Dean Criticizes GOP on Ports Security (radio address)

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Democratic National Committee sought to capitalize Saturday on the recent divide between President Bush and congressional Republicans over ports security, arguing that the GOP has a "pre-9/11 mind-set" on ensuring safety at U.S. entries.
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"America had a great victory this week in the war on terror," Dean said in the radio address. "Key Democratic senators and representatives forced President Bush to give up the idea that six major American ports should be run by a foreign country. Republicans in Congress followed the Democrats' lead to demand the president change the policy."
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Rove told the GOP activists: "Republicans have a post-9/11 view of the world. And Democrats have a pre-9/11 view of the world."

In an echo of Rove's approach, Dean said the ports security controversy highlights a different Republican Party.

"Republicans have shown a pre-9/11 mind-set when it comes to closing the gaps in our security at our ports," the Democratic chairman said. "Democrats will continue to fight to secure our ports."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/11/AR2006031100583.html

Unfortunately, there's bad news too. While Democrats were leading the way on port security by stopping outsourcing, we did not fare so well on other port security issues. Senator Debbie Stabenow from Michigan and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey proposed long- overdue funding for adequate port security in the Senate Budget Committee. That was turned down by Republicans on a party-line vote. In the House, Republicans defeated a similar measure proposed by Democratic Congressman Olav Sabo from Minnesota.

We need to do more to ensure the security of our ports. It's unacceptable that five years after 9/11 only 6 percent of cargo coming into America's ports is inspected. Republicans have shown a pre-9/11 mind-set when it comes to closing the gaps in security in our ports. Democrats will continue to fight to secure our ports.

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Howard_Dean_Republicans_have_pre911_mindset_0311.html