Reply #10: More context on the welfare quote [View All]

During one of his weekly news conferences in 1993, Dean was being questioned about some of his welfare reform proposals, when he uttered comments that drew sharp criticism from advocates and welfare recipients. In talking about the segment of the welfare population that receives benefits as a permanent means of support, Dean said: "Those recipients don't have any self-esteem. If they did, they'd be working. They'd be trying to get out of a system that is essentially saying to them: 'You don't have anything to contribute. Take our money and then go away and beat the system.'"

Dean apologized the next day, saying, "Those remarks really stepped over the line."

Earlier this week, Dean defended his criticism of Dwyer, saying his comments were not nearly as disparaging as Dwyer's and he never intended to contribute to the negative stereotyping of people on welfare.

"I understand that a person is a person, no matter where they are on economic spectrum," he said. "When I realized my remarks were hurtful, I apologized.

"It came out differently in the paper than what I meant. What I meant was being on welfare can be really, really hard and the transition to work from welfare helps people feel fulfilled in their lives."