal-to-the-great-spirit-that-i/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) [Browse all 432 Appeal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. 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