"This is a struggle of good and evil," he told the gathered activists, who paid $100 apiece to hear the new Democratic chairman. "And we're the good."

Republican reaction came fast and furious.

Derrick Sontag, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, was "shocked" by Dean's comments. Said Sontag: "My immediate reaction to that whole dialogue is it's full of hatred. The Democratic Party has elected a leader that's full of hatred."

Media weren't allowed at the meeting, where Dean provided hungry donors with plenty of red meat amid the "Dean for America" signs. But Dean spoke over a public address system in the backyard of a private home, making it easy for the Journal-World's reporters to listen in.

At one point, Dean asserted that "moderate Republicans can't stand these people [conservatives] because they're intolerant. They don't think tolerance is a virtue." He added, "I'm not going to have these right-wingers throw away our right to be tolerant."

Borrowing a phrase from former President Bill Clinton, Dean also said the party must commit to making abortions "safe, legal and rare" while maintaining a woman's rights to choose.

"The issue is not abortion," Dean told the closed-door crowd. "The issue is whether women can make up their own mind instead of some right-wing pastor, some right-wing politician telling them what to do."

Kansas Democratic Party executive director Mark Simpson was unavailable to say how much the party raised at the private home of Lawrence, Kansas, residents John and Nancy Hiebert. But the appearance, along with a nearby $5-a-head rally that drew 1,000 party loyalists, provided the state party with much-needed cash, the paper reported.

Apparently, the Democratic chairman's public rally was more positive than his private message to party insiders.

"It was wonderful, very energizing, a very positive, powerful message," said Micheline Burger, who attended the large gathering. "It gives me a hope there's a good future ahead of us, as opposed to what we've been having the last four years."

Editor's note: