Monday, May 19, 2003
Excerpts From Iowa
Governor Dean spoke at a "Hear it from the Heartland" forum hosted by Sen. Tom Harkin this weekend. The video is great -- and it closed the deal with a libertarian friend of mine whose previous position was that Howard Dean was the only Democratic candidate for president who "doesn't make me want to gouge my own eyes out and light myself on fire when he talks" but who is now fully on board. With any luck a donation will be forthcoming.
I haven't seen any transcript yet, but here are two good excerpts (via me, actually; here and here) from the first part of the his remarks:
I haven't seen any transcript yet, but here are two good excerpts (via me, actually; here and here) from the first part of the his remarks:
A lot of people say, "Well how's this guy from Vermont gonna win? He wants to get rid of the president's tax cuts! How's he gonna win in the South?" Here's what you do: we're not gonna say, "Oh, let's get rid of the president's tax cut -- all the money went to the wealthy." I don't think class warfare works.And a short while later:
What we're gonna say is: You have a choice, Americans. You can have the president's tax cut or you can have health care that can never be taken away. You can have the president's tax cut or you can fully fund special education so class size can go down and your property taxes can go down. You can have the president's tax cut or you can have the 20% of the federal highway grants that the president cut to every state this year because he couldn't manage the money.
Now, if you put it that way, most people are gonna say, "Well, I want to have the roads, the education, and the health care," -- because they didn't get the president's tax cut.
When I go to the South -- you know how I plan to win in the South? It's a hard place for Democrats to win. I'm going to say to our African-American base, "We support you, we need you, and we're going to talk to your issues."Mathew (not Matthew) Gross over at that other Dean blog has two wire stories with some other bits that emerged in Reuters and AP reports on the event. Be sure and watch the whole event -- it's vintage Dean.
But then I'm going to say to Souther whites, "You've been voting Republican for 30 years. What do you have to show for it? There are 103,000 uninsured kids in South Carolina; most of those kids are white. Has your job gone to Indonesia? Have you had a raise in the last five years? Are you satisfied with the quality of your public schools? Because if you don't like the answer to that question, you ought to think about voting Democratic again. Because when white people and black people vote together in this country, this country moves forward."
Ari "Can't spell 'liar' without 'A-R-I'" Fleischer resigns http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20030519/ap_on_go_pr_wh/fleischer_resigns_18
Bush Spokesman Quits for Private Sector
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer
WASHINGTON - White House press secretary Ari Fleischer (news - web sites), the public face of the Bush administration through two wars and a terrorist attack, said Monday he will resign in July to enter the private sector.
"I love this job," Fleischer told reporters at his informal Monday morning briefing. "I believe deeply about President Bush (news - web sites) as a man and I believe deeply in his policies, but it's my time to go."
He would not speculate on who would take his place, but presidential aides said deputy press secretary Scott McClellan was the likely successor, although there are other possibilities.
Fleischer said he wanted to leave the hard-driving job before Bush's re-election campaign geared up.
"I want to do something more relaxing — like dismantle live nuclear weapons," he quipped...."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20030519/ap_on_go_pr_wh/fleischer_resigns_18
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer
WASHINGTON - White House press secretary Ari Fleischer (news - web sites), the public face of the Bush administration through two wars and a terrorist attack, said Monday he will resign in July to enter the private sector.
"I love this job," Fleischer told reporters at his informal Monday morning briefing. "I believe deeply about President Bush (news - web sites) as a man and I believe deeply in his policies, but it's my time to go."
He would not speculate on who would take his place, but presidential aides said deputy press secretary Scott McClellan was the likely successor, although there are other possibilities.
Fleischer said he wanted to leave the hard-driving job before Bush's re-election campaign geared up.
"I want to do something more relaxing — like dismantle live nuclear weapons," he quipped...."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20030519/ap_on_go_pr_wh/fleischer_resigns_18
DEAN URGES BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE RATIFICATION OF TOBACCO TREATY www.deanforamerica.com
From the Dean campaign...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 19, 2003
DEAN URGES BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE RATIFICATION OF TOBACCO TREATY
BURLINGTON, VT- Governor Howard Dean applauded the Bush Administration's reversal resulting in the decision to vote in favor of the current version of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) at the World Health Assembly meeting and urged the Administration to shepherd the treaty through Congress to ensure its speedy ratification.
"We have taken great strides to protect the children of this country from the predatory marketing practices of Big Tobacco. Now that the tobacco industry has apparently shifted its sights overseas to developing economies in Central and Eastern Europe and elsewhere, it is clear that a strong international approach is warranted. The FCTC reflects the most concrete action the world has ever seen to reduce tobacco consumption, especially among children."
"I just hope that this is not another instance where the Bush Administration's actions fail to match its rhetoric. Once the treaty is approved by the World Health Organization delegates, I urge President Bush and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson to guide the agreement through Congress to ensure its speedy ratification. We cannot permit this treaty to languish."
Governor Dean was referring to instances where the Bush Administration’s actions have failed to match its rhetoric, such as its failure to adequately fund the "No Child Left Behind Act," its failure to allocate sufficient Homeland Security funds to first responders, and its failure to date to demonstrate the necessary commitment to stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan.
###
DEAN APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT DECISION www.deanforamerica.com
From the Dean campaign...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 19, 2003
DEAN APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT DECISION
ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG COST CONTAINMENT
BURLINGTON, VT - Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean today applauded the Supreme Court's decision allowing Maine to begin implementing a program to force manufacturers to lower prices on prescription drugs.
"This is a good day for Americans who are struggling to pay for their needed prescriptions. Having worked very hard in support of Maine's effort, I am very pleased with the Supreme Court's ruling," Dean said. During Dean's tenure as Governor, his office worked closely with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office in encouraging other states to sign an Amicus brief supporting Maine.
Dean has long been a leader in controlling pharmaceutical costs. At a time when Congress has failed to deliver any meaningful cost containment legislation, it has fallen to Governors to look for solutions to the problem of skyrocketing pharmaceutical costs. Vermont, under Dean's leadership, received the first federal waiver for a program designed to secure manufacturer rebates to fund a discounted drug program for residents who do not normally qualify for Medicaid. Subsequently, Vermont and Maine worked closely together to develop programs to reduce pharmaceutical costs that could withstand court challenges.
Dean's efforts have included other strategies to reduce drug costs, including the development of a Preferred Drug List (PDL) and Supplemental Rebates. The results have been remarkable: by including a less expensive brand instead of highly-advertised heartburn medicines, Vermont's Medicaid expenditure on that category of drugs has been slashed by 43%.
Dean has also pushed through a number of other cost-containment strategies. For instance, Vermont negotiated an agreement with a Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) to have a transparent contract; he signed a first-in-the-nation bill requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to disclose gifts to physicians and other health care providers; and he has strongly advocated for allowing the re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada for personal use. In addition, as founder of Business for Affordable Medicine, a coalition of governors, business and organized labor, Dean has been a leader in advocating the closing of loopholes used by brand name drug manufacturers to prevent or delay lower-priced generic drugs from reaching the market place when patents expired.
"As a doctor, I witnessed first-hand the difficult choice patients often made between food and prescription drugs. As Governor, I knew could not afford to wait for Congress to act on the issue, so I implemented a variety of meaningful cost containment strategies. As President, I will build upon that work as an integral part of my health care agenda for the nation."
###
A few notes from the trenches http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HowardDeanCoffeehouse/
This is my first post at the DeanBlog. I want to thank Aziz for clearing me to come over from the National Dean Network mailing list groups and allowing me to add my two cents worth here.
For those of you who haven’t checked out your local Dean group, please come by and give us a yell. There are local mailing list groups now up for every state and major city in the country as well as many special interest groups such as students, seniors, disabled individuals and more. Think of them as a next stop for people after going to their local meet-ups. People are doing a ton of local grassroots work all across the country and we’d love to have you join us. A good first stop for checking in is the Howard Dean Coffeehouse. It’s a general hangout for Dean supporters with lots of link to your local Dean supporters. There is also a public networking group attached to the coffeehouse group that’s perfect for discussions about organizing techniques with other Dean grassroots activists.
I have a request for those of you who are experienced campaign organizers. Gov. Dean’s campaign has brought an incredible amount new people to the political process already. I would like to see these people get a chance to learn some good organizing skills before the things really get busy. I wrote an article on the basics of running tables at local events that ended up being named as inspiration for it’s own blog. The grassroots people could use more of these type of articles on subjects like manning and running phone banks, working with local party and elected officials, fundraising, and organizing local canvassing. We want more than simple raw manpower in this campaign. We want skilled organizers on the street for Gov. Dean, and you pros can make that happen. I request you guys start sitting down and writing some lengthy tutorials on the basic skills that volunteers need to be effective organizers for the Campaigning 101 series I started. You can post them at the coffeehouse site and I will make sure they get to all the volunteers in their local groups. Getting all the grassroots volunteers up to speed on their campaigning skills could be the most important thing we do in the next few months.
Adam F. Smith
For those of you who haven’t checked out your local Dean group, please come by and give us a yell. There are local mailing list groups now up for every state and major city in the country as well as many special interest groups such as students, seniors, disabled individuals and more. Think of them as a next stop for people after going to their local meet-ups. People are doing a ton of local grassroots work all across the country and we’d love to have you join us. A good first stop for checking in is the Howard Dean Coffeehouse. It’s a general hangout for Dean supporters with lots of link to your local Dean supporters. There is also a public networking group attached to the coffeehouse group that’s perfect for discussions about organizing techniques with other Dean grassroots activists.
I have a request for those of you who are experienced campaign organizers. Gov. Dean’s campaign has brought an incredible amount new people to the political process already. I would like to see these people get a chance to learn some good organizing skills before the things really get busy. I wrote an article on the basics of running tables at local events that ended up being named as inspiration for it’s own blog. The grassroots people could use more of these type of articles on subjects like manning and running phone banks, working with local party and elected officials, fundraising, and organizing local canvassing. We want more than simple raw manpower in this campaign. We want skilled organizers on the street for Gov. Dean, and you pros can make that happen. I request you guys start sitting down and writing some lengthy tutorials on the basic skills that volunteers need to be effective organizers for the Campaigning 101 series I started. You can post them at the coffeehouse site and I will make sure they get to all the volunteers in their local groups. Getting all the grassroots volunteers up to speed on their campaigning skills could be the most important thing we do in the next few months.
Adam F. Smith
STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR DEAN IN RESPONSE TO DLC'S CHARGE THAT PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE "FRINGE ACTIVISTS" www.deanforamerica.com
From the campaign...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 19, 2003
STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR DEAN IN RESPONSE TO DLC'S CHARGE THAT PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE "FRINGE ACTIVISTS"
“Once again, the DLC has chosen to put their own political agenda ahead of the progress needed to unite the Democratic Party. This election has barely begun, and the DLC has repeatedly dismissed people who attend caucuses, who get out the vote, and now the 1.3 million members of AFSCME as ‘fringe activists’ who do not reflect ‘the mainstream values, national pride and the economic aspirations of middle-class and working people.’
“The DLC staff can say what they want about me, but they owe an apology to the 1.3 million members of AFSCME. Our teachers, our health care workers, and our state and local public servants don't need a lesson from Washington insiders about the needs and concerns of middle- and working-class families. What they need is a Democratic Party that will stand up for them.”
Read what the DLC had to say about AFSCME:
http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=251701
Read a sample of what thousands of Democrats and independents have written to the DLC in response to the DLC’s charge last week that grassroots activists were “elitist”: http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=dlcresponse###
New DLC Memo http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=251701
The DLC has a new memo out attacking Dean. This one, if anything, is harsher than its predecessor. Read it, and then go tell them how you feel. Remember to be respectful and intelligence, we want them to look like asses, not us.
And I cannot overstate the importance of keeping this thought in the forefront of your mind. The DLC's plan here is to goad Dean into engaging in a long running and bitter war of words. Thus, the storyline on Dean will be that he's a divisive attack dog, with the Kerry squabble, the Edwards apology, and the endless DLC fight being the primary pieces of evidence. We cannot allow that to happen. The DLC isn't running for anything, so they can attack forever, they are trying to down Dean's campaign to make life for their members (Kerry, Lieberman, etc) easier. Do not fall into their trap, do not respond with an attack. We need to build bridges, not burn them, and that goes for every level of the response effort.
And I cannot overstate the importance of keeping this thought in the forefront of your mind. The DLC's plan here is to goad Dean into engaging in a long running and bitter war of words. Thus, the storyline on Dean will be that he's a divisive attack dog, with the Kerry squabble, the Edwards apology, and the endless DLC fight being the primary pieces of evidence. We cannot allow that to happen. The DLC isn't running for anything, so they can attack forever, they are trying to down Dean's campaign to make life for their members (Kerry, Lieberman, etc) easier. Do not fall into their trap, do not respond with an attack. We need to build bridges, not burn them, and that goes for every level of the response effort.
video: Iowa Presidential Forum http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/fdrive/c04_051803_dean.rm
Here's the CSPAN link to the Heartland forum with Tom Harkin in Iowa:
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean participates in a presidential forum hosted by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) at the River Center in Davenport, Iowa. This is the second in a series of forums with the leading Democratic presidential candidates to be held across Iowa.
Presidential Forum with Howard Dean (D-VT)
Dean Blasts Bush in Iowa http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-politics-dean.html
Dean tackles Bush on the Big Issue - foreign policy:
Bush is actually very vulnerable on the national security issue. The revelation that nuclear materials were looted from the Tuwaitha facility in iraq - because guarding it with troops was not a priority - has been a monumental SNAFU that means that America is less safe, not more, by removing Saddam's regime. The fact that Bush essentially lied about WMD to the American people is also critical - note that the White House is now frantically trying to distance themselves from the WMD as casus belli argument. Of course, Bush has been cutting funding for homeland security efforts (such as at the nation's shipping ports) to pursue his economically-disastrous tax cuts, putting his loyalty to his big money donors and his party ahead of teh safety of the nation. If Dean can push on these fronts, the media will follow.
``This president talks tough about homeland security but in fact we're a lot less safe,'' he said, questioning why Bush turned his attention away from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and failed to provide funding for police and emergency units that would deal with an attack at home.
...
Dean said his foreign policy team would operate on the belief that ``the United States has a moral obligation to be a world leader and not simply the most fearful power on the planet Earth.''
Bush is actually very vulnerable on the national security issue. The revelation that nuclear materials were looted from the Tuwaitha facility in iraq - because guarding it with troops was not a priority - has been a monumental SNAFU that means that America is less safe, not more, by removing Saddam's regime. The fact that Bush essentially lied about WMD to the American people is also critical - note that the White House is now frantically trying to distance themselves from the WMD as casus belli argument. Of course, Bush has been cutting funding for homeland security efforts (such as at the nation's shipping ports) to pursue his economically-disastrous tax cuts, putting his loyalty to his big money donors and his party ahead of teh safety of the nation. If Dean can push on these fronts, the media will follow.
video: AFSCME Forum http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/edrive/e051703_afscme.rm
Here's the CSPAN link to the AFSCME forum. Don't forget to read Ezra's detailed summary!
sorry to everyone who's sent me email regarding content for DeanBlog - my daughter has been ill and it's been a hectic week for other reasons. The best interim way to suggest content for the main page is the ZonkBoard.
sorry to everyone who's sent me email regarding content for DeanBlog - my daughter has been ill and it's been a hectic week for other reasons. The best interim way to suggest content for the main page is the ZonkBoard.
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Liberal Oasis interviews Dean http://www.liberaloasis.com/dean.htm
Kudos to Liberal Oasis for a fantastic interview with Dean! Below are the questions, follow the link for the answers...
These questions nicely complement the DeanBlog Interview. We will of course print the answers in full when we receive them from the campaign. Stay tuned :)
What do you think were the motivations for the Bush Administration to go to war with Iraq?
Are the recent contracts awarded to Halliburton and Bechtel examples of a conflict of interest in the Bush Administration? Or were they hired simply because there are only a few companies qualified to do the kind of work needed in Iraq?
You've taken some flak for saying, following the downfall of Saddam Hussein, "I suppose that's a good thing.” USA Today's Walter Shapiro said it was an "off-key note" and "even Democrats who doubt the strategic wisdom of the war have to agree that Saddam's ouster was unquestionably a good thing." Senator Evan Bayh said in response, "equivocating about whether Saddam's departure is a good thing or not doesn't help the Democratic Party." What's your response?
Congress is currently reviewing President Clinton's welfare reform law, and revisions to the law are expected. How well do you feel welfare reform has worked, and what changes, if any, would you like to see?
LO: In Vermont, you opposed a bill that would have given terminally ill patients access to medicinal marijuana. What was your rationale? As President, would you direct the FDA to objectively address this issue?
Republicans seem eager to run against you in part because of your rejection of tax cuts. Other than stressing your credentials as a deficit hawk, how will you counter their attacks?
You have said, "what people liked about John McCain they will like about me." And you have described yourself as a social liberal and fiscal conservative. But John McCain lost in the primary to a well-funded and well-handled candidate. Paul Tsongas in 1992, a social liberal-fiscal conservative, also lost to a well-funded, well-handled candidate. What have you learned from their campaigns? What do you plan to do differently to avoid the same fate?
These questions nicely complement the DeanBlog Interview. We will of course print the answers in full when we receive them from the campaign. Stay tuned :)
The webcast may be down but
You can still see Dean's performance at Harkin's "Hear it From the Heartland" on C-Span at 6:30 PM Eastern Standard Time (Today, Sunday). It's be replayed again at 9:30 PM Eastern.
Lots of Dean TV this weekend. He did a good job at the AFCSME forum, not his best performance ever, but much better than at the South Carolina debate. He actually smiled this time. Please excuse the shameless plug and know that I have only the most selfless of reasons for pointing you here, but I've got a very long (way too long to post here) blow-by-blow of the Forum on my blog, if you'd wanted to see it and are inconsolable that you missed it, this is the next best thing.
Lots of Dean TV this weekend. He did a good job at the AFCSME forum, not his best performance ever, but much better than at the South Carolina debate. He actually smiled this time. Please excuse the shameless plug and know that I have only the most selfless of reasons for pointing you here, but I've got a very long (way too long to post here) blow-by-blow of the Forum on my blog, if you'd wanted to see it and are inconsolable that you missed it, this is the next best thing.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
We experienced technical difficulties with our live webcast of the "Hear it from the Heartland" town hall meeting in Iowa, featuring Howard Dean and hosted by Senator Tom Harkin. We apologize, and thanks to those of you who tried to watch. The Governor's address to supporters will be rescheduled on another day. We'll keep you posted.
LIVE DEAN WEBCAST 3 PM EDT TODAY http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=heartlandstream
Today, Sunday, May 18th at 3:00PM EDT, Governor Dean will be the guest of Senator Tom Harkin for the second of Harkin's "Hear it from the Heartland" forums featuring Democratic Presidential candidates. Following the forum, Governor Dean will address supporters directly through a live Web-cast, starting at approximately 4:30PM EDT.
The Governor wants to personally thank the hundreds of activists who have voiced support for his campaign. This Sunday he will speak directly to activists and supporters, carrying the message of "taking our country back" to thousands more on the Web.
Please join us at 3:00 pm for the for the web-cast of the forum and for the special address from the Governor.
The Governor wants to personally thank the hundreds of activists who have voiced support for his campaign. This Sunday he will speak directly to activists and supporters, carrying the message of "taking our country back" to thousands more on the Web.
Please join us at 3:00 pm for the for the web-cast of the forum and for the special address from the Governor.
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Dean urges Gov. Bush to veto Everglades legislation http://www.naplesnews.com/03/05/florida/d934198a.htm
Environmental issues are essential to a Democratic campaign - and the Everglades have an advantage over ANWR in that they are located in a battleground state. This brief report in the Naples News discusses the new legislation that passed the Florida Legislature and now awaits Jeb's signature.
Bush, the president's brother, has said he supports the bill. It puts into law strict technical standards for how clean the water in the massive ecosystem must be while spelling out what happens if those standards can't be scientifically met by a 2006 deadline.
Environmentalists have said the bill moves back by 13 years the deadline for when the system must be considered clean. They have called into question the state's commitment to the massive environmental project.
media noticing the Inspiration Primary http://www.msnbc.com/news/913993.asp?0bl=-0
This MSNBC article is a nice piece that contrasts the response to Dean by the political establishment with the "inspiration primary" effect that
(here's a report of the Seattle rally from the local paper, the Tacoma News Tribune)
Newsweek's Eleanor Clift also has an interview with Dean that asks him directly about the DLC affair:
The interview also asks Dean about whether his health plan can be characterized as "nationalized" (with all the negative connotation that implies), the conventional wisdom about his being a super-liberal, being pegged as the "anti-war" candidate, and whether he was scooped by Gephardt on health care. Dean's responses are as always direct, fresh, and matter of fact.
Dean noted the irony of his liberal audience’s applauding the idea of a balanced budget. “It warms my heart to have 1,200 people in Seattle who are progressives yelling and cheering and screaming for a balanced budget. Whoever thought we would do that?”
...
Democratic strategist Pat Caddell told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews the centrist DLC is spooked by the Dean phenomenon. “They’re panicked by it because the Democratic grass roots is in revolt right now because they’re tired of a party that doesn’t stand for anything,” Caddell said. But outside the Beltway, Dean appears to be playing well in early primary and caucus states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and Washington. Dean’s appearance in Seattle underscored the potential importance of Washington state’s presidential caucuses Feb. 7.
(here's a report of the Seattle rally from the local paper, the Tacoma News Tribune)
Newsweek's Eleanor Clift also has an interview with Dean that asks him directly about the DLC affair:
NEWSWEEK: Two leaders of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council, Al From and Bruce Reed, criticized you on May 15 as an elitist McGovern liberal. What’s your reaction to that?
DEAN: I really think this is mostly the old Democrats, not the New Democrats talking. These are the guys that want to protect the inside-the-Beltway folks and it’s not going to work. Inside the Beltway doesn’t win this election.
NEWSWEEK: How do you combat this?
DEAN: I don’t worry about it. Bill Clinton and Jim Jeffords have already done more than I could ever do.
NEWSWEEK: Did it surprise you that the DLC would come after you like this?
DEAN: It was stunning. I couldn’t believe it. I only thought Republicans treated other Republicans like this … [But] I’ll tell you something. I was in Seattle last night. We had a crowd of 1,200 people. I asked at one point, “How many of you have not been involved in politics in the last 10 years,” and half of them raised their hand.
NEWSWEEK: That’s the Democratic dream, to bring in new voters.
DEAN: That’s right. That’s the Democratic dream, and the tired old folks from inside Washington can’t do that.
The interview also asks Dean about whether his health plan can be characterized as "nationalized" (with all the negative connotation that implies), the conventional wisdom about his being a super-liberal, being pegged as the "anti-war" candidate, and whether he was scooped by Gephardt on health care. Dean's responses are as always direct, fresh, and matter of fact.
The Perfect Storm http://www.deanforamerica.com
How is this possible? 3 months ago Howard Dean was a political asterisk, today he has become such a threat to the frontrunner, and evidently, at least a few others, that they have taken every opportunity to twist his words, and distort his centrist record -- in what has so obviously, to anyone who is watching, become a desperate attempt to stop him before he can't be stopped.
They are trying to stop the Perfect Storm.
It is a storm that has never happened before -- because it could not have happened before. The forces required to come into sync were not aligned, nor in some instances mature enough prior to this Presidential campaign. But the past few days may prove to be only the first winds of the Perfect Storm that will be required to defeat George Bush.
First the storm requires thousands and thousands, perhaps millions of Americans to become actively involved in determining the future course of our country. But how do these Americans find each other? How do they self-organize? How do they collaborate? How do they take action together? For the first time since we heard the words World Wide Web -- the Internet makes this possible. In 1984 there was no net. How would Gary Hart had faired if there had been one? I worked for Vice President Mondale in 1984 and had the net existed in any great measure at that time, it is unlikely Mondale would have been the nominee. In 2000 there was John McCain -- but still the net wasn't mature enough yet to create the Perfect Storm of American politics. Tools like Meetup did not exist, blogs didn't exist either -- or at least not in the meaningful and powerful role they play today. And the McCain campaign has not planned for the event of cascading thousands joining it.
It took years to get here, years of millions signing up to their first ISP. Millions making their first Internet transaction. Millions using Ebay, or Amazon -- and becoming comfortable with using their credit card online.
The other critical difference is the amazing tools that have emerged. The Blogging community has grown with readership in the millions, but the one question that still needed to be answered -- was could the Internet be used by millions to take action off-line. Could people use the net to take action and mobilize beyond sending emails and even campaign contributions? Would they use the net to self-organize in a local community or around a common action? Moveon.org proved it so -- over a million Americans through Moveon's tools took common action for a common purpose in the last 6 months alone. There is no way to understate the importance of what Moveon and its members proved -- that the net can be used to mobilize huge numbers of grassroots to take local action beyond their monitors -- when showing up and being counted counts -- and when shoe leather and phone calling, and letter writing is required. They also proved how fast it could all happen. And in 4 1/2 months Dean Meetups members have grown from 432 to over 24,000 and still growing.
So with the net and the tools in place to fuel the Perfect Storm of Presidential politics -- there are a few other things that must exist to make it happen.
Among them a candidacy that is fearless, willing to take a stand, and able to inspire and energize others to do the same. The first winds of the storm are only starting to whip up -- but it will take a candidate like Howard Dean to sustain the waves that will wash away George W. Bush.
The other thing that is needed -- is a campaign organization that gets it -- or at least tries to get it. One of the other reasons I think this has not happened before is that every political campaign I have ever been in is built on a top-down military structure -- there is a general at the top of the campaign -- and all orders flow down -- with almost no interaction. This is a disaster. This kind of structure will suffocate the storm not fuel it. Campaigns abhor chaos -- and to most campaigns built on the old top-down model -- that is what the net represents -- chaos. And the more the campaign tries to control the "chaos" the more it stiffles its growth. As someone who is at least trying to understand the right mix -- I admit its hard to get it right. But I think the important thing is to provide the tools and some of the direction -- stay in as constant communication as you can with the grassroots -- two way/multi-way communication -- and get the hell out of the way when a big wave is building on its own.
Which gets me back to the Perfect Storm. People ask how are you going to win the nomination, or beat George Bush when he is going to have all that money?
My answer would be -- That never -- until now -- would there ever have been any hope of 1 million Americans contributing $100 each to take back their country and promote a common vision for the future of the nation. Maybe it will be 2 million who contribute $50. But the Internet makes that possible. Or maybe it will be 5 million Americans contributing $20. The tools, energy, leadership and the right candidate, are all in place to create the Perfect Storm of Presidential politics -- where millions of Americans act together and organize their communities, their neighborhoods and their precincts. It is ironic I think that the Perfect Storm may indeed be made possible by the internet -- but in the end the real storm it may create is the largest grassroots/election day get-out-the-vote -- shoe leather/door knocking organization in the history of American politics.
I have said before that it sounds audacious. But it points to the need to redouble our efforst and ourselves as quickly as possible. And it also makes clear why we need fewer comments like those from From and Reed -- and more oars in the water helping to make the waves grow stronger.
The interesting thing about John McCain is that some 40,000 Amerians signed up to join his campaign in the days immediately following his victory in New Hampshire. Today Howard Dean has over 50,000 who have signed up and joined the Dean for America campaign and we are 8 months away from the New Hampshire Primary. I don't think some people in our party understand the implications of that fact -- maybe it dawned on them for the first time yesterday -- but I kind of doubt it.
So what can you do? Well I hate to sound like a broken record -- but we need to do two things between now and June 30th. We have to keep growing the grassroots -- we need you to keep spreading the word -- forward emails and good stories to others who may not have heard of Howard Dean yet. We need the blogger community regardless of a blog's support, opposition, or neutrality to at least point out to people what this campaign is trying to do. We need you to help us to keep building the local organizations through the list serves, and through Meetup, and the Dean Wireless Network. If you have a group or list/serve going -- we need you to make sure we have the names here in Burlington so we can communicate directly with every Dean supporter. We need your help as part of the Dean Defense Forces. If you have high-speed Internet -- sign up for our new Howard Dean TV service.
But I can not overstate the importance of the most important thing you can do right now. Help us raise as much money as possible by the June 30th filing deadline. Host a coffee, a house party, or raise $10 each from two or three of your friends. The Meetup Challenge has meant $300,000 to the campaign so far -- the single biggest thing that could happen for our campaign would be that we reach the goal of $1million by June 30th. John Kerry had 14,000 contributors at the end of the last quarter, Howard Dean had 13,897 -- it was the size of the contribution that made the difference -- but our goal isn't to raise the size of the contribution -- its to double or triple the number of small contributions people can afford to make at this time by talking to our friends and neighbors. 50,000 $5 contributions for Howard Dean will mean much more than 125 $2000 for the frontrunner -- because when you are building the perfect storm it is the number of people building the wave that matters -- not the size of the check.
How can I ask for more help, when each of you has helped so much already. Just continue to do what you can..... the wind is getting stronger, and the waves are getting higher, the Perfect Storm is building...
Howard Dean is leading the charge to take our country back and you have the power to make it happen.
They are trying to stop the Perfect Storm.
It is a storm that has never happened before -- because it could not have happened before. The forces required to come into sync were not aligned, nor in some instances mature enough prior to this Presidential campaign. But the past few days may prove to be only the first winds of the Perfect Storm that will be required to defeat George Bush.
First the storm requires thousands and thousands, perhaps millions of Americans to become actively involved in determining the future course of our country. But how do these Americans find each other? How do they self-organize? How do they collaborate? How do they take action together? For the first time since we heard the words World Wide Web -- the Internet makes this possible. In 1984 there was no net. How would Gary Hart had faired if there had been one? I worked for Vice President Mondale in 1984 and had the net existed in any great measure at that time, it is unlikely Mondale would have been the nominee. In 2000 there was John McCain -- but still the net wasn't mature enough yet to create the Perfect Storm of American politics. Tools like Meetup did not exist, blogs didn't exist either -- or at least not in the meaningful and powerful role they play today. And the McCain campaign has not planned for the event of cascading thousands joining it.
It took years to get here, years of millions signing up to their first ISP. Millions making their first Internet transaction. Millions using Ebay, or Amazon -- and becoming comfortable with using their credit card online.
The other critical difference is the amazing tools that have emerged. The Blogging community has grown with readership in the millions, but the one question that still needed to be answered -- was could the Internet be used by millions to take action off-line. Could people use the net to take action and mobilize beyond sending emails and even campaign contributions? Would they use the net to self-organize in a local community or around a common action? Moveon.org proved it so -- over a million Americans through Moveon's tools took common action for a common purpose in the last 6 months alone. There is no way to understate the importance of what Moveon and its members proved -- that the net can be used to mobilize huge numbers of grassroots to take local action beyond their monitors -- when showing up and being counted counts -- and when shoe leather and phone calling, and letter writing is required. They also proved how fast it could all happen. And in 4 1/2 months Dean Meetups members have grown from 432 to over 24,000 and still growing.
So with the net and the tools in place to fuel the Perfect Storm of Presidential politics -- there are a few other things that must exist to make it happen.
Among them a candidacy that is fearless, willing to take a stand, and able to inspire and energize others to do the same. The first winds of the storm are only starting to whip up -- but it will take a candidate like Howard Dean to sustain the waves that will wash away George W. Bush.
The other thing that is needed -- is a campaign organization that gets it -- or at least tries to get it. One of the other reasons I think this has not happened before is that every political campaign I have ever been in is built on a top-down military structure -- there is a general at the top of the campaign -- and all orders flow down -- with almost no interaction. This is a disaster. This kind of structure will suffocate the storm not fuel it. Campaigns abhor chaos -- and to most campaigns built on the old top-down model -- that is what the net represents -- chaos. And the more the campaign tries to control the "chaos" the more it stiffles its growth. As someone who is at least trying to understand the right mix -- I admit its hard to get it right. But I think the important thing is to provide the tools and some of the direction -- stay in as constant communication as you can with the grassroots -- two way/multi-way communication -- and get the hell out of the way when a big wave is building on its own.
Which gets me back to the Perfect Storm. People ask how are you going to win the nomination, or beat George Bush when he is going to have all that money?
My answer would be -- That never -- until now -- would there ever have been any hope of 1 million Americans contributing $100 each to take back their country and promote a common vision for the future of the nation. Maybe it will be 2 million who contribute $50. But the Internet makes that possible. Or maybe it will be 5 million Americans contributing $20. The tools, energy, leadership and the right candidate, are all in place to create the Perfect Storm of Presidential politics -- where millions of Americans act together and organize their communities, their neighborhoods and their precincts. It is ironic I think that the Perfect Storm may indeed be made possible by the internet -- but in the end the real storm it may create is the largest grassroots/election day get-out-the-vote -- shoe leather/door knocking organization in the history of American politics.
I have said before that it sounds audacious. But it points to the need to redouble our efforst and ourselves as quickly as possible. And it also makes clear why we need fewer comments like those from From and Reed -- and more oars in the water helping to make the waves grow stronger.
The interesting thing about John McCain is that some 40,000 Amerians signed up to join his campaign in the days immediately following his victory in New Hampshire. Today Howard Dean has over 50,000 who have signed up and joined the Dean for America campaign and we are 8 months away from the New Hampshire Primary. I don't think some people in our party understand the implications of that fact -- maybe it dawned on them for the first time yesterday -- but I kind of doubt it.
So what can you do? Well I hate to sound like a broken record -- but we need to do two things between now and June 30th. We have to keep growing the grassroots -- we need you to keep spreading the word -- forward emails and good stories to others who may not have heard of Howard Dean yet. We need the blogger community regardless of a blog's support, opposition, or neutrality to at least point out to people what this campaign is trying to do. We need you to help us to keep building the local organizations through the list serves, and through Meetup, and the Dean Wireless Network. If you have a group or list/serve going -- we need you to make sure we have the names here in Burlington so we can communicate directly with every Dean supporter. We need your help as part of the Dean Defense Forces. If you have high-speed Internet -- sign up for our new Howard Dean TV service.
But I can not overstate the importance of the most important thing you can do right now. Help us raise as much money as possible by the June 30th filing deadline. Host a coffee, a house party, or raise $10 each from two or three of your friends. The Meetup Challenge has meant $300,000 to the campaign so far -- the single biggest thing that could happen for our campaign would be that we reach the goal of $1million by June 30th. John Kerry had 14,000 contributors at the end of the last quarter, Howard Dean had 13,897 -- it was the size of the contribution that made the difference -- but our goal isn't to raise the size of the contribution -- its to double or triple the number of small contributions people can afford to make at this time by talking to our friends and neighbors. 50,000 $5 contributions for Howard Dean will mean much more than 125 $2000 for the frontrunner -- because when you are building the perfect storm it is the number of people building the wave that matters -- not the size of the check.
How can I ask for more help, when each of you has helped so much already. Just continue to do what you can..... the wind is getting stronger, and the waves are getting higher, the Perfect Storm is building...
Howard Dean is leading the charge to take our country back and you have the power to make it happen.
Dean took the red pill
What is The Matrix? It's a false world of electrical impulses and illusion. It's an alternate reality that masks the horror of the real world. It's a massive deception, designed to keep the Common Man in a state of stupor, unaware of his power to change the world.
Neo and Morpheus? Nope. Rather, Howard and Joe. Welcome to Dean Nation, the Last Free City of the Common Man.
Neo and Morpheus? Nope. Rather, Howard and Joe. Welcome to Dean Nation, the Last Free City of the Common Man.
Letter to the Editor http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/05/17/ED30095.DTL
One of our active Dean Nation regulars has had his letter to the Editor pblished in the SF Chronicle. Great work, Gabriel - you're an inspiration to us all. Keep up the pressure, keep up the activism, and keep up the transfer of energy and passion from the Internet to the Real World. Gabriel's letter reads in full:
DEMO INFIGHTING
Editor -- I am outraged that two leaders of the Democratic Leadership Council have moved to quash Howard Dean's candidacy and called him an "elitist liberal" ("Democrats squabble despite Clinton warning," May 15).
Their memo distorts Dean's admirable record as a largely centrist governor in Vermont. The memo is particularly ridiculous in light of the fact that it was produced the very day that President Bill Clinton lauded Dean as a centrist New Democrat!
This move to dictate the choice from above is insulting, especially to those like myself who believe that Dean is the only candidate with a chance to defeat Bush.
Dean's "elitist" campaign has ridden a wave of genuine grassroots support, with nearly 25,000 supporters, including many in the Bay Area, organizing themselves via the Internet for monthly Meetup.com gatherings.
GABRIEL DEMOMBYNES, Oakland
Friday, May 16, 2003
HOWARD DEAN STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION
With all this DLC talk, it's easy to forget this historic day...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2003
HOWARD DEAN STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION
BURLINGTON, VT - The following is the statement of Democratic Presidential candidate Gov. Howard Dean regarding the 49th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision.
"On this 49th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, I am heartened by how much progress our nation has made toward equal rights, but there is still more to do. It is the duty and responsibility of every American to continue to work for equality. As time passes, we must ensure that we never forget the meaning of this decision, and that we are vigilant in our struggle to build a better society for all."
Will the Real DLC Please Stand Up? www.deanforamerica.com
From the Dean Campaign...
For Immediate Release
May 16, 2003
Will the Real DLC Please Stand Up?
BURLINGTON, VT - On Wednesday, May 14th, the Democratic Leadership Council released a memo that dismissed Governor Howard Dean as an elitist liberal from the "McGovern-Mondale wing'" of the Democratic Party. It wasn't so long ago that the DLC was praising Howard Dean as an exemplar of moderate, centrist Democratic positions. Governor Dean's record hasn't changed. What changed at the DLC?
10.27.00- The DLC praises Governor Dean's prescription drug plan as the "Idea of the Week."
"Governors Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Howard Dean (D-VT) and Angus King (I-ME) jointly announced their three states would come together to create a regional purchasing pool for prescription drugs... Best of all, the regional plan will rely on market mechanisms"
11.8.96- The DLC posts a memo on their website Claiming Dean's re-election victory as Governor of Vermont was evidence of the success of New Democratic leaders.
"State election results provide additional evidence of Democratic resurgence under New Democratic leadership. Centrist Governors Howard Dean of Vermont... won re-election comfortably."
11.4.96- The DLC posts a memo on their website praising Dean as a Centrist, popular Democratic Governor, and predicts he will win re-election easily.
"Democrats in state politics, regardless of their background, tend to be New Democrats by instinct, in part because they are responsible for making public institutions actually work to help citizens solve their most immediate problems. Incumbent centrist Democratic Governors Howard Dean of Vermont... popular and heavily favored for re-election."
Former DNC-Chief Steve Grossman to DLC: "Creating Conflict is Not Leadership." www.deanforamerica.com
From the Dean Campaign...
For Immediate Release
May 16, 2003
Former DNC-Chief Steve Grossman to DLC: "Creating Conflict is Not Leadership."
BURLINGTON, VT - On Wednesday, the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) released a memo in which the DLC argued that traditional Democratic values are "an aberration" and that the thousands of grassroots Democrats inspired by Governor Howard Dean's message to "take back our party" are "activist elites" and not "real Democrats." Former DNC chairman Steve Grossman wrote to members of the Democratic National Committee in an email sent yesterday, criticizing the DLC:
"Having served proudly as National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, I was disappointed by recent statements by the Democratic Leadership Council that disparaged Governor Howard Dean's record of fiscal discipline and social compassion. I was particularly distressed because DLC leaders chose to label tens of thousands of grassroots Democrats who are energized by Governor Dean's message as elitist.
"It is crucial that the Democratic Party have a frank and open discussion about the future direction of this party. It is a discussion in which Governor Dean continues to play a leadership role. The DLC should remember that such a discussion must include all members of the party, especially citizens who work hard at the grassroots to promote their candidates and their values, not because they're elitist, but because they share the Democratic Party's—and Howard Dean''—vision for a better America.
"It is a vision that includes fiscal responsibility, access to health care for all Americans, a strong foreign policy that promotes multilateral cooperation, a bold, forward-thinking energy policy, environmental protection, tolerance, and economic opportunity for all citizens. It's a vision that is proudly Democratic and proudly American. It’s the right vision for the future of our country.
"The DLC should remember that creating needless conflict is not leadership. There are countless Americans across the country who are inspired by Governor Dean's message and his optimistic vision for America. The DLC would do well to listen to those Americans instead of attempting to dismiss them."
DDF: More Wrap-Up on the DLC http://timesargus.nybor.com/Regional_News/Story/65515.html
There's one final action I think we can take, and that is to try and get this AP Story from Vermont into places like the Post, or any paper that carried the original story that included the lede saying that New Democrats don't like Dean. I don't know what you can tell the editors other than it is an AP story, from Vermont, with a byline from May 15, 2003. For this one, it may work best to call the Post, which you can do at some phone number I can't find right now. Although, if you prefer, I'm sure you can still e-mail at politics@washpost.com.
If anyone finds that phone number, please post it in comments and hopefully Aziz or someone can post it on the blog. I'm moving the rest of today and can't put in the time I did yesterday. It already set me behind.
If anyone finds that phone number, please post it in comments and hopefully Aziz or someone can post it on the blog. I'm moving the rest of today and can't put in the time I did yesterday. It already set me behind.
Thank You
When I returned home to my computer tonight, my inbox was full of volunteer offers to help out with the Dean Defense Forces, the Dean campaign had announced that over 1000 grassroots Democrats had signed the letter rejecting the DLC's stance, Atrios and Kos had both told the DLC they were out of line, hundreds (likely thousands) of us had posted comments on various message boards across the net, and I was still getting reports of people contacting the DLC, the Washington Post, and writing their local elected officials.
It literally almost brought me to tears. I've never seen so many people so united with so little effort. And it is the response to the DLC that proves exactly why they're wrong. Head over to the official site and you can read over a thousand letters from Dean supporters. Some are former Greens, some were formerly non-political, some are lifelong Democrats, some are county party chairs, some are Republicans, some are independents.
Dean's backers are more than diverse. We are America. And we're committed.
And it is really, truly beautiful.
So thank you, all of you for all you've done.
And thank you, to the campaign staff, for all your hard work.
And thank you, Joe Trippi, for leading us in these battles.
And thank you, Howard Dean, for everything.
Literally, for everything.
It literally almost brought me to tears. I've never seen so many people so united with so little effort. And it is the response to the DLC that proves exactly why they're wrong. Head over to the official site and you can read over a thousand letters from Dean supporters. Some are former Greens, some were formerly non-political, some are lifelong Democrats, some are county party chairs, some are Republicans, some are independents.
Dean's backers are more than diverse. We are America. And we're committed.
And it is really, truly beautiful.
So thank you, all of you for all you've done.
And thank you, to the campaign staff, for all your hard work.
And thank you, Joe Trippi, for leading us in these battles.
And thank you, Howard Dean, for everything.
Literally, for everything.
Thursday, May 15, 2003
The most recent post on the letter to the DLC http://www.deanforamerica.com
"We want our party back. Come back with us."
Presidential candidate Dean speaks in Oregon http://www.democratherald.com/articles/2003/05/15/news/oregon/state04.txt
Governor Dean was in Oregon today, before he heads to Iowa tomorrow when he will meet with Cornell College students and participate in the Iowa City Health Care Community Roundtable. This article reports on his trip the the Pacific northwest.
First, it notes that Gov. Dean called President Bush to task on the length of time that the U.S. will be involved in the occupation/nation building of Iraq:
The article also notes Gov. Deans stance on Bush and his relationship with Sen. Santorum:
Of course, it was nice to see a bit of a "Everybody Loves Howard" in there as well:
First, it notes that Gov. Dean called President Bush to task on the length of time that the U.S. will be involved in the occupation/nation building of Iraq:
Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean on Wednesday predicted that U.S. troops will be forced to remain in Iraq for at least a decade to ensure a stable democracy after toppling Saddam Hussein.
"This president has made a fateful decision, and he's going to be there a lot longer than he says he is," Dean said of President Bush.
The article also notes Gov. Deans stance on Bush and his relationship with Sen. Santorum:
But Dean reserved his harshest words for Bush for not denouncing recent remarks by Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, a Republican who compared homosexual behavior to incest or polygamy in comments about a pending Supreme Court case on a Texas sodomy law.
"For him (Bush) to put his arm around Sen. Santorum and say he's an inclusive person is a pathetic catering to bigotry and hatred and is not becoming of the president of the United States," Dean told reporters following a campaign speech at an Oregon fund-raiser.
Of course, it was nice to see a bit of a "Everybody Loves Howard" in there as well:
More than 200 Democrats who gathered at a downtown hotel gave Dean a rousing welcome when he arrived, including Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and former Gov. Barbara Roberts.
Bradbury joked that Dean was taking a more conservative stand on fiscal policy than many Republicans by opposing deficit spending and paying down state debt in Vermont during 11 years as governor, leaving it with one of the highest bond ratings in the country.
"I think it's great to have a whole room full of people who are Democrats and fairly liberal folks cheering and hooting and hollering for a balanced budget because the Republicans haven't balanced the budget in 34 years," Dean said.
"If you want to trust your hard-earned taxpayer dollars to the government you better let the Democrats do it because the Republicans can't handle your money," Dean said.
Bradbury said Dean had increased school spending in Vermont, compared to the steep decline in the education budget for Oregon that has resulted in early school closures and eliminated many support programs.
"...because Dean's appeal to the liberal wing of his party transcends the issues." http://www.thestranger.com/2003-05-15/feature.html
Primary of Ideas
If you aren't signed up for the Note daily E-mails, you wouldn't have gotten this. But if you were, along with the announcement that today's Note was posted, you would have seen this bit of "breaking news":
Senator Joseph Lieberman has asked his fellow candidates to agree to holdAs far as I'm concerned, nothing could be more positive for the Democratic field as a whole, and Dean in particular, than a monthly debate. I hope the Dean campaign, Kerry campaign, and every other campaign that seriously wishes to win this election takes Lieberman up on his offer. We, as a party, desperately need to test our ideas and bring exposure to our candidates. A series of debates is will allow us to battle test both our ideas and our candidates. And Dean, in particular, will be able to put his skills on the stump in front of a national audience...what could be better?
one debate per month starting in July--but hold them in "neutral" forums
moderated by respectable journalists.
Here's the text of a letter from Lieberman campaign manager Craig Smith to
the other campaigns:
"On behalf of Senator Lieberman, I would like to propose that all of our
campaigns agree to one nationally-broadcast, media-sponsored debate a
month for the duration of the campaign. For practical scheduling reasons,
we suggest that these debates begin in July."
"If we all agree that the Democratic primary should be one of ideas, let's
all agree to appear regularly before the voters on television in
media-sponsored, neutral debates that have the potential of reaching the
widest possible audience. Doing so would not only help ensure that the
voters hear our voices but that the Republican Party is not permitted to
dominate the political debate with its fundraising resources and with the
media power of the presidency."
"I urge all of our campaigns to accept this challenge and to work together
to make this happen."
"We hope to be able to work with you, with the media and with sponsoring
organizations to organize these monthly debates."
Dean Defense Forces: On to your Local Paper http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/05/15/national1400EDT0645.DTL
The San Francisco Chronicle is carrying an AP story on the Dean affair, complete with Jeffords' defense of Dean. Keep your eyes open for the story to hit your paper and respond when it does. Get those letters to the editor in to your local paper. And make sure people know the truth: Dean is a strong Democrat with a history of providing strong fiscal management, health care for all, and a pragmatic, progressive agenda.
Daily Kos Questions DLC's Sanity, Stability http://www.dailykos.com/archives/002694.html#002694
RonK, posting over at the Daily Kos, has made our feelings about the DLC look, well, downright moderate.
Here's some of what he has to say:
From what I know, Ron has not endorsed Dean. This is anger from a Democrat who thinks the DLC crossed the line, which they did. And his whole post is worth reading. As he says, New Democrats are part of the coalition. The real question is, after a stunt like this, will they allow the DLC to represent them?
Here's some of what he has to say:
DLC Detonates Dirty Bomb
[...]
It's time to pick up my trusty flame-thrower. The DLC -- or at least the DLC's biggest full-time spokesmouths -- has outdone the worst its many detractors could have imagined.
[...]
DLC launched an unwarranted, unfounded, overwrought, sorry-assed attack on a contending candidate ... a candidate whose record and platform are not inconsistent with DLC principles ... a candidate who clearly appeals to many grassroots DLC supporters and DLC-affiliated elected officials ... a candidate who has a lot of regular people excited about the next election.
Why take this shot, thinly disguised as an exploration of ideas? Maybe for the perceived advantage of a perceived DLC favorite. Maybe as a bid for the spotlight. Maybe Howard Dean scored too uncomfortably well in DLC focus groups. Maybe it was "just one of those things" that happens on "just one of those days".
No matter what possessed it, DLC leadership has gone over the hill and fragged its own camp on the way out. There's plenty of room for New Democrats. Is there still room for the DLC, and DLC candidates? That's not so clear. The DLC has soiled itself badly, and it's up to their leaders to clean up the mess and convince us they won't do it again.
From what I know, Ron has not endorsed Dean. This is anger from a Democrat who thinks the DLC crossed the line, which they did. And his whole post is worth reading. As he says, New Democrats are part of the coalition. The real question is, after a stunt like this, will they allow the DLC to represent them?
Press Release: Congressional Members Call on DLC to Stop Divisive Tactics www.deanforamerica.com
The following press release was released by Dean for America:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2003
Congressional Members Call on DLC to Stop Divisive Tactics:
Senators Leahy and Jeffords, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, join hundreds of activists in calling for Democratic Unity and speaking to Governor Howard Dean’s Leadership
The following statements were issued today in response to the recent memo circulated by Al From and Bruce Reed of the Democratic Leadership Council:
Senator James Jeffords (I-VT):
“As the Independent Senator from Vermont, I have worked with Governor Howard Dean and I know his long-standing record. I am disappointed to see leaders of the Democratic Leadership Council characterize his positions as extreme and elitist, and I call on them to stop their divisive tactics. Since when did it become extreme and elitist to balance the budget, extend health care coverage, offer equal educational opportunity and protect our environment? I have heard such charges coming from Republicans most of my political life, but I find it incredible to hear such charges coming from Democrats."
Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT):
“Lumping Governor Dean with the so-called “liberal elitist” wing of our party will make Vermonters of all political stripes chuckle Governor Dean’s twelve year record in the statehouse was not liberal, conservative or elitist. He inherited a deficit, balanced the budget, pinched pennies, provided healthcare to all Vermont’s children, protected the environment and created jobs. That is a record of accomplishment, achieved with the broad support of Republicans and Democrats in Vermont.”
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA):
“When I go home every weekend, my constituents talk to me about health care, education and the economy. Dr. Howard Dean has an outstanding record of achievement in all of these areas. As governor, 96% of Vermont’s children had health coverage, and an additional 3% were eligible. He passed fiscally responsible budgets each and every year. He built a strong educational system, and as a result, Vermont’s students rank 6th in the country in overall performance. Dr. Dean’s record is one that ALL Democrats can be
proud of.
Al From and Bruce Reed spend a lot of time talking about myths in Democratic nominating process. I think it is more important to focus on the facts:
Fact #1: Attacking fellow Democrats is wrong and will do nothing to help beat George W. Bush in 2004.
Fact #2: Dr. Dean is a proven leader in the Democratic Party with a broad and growing base of support.
Fact #3: Dr. Dean will be the Democratic Party’s nominee next year and will go on to beat George W. Bush.
It is disappointing that From and Reed feel the need to rip into fellow Democrats. They should stop these misguided efforts, and spend their considerable resources on beating George W. Bush.”
Democrats squabble despite Clinton warning http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/05/15/national1400EDT0645.DTL
Perhaps the slogan "any news is good news" could apply to the whole DLC fall out. The article linked above has this response from the campaign:
Dean's campaign, struggling to overcome the financial and organizational shortcomings in a nine-candidate field, welcomed the attention.
"Every time they do this, we grow," said Dean's campaign manager, Joe Trippi. "If they want to get rid of us, they should just shut up."
Be Careful, Be Smart
I was going to put this in the comments but I think it's important enough to post. It is crucial that, despite the anger and ill-will aroused by the DLC, we do not turn to bitter and oppositional rhetoric. If you step back from the situation for a moment, it seems clear that the DLC's strategy in releasing this memo publicly, a truly extraordinary step by any measure, is aimed at drawing Dean into yet another acrimonious battle. If they can just keep him wallowing in negativity, first with Kerry, then with the DLC (and remember, the DLC can fire shots forever, they're not running for anything), they will paint him as an aggressive bulldog and doom his primary chances in a sea of bad press. Dean will only come out from this on top if he and his supporters focus their response on their deep sadness that their party is turning to infighting and sniping at this early stage. We need to publicly hope for an understanding between Dean and the DLC because, in the end, both are working towards the same goals. Specifically, defeating George Bush in 2004, and generally, a better life for all Americans.
It is important to realize that after the fight with Kerry, Dean's greatest weakness (in the eyes of other campaigns/groups) is that he can be drawn away from his message and into battle. And they know, as do we, that when Dean, or any candidate, is focusing his fire on Democrats, he looks smaller, weaker, and less attractive to the general populace. He ceases being a potential president and becomes just another politician. Just keep that in mind as the hits come in, they are only coming because Dean is a danger to more established candidates, and they will only have power if we give it to them.
It is important to realize that after the fight with Kerry, Dean's greatest weakness (in the eyes of other campaigns/groups) is that he can be drawn away from his message and into battle. And they know, as do we, that when Dean, or any candidate, is focusing his fire on Democrats, he looks smaller, weaker, and less attractive to the general populace. He ceases being a potential president and becomes just another politician. Just keep that in mind as the hits come in, they are only coming because Dean is a danger to more established candidates, and they will only have power if we give it to them.
The Memo is Available http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?cp=1&kaid=127&subid=900056&contentid=251690
The DLC has posted its full memo. And when you read it, I think it becomes clear that they have no good reason for attacking Dean, a man talking about fiscal sanity, a pragmatic health care plan, and who is uniting centrists and the left.
Some people commenting here have wondered why, in the Dean Defense Forces post on the subject, we worked hard to make it clear that Dean should appeal to New Democrats. The answer is that New Democrats and the DLC, as is clear by the memo, are not right-wingers. They're hesitant progressives. They, like Howard Dean, realize that social justice can't be achieved without financial security. They, like Howard Dean, realize that progressivism must be pragmatic. The only problem is that they don't realize that they are like Howard Dean, arguably more like Howard Dean than John Kerry, Dick Gephardt, Al Sharpton, or even the conservatives in the group like Joe Lieberman (because Lieberman truly is an old-school conservative Democrat - there's relatively little "new" about him).
Dean's power comes from his ability to unite the activists and the rank and file. He's willing to fight, but he's not Quixotic. The DLC should be defending him against charges that he's too liberal to run for President. They should be working with us.
Please, Al and Bruce, work with us.
And please, stop the sniping.
Some people commenting here have wondered why, in the Dean Defense Forces post on the subject, we worked hard to make it clear that Dean should appeal to New Democrats. The answer is that New Democrats and the DLC, as is clear by the memo, are not right-wingers. They're hesitant progressives. They, like Howard Dean, realize that social justice can't be achieved without financial security. They, like Howard Dean, realize that progressivism must be pragmatic. The only problem is that they don't realize that they are like Howard Dean, arguably more like Howard Dean than John Kerry, Dick Gephardt, Al Sharpton, or even the conservatives in the group like Joe Lieberman (because Lieberman truly is an old-school conservative Democrat - there's relatively little "new" about him).
Dean's power comes from his ability to unite the activists and the rank and file. He's willing to fight, but he's not Quixotic. The DLC should be defending him against charges that he's too liberal to run for President. They should be working with us.
Please, Al and Bruce, work with us.
And please, stop the sniping.
The Governor Next Door http://dfp.dartmouth.edu/?action=displayarticle&id=601&title=The%20Governor%20Next%20Door
From the Dartmouth Free Press comes this great interview with Dean, focusing heavily on Dean's domestic accomplishments. It's a good recent example of Dean talking about his ideas that is very valuable in countering the "super-liberal" meme. Worth taking a look and mining it for good quotes and bullet points.
Clinton defends Dean http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/05/14/national2104EDT0848.DTL
Clinton is, as Matt pointed out, the ultimate DLCer and the most sucessful Democrat in history. The full article on the interview with Clinton is in the SFGate. Here are the important bits, but read the original for much more:
The basic DLC spin is that Dean is unelectable. But Clinton points out that Dean has already staked out a very "New Democrat" position with his actual record of accomplishments. And that a New Democrat, with appeal to swing voters as well as an energized base, is what it will take to defeat Bush. My opinion is that the DLC is motivated by fear - of an unbeatable Bush. That blinds them and - as Clinton rebukes - causes them to focus on infighting. But Bush can be beaten - and Dean is Clinton's ideological heir.
UPDATE: Chris Andersen has an insightful analysis on the timing of Clinton's interview. It doesn't seem to be a coincidence.
But [Clinton] said it was important for Democrats to stop fighting among themselves and refocus their criticism on their eventual foes -- President Bush and the Republicans.
If the current crop of candidates is judged on what they accomplished before running for president, the field is strong, Clinton said. And some of those accomplishments contradict the image candidates have earned in the presidential race, he said.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is described as very liberal by many following the presidential race, Clinton said, "but look at what he did as governor of Vermont."
Clinton described Dean's accomplishments with health care in his home state and his proposal to promote a national health care plan with a modest price tag as "New Democrat" positions. He was referring to the moniker the Democratic Leadership Council puts on Democrats who can blend moderate ideas that appeal to swing voters with traditional Democratic themes.
And Clinton didn't hesitate when he was asked the overriding question: Can Bush be beaten? "You can always be beaten," Clinton said with a smile. "I could have been beaten in 1996."
The basic DLC spin is that Dean is unelectable. But Clinton points out that Dean has already staked out a very "New Democrat" position with his actual record of accomplishments. And that a New Democrat, with appeal to swing voters as well as an energized base, is what it will take to defeat Bush. My opinion is that the DLC is motivated by fear - of an unbeatable Bush. That blinds them and - as Clinton rebukes - causes them to focus on infighting. But Bush can be beaten - and Dean is Clinton's ideological heir.
UPDATE: Chris Andersen has an insightful analysis on the timing of Clinton's interview. It doesn't seem to be a coincidence.
$.25 a day http://www.deanforamerica.com/dean.cfm?section=involved&page=contribute
Is a better America worth $.25 a day? Is a safer world worth a daily quarter? Would you fork over $.25 a day for government fiscal sanity with your tax dollars? Is $.25 a day too expensive to insure children?
If you donate $100 this year to Dean's campaign, that's only a single quarter a day. If every single person reading this blog today committed to a quarter a day, that would be $300,000 dollars (with federal matching funds). We could make that difference today, by just clicking this link. right now. And making history.
A hundred bucks sounds like a lot. But it's an investment in democracy. And unlike with the GOP, it's an investment that ordinary citizens can afford.
UPDATE: I'm moving this post to today for higher visibility. In light of the DLC attack on Dean, donations are going to be even more critical in helping the campaign stay on message, respond quickly, and get organized with the media to get Dean's message out and fight the conventional wisdom. Please donate whatever you can - and do it today.
If you donate $100 this year to Dean's campaign, that's only a single quarter a day. If every single person reading this blog today committed to a quarter a day, that would be $300,000 dollars (with federal matching funds). We could make that difference today, by just clicking this link. right now. And making history.
A hundred bucks sounds like a lot. But it's an investment in democracy. And unlike with the GOP, it's an investment that ordinary citizens can afford.
UPDATE: I'm moving this post to today for higher visibility. In light of the DLC attack on Dean, donations are going to be even more critical in helping the campaign stay on message, respond quickly, and get organized with the media to get Dean's message out and fight the conventional wisdom. Please donate whatever you can - and do it today.
Dean Defense Forces: The Divisive Leadership Council http://groups.yahoo.com/group/deandefenseforces/
(Key updates at bottom)
It is critical that you all sign up for the Dean Defense Forces by following the title of this post. Typically, I won't be posting DDF material to this blog, but this situation is simply too important. The DLC has come out swinging at Dean and we need to respond. Here's the situation, some proposed actions, and some possible talking points:
David von Drehle writing in the Washington Post offers up the following:
So how do we respond?
Well, first, provide the Politics folks at the Washington Post with some feedback at politics@washingtonpost.com . What's wrong with the story? Well,
they only ignored the fact that the most successful DLCer in history (Clinton, not From or Reed) thinks that Dean has the right stuff (From the
AP):
In this case, the entire lede was deeply flawed, as it claimed that the New Democrats dislike Dean. Clinton is THE New Democrat and he speaks highly of
Dean.
Second, write letters to the editor at letters@washpost.com. Include your home address and day and night phone numbers.
Talking Points (Pick and Choose):
Next, write a letter to the DLC letting them know what you think of their jumping into the primary.
Finally, write Jim Jeffords and ask him to defend Howard Dean's third-way policies. The New Democrats like to point to Jeffords as a good example of a moderate and Jeffords endorsed Dean. Thank Jeffords for his endorsement and urge him to give the DLC a polite reminder that Dean is not the "elite liberal" they'd like to claim. You can do this here.
Finally, join the Dean Defense Forces so that you can get regular updates by e-mail any time the Good Doctor needs our help:
Click to subscribe to deandefenseforces
Update - Contact Numbers for the DLC (Courtesy Adam in MA):
The PPI is the Progressive Policy Institute, the policy wing of the DLC.
Still More
The campaign has a joint letter its going to use to respond to From and Reed's memo. Go sign it. And the official blog has some responses up. Go read them and repeat the mantra in letters to the DLC and any media outlet that reports the DLC's stance: "It's the DLC -- not Howard Dean -- that is Out of Touch with America."
It is critical that you all sign up for the Dean Defense Forces by following the title of this post. Typically, I won't be posting DDF material to this blog, but this situation is simply too important. The DLC has come out swinging at Dean and we need to respond. Here's the situation, some proposed actions, and some possible talking points:
David von Drehle writing in the Washington Post offers up the following:
More than 50 centrist Democrats, including Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, met here yesterday to plot strategy for the "New Democrat" movement. To help get the ball rolling they read a memo by Al From and Bruce Reed, the chairman and president of the Democratic Leadership Council.
The memo dismissed Dean as an elitist liberal from the "McGovern-Mondale wing" of the party -- "the wing that lost 49 states in two elections, and transformed Democrats from a strong national party into a much weaker regional one."
[...]
"We are increasingly confident that President Bush can be beaten next year, but Dean is not the man to do it," Reed and From wrote. "Most Democrats
aren't elitists who think they know better than everyone else."
So how do we respond?
Well, first, provide the Politics folks at the Washington Post with some feedback at politics@washingtonpost.com . What's wrong with the story? Well,
they only ignored the fact that the most successful DLCer in history (Clinton, not From or Reed) thinks that Dean has the right stuff (From the
AP):
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is described as very liberal by many following the presidential race, Clinton said, "but look at what he did as
governor of Vermont."
Clinton described Dean's accomplishments with health care in his home state and his proposal to promote a national health care plan with a modest price
tag as "New Democrat" positions. He was referring to the moniker the Democratic Leadership Council puts on Democrats who can blend moderate ideas
that appeal to swing voters with traditional Democratic themes.
In this case, the entire lede was deeply flawed, as it claimed that the New Democrats dislike Dean. Clinton is THE New Democrat and he speaks highly of
Dean.
Second, write letters to the editor at letters@washpost.com. Include your home address and day and night phone numbers.
Talking Points (Pick and Choose):
- Clinton, THE New Democrat, has recognized that Dean is a New Democrat. From and Reed have slipped from "New Democrat" status to "Conservative
Democrat" status, scared of new ideas. In addition, Dean has been endorsed by DLCers, like Rep. Zoe Lofgren, and leading centrists, like Sen. Jim Jeffords. - The attacks against Dean are nothing more than hollow rhetoric from career political insiders who have run out of new ideas and who forgot how
Clinton got elected. - Many of Dean's supporters are the Newest Democrats, converts to the party who previously felt ignored, uninspired, and unmotivated.
- Dean has signed up 370 MeetUp members in both Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA; 260 in Raleigh-Durham; 200 in Phoenix; and thousands more across the South,
Southwest, and West. These are regular people. The DLC myth that Dean is an elite is wrong. Dean is connecting with Americans across the country. - Dean's pragmatic health care plan, balanced budget proposals, and support of federalism all prove that he is a third-way Democrat, not an "elitist
liberal" from the "McGovern-Mondale wing" of the party. - Dean has made it a hallmark of his campaign to fight divisiveness. While von Drehle's headline claims that the "D" in DLC doesn't stand for Dean, it is not entirely clear that it doesn't stand for Divisiveness. If From and Reed can't grow up, maybe they should go home.
Next, write a letter to the DLC letting them know what you think of their jumping into the primary.
Finally, write Jim Jeffords and ask him to defend Howard Dean's third-way policies. The New Democrats like to point to Jeffords as a good example of a moderate and Jeffords endorsed Dean. Thank Jeffords for his endorsement and urge him to give the DLC a polite reminder that Dean is not the "elite liberal" they'd like to claim. You can do this here.
Finally, join the Dean Defense Forces so that you can get regular updates by e-mail any time the Good Doctor needs our help:
Click to subscribe to deandefenseforces
Update - Contact Numbers for the DLC (Courtesy Adam in MA):
DLC: 202-546-0007
PPI: 202-547-0001
The PPI is the Progressive Policy Institute, the policy wing of the DLC.
Still More
The campaign has a joint letter its going to use to respond to From and Reed's memo. Go sign it. And the official blog has some responses up. Go read them and repeat the mantra in letters to the DLC and any media outlet that reports the DLC's stance: "It's the DLC -- not Howard Dean -- that is Out of Touch with America."
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Dean Wireless Expands http://wireless.deanforamerica.com/externalMicroUpdates.jsp
Over 580 people have now signed up for the Dean Wireless network!
You can receive text messages on your cell, directly from the campaign, advising you of upcoming appearances by Howard Dean on television and in other media.
And now that the Dean Wireless network has its own microsite, you can even receive state-specific text messages.
We'll tell you when the Governor is going to be in your area, so you won't miss an appearance.
Click here to join Dean Wireless today. (If you are already a member, follow the link, sign in with your handle and password, and then join your state group, too.)
You can receive text messages on your cell, directly from the campaign, advising you of upcoming appearances by Howard Dean on television and in other media.
And now that the Dean Wireless network has its own microsite, you can even receive state-specific text messages.
We'll tell you when the Governor is going to be in your area, so you won't miss an appearance.
Click here to join Dean Wireless today. (If you are already a member, follow the link, sign in with your handle and password, and then join your state group, too.)
flirting with farming subsidies http://www.rutlandherald.com/News/Story/65279.html
From the Rutland Herald comes an alarming soundbite by Dean, while on the trail in Iowa:
YIKES. Supporting massive agricultural subsidies is a scary position to take. The Dairy Compact is akin to OPEC for milk - a high-level body of milk manufacturers that has the authority to inflate the price of milk nationwide (note that a gallon of milk costs more in most cities than a gallon of gasoline). This directly hurts the consumer, especially lower-income families. Note that the primary beneficiaries of the Dairy Compact are Vermont dairy farmers.
A similar boondoggle is the ethanol subsidy. Common Cause reports that this subsidy to corn farmers has cost the Federal Treasury $7bn since 1997 (how may children would that have insured?). The primary beneficiaries are not small farmers, but giant agribusiness conglomerates like Archers-Daniel Midland, whose massive soft-money contributions keep the subsidy alive in Congress.
The issue of whether Dean supports these two massive government payouts was actually posed in the DeanBlog Interview (# 9), but we haven't had any response from the campaign yet. This quote from the road seems to be the first time Dean has addressed the issue.
The proposed beef and corn subsidy that Dean proposes is similar to these programs, and runs directly against the grain of Dean's reputation as a fiscal hawk. The TNR primary gave Dean an F for this in the Political Courage category, pointing out that there are only two reasons Dean could have for making this soundbite:
It will be especially interesting to see what Dean has to say about this when the responses to the DeanBlog interview come in. This is an issue that has a direct conflict between principle and politics. Dean's message has always been that he does what is right. Supporting these subsidies is a failure to meet his own standard.
And at a breakfast meeting in the Uptown Café in Jefferson, Dean promoted a farmer subsidy program for corn and beef, one that would be modeled after the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact.
YIKES. Supporting massive agricultural subsidies is a scary position to take. The Dairy Compact is akin to OPEC for milk - a high-level body of milk manufacturers that has the authority to inflate the price of milk nationwide (note that a gallon of milk costs more in most cities than a gallon of gasoline). This directly hurts the consumer, especially lower-income families. Note that the primary beneficiaries of the Dairy Compact are Vermont dairy farmers.
A similar boondoggle is the ethanol subsidy. Common Cause reports that this subsidy to corn farmers has cost the Federal Treasury $7bn since 1997 (how may children would that have insured?). The primary beneficiaries are not small farmers, but giant agribusiness conglomerates like Archers-Daniel Midland, whose massive soft-money contributions keep the subsidy alive in Congress.
The issue of whether Dean supports these two massive government payouts was actually posed in the DeanBlog Interview (# 9), but we haven't had any response from the campaign yet. This quote from the road seems to be the first time Dean has addressed the issue.
The proposed beef and corn subsidy that Dean proposes is similar to these programs, and runs directly against the grain of Dean's reputation as a fiscal hawk. The TNR primary gave Dean an F for this in the Political Courage category, pointing out that there are only two reasons Dean could have for making this soundbite:
Not surprisingly, the article doesn't quote Dean elaborating on this ridiculous proposal, and Dean's website doesn't say a word about it. It's hard to tell which is worse: If Dean just decided to tell Iowans what he thinks they want to hear, or if actually believes this is a good idea.
It will be especially interesting to see what Dean has to say about this when the responses to the DeanBlog interview come in. This is an issue that has a direct conflict between principle and politics. Dean's message has always been that he does what is right. Supporting these subsidies is a failure to meet his own standard.
DeanCare details by The Bloviator http://dean2004.blogspot.com/2003_05_11_bloviate_archive.html#94330054
The Bloviator has a simple summary of the details of the Dean Health care plan. Drawing on the campaign website datasheet and the coverage in the WaPo, Ross fills in some of the blanks and reveals some details that most observers may have missed (such as the automatic enrollment based on government tax and health record data, which may cause some concern for privacy advocates).
The Bloviator is an expert on health insurance issues - Ross' series on The Uninsured in America is essential reading for anyone interested in the economic impact of having medical uninsured. The series ran during Cover the Uninsured Week (March 10th - 16th) and here are the entries:
This series is well-supported by solid data, and is a resource that we Dean supporters need to be familiar with if intend to defend Dean against charges that universal medical insurance is a big-government boondoggle. I urge everyone to drop by The Bloviator and give that series a read.
The Bloviator is an expert on health insurance issues - Ross' series on The Uninsured in America is essential reading for anyone interested in the economic impact of having medical uninsured. The series ran during Cover the Uninsured Week (March 10th - 16th) and here are the entries:
- 5580 a day will lose their insurance
- children
- uncompensated care: how much, and who pays?
- physicians and charity care
- rising costs mean employers drop coverage
- state budget crises
- legal immigrants and the five-year bar
- coverage proposals
This series is well-supported by solid data, and is a resource that we Dean supporters need to be familiar with if intend to defend Dean against charges that universal medical insurance is a big-government boondoggle. I urge everyone to drop by The Bloviator and give that series a read.
comment of the week
winner: CTDem2, with this proposed soundbite for Dean: "The Republicans are currently charging $30/week on YOUR CREDIT CARD."
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Dr. Dean's Prescription http://www.msnbc.com/news/913104.asp
This article in Slate is a good summary that doesn't shy away from critique.
Tuesday morning, Howard Dean outlined his plan to extend health insurance to 30 million more Americans. Here's a quick assessment of how Dean's plan fits into the Democratic presidential race.
1) Dean vs. Gephardt. Dean was planning to release his proposal in March, but he delayed it because of the war in Iraq. As the war subsided, Dick Gephardt beat Dean to the punch, proposing his own plan for expanding health insurance. Then, before Dean could attack Gephardt's plan, John Edwards attacked it at the May 3 debate in South Carolina. Edwards vs. Gephardt became the Democrats' chief policy conflict, reducing Dean vs. John Kerry to a clash of personalities.
Dean's health insurance plan puts him back on the policy map. Edwards hasn't produced a comparable proposal, and Kerry won't spell his out until Thursday. For the time being, Dean gets the policy debate with Gephardt all to himself. "Today, the Democrats have two distinct plans on the table for achieving health care for all Americans: Congressman Gephardt's and mine," Dean declared. His Web site compares the two plans, purporting to show that Dean covers more people than Gephardt does at less than half the cost.
2) Doctor- vs. lawyer-politicians. Since Dean is the only doctor in the race, health care is his issue. He needed to reclaim it from Gephardt, and today, he did so in an aggressively autobiographical way. He detailed his career as a medical student and physician, "volunteering in the emergency room" and at a "community health center" to help "people who had no insurance." Dean never mentioned Edwards, but he paved the way for a contrast between the doctor-politician who spent his career healing people and the lawyer-politician who spent his career suing them. Guess which profession voters prefer.
3) The Vermont "miracle." Dean doesn't use that term, as Michael Dukakis did. But Dean's campaign relies on the same idea. On any issue, he's got figures to show that Vermont, under his governorship, has been a model for the nation. (His opponents can present different figures to undercut his claims, as Kerry did in the South Carolina debate. But then they're playing on Dean's turf.) In Tuesday's speech, Dean bragged about how many Vermonters the state has insured, and at what little cost. In the South Carolina debate, he claimed to have "two advantages" on this issue: "I'm a governor, and … I'm a doctor." Now he's capitalizing on both.
4) Taxing the wicked. Why does Dean's plan cost the government less than Gephardt's does? One big reason is that Gephardt uses the tax code to reward companies that provide health insurance, while Dean uses it to punish companies that don't. To big firms that don't insure their workers, Dean warned, "We're not going to give you the same generous tax benefits we're giving to those businesses that are providing health insurance to their workers." Dean's Web site says his plan will "send a message" to these companies "by limiting their tax deductions and their government contracts." But Dean never addresses the hidden costs of removing these tax deductions and reducing competition for these contracts. Would businesses hire fewer people? Would the government pay more for contracted work?
5) Stimulus two-fer. Gephardt proposed to spend all of the government's disposable money (and then some) on his health insurance plan. He had nothing left over to make a stimulus package, so he claimed that his health insurance plan was a stimulus package. Dean uses the same trick. He says his plan will lower health-care costs for businesses, "freeing up valuable working capital." Therefore, the plan "is not simply a health care plan. It's an important part of my economic plan as well." Or, as Dan Aykroyd put it: It's a floor wax and a dessert topping!
6) Redefining strength. Dean's opposition to the Iraq war could cripple his candidacy. The war ended quickly and favorably, and President Bush plans to milk it in his re-election campaign. Dean needed to change the subject and cover up his perceived indifference to national security. How to look less wimpy? By redefining strength. "America's strength can't only be measured by the power of our military," he argued in Tuesday's speech. It's also measured "by the depth of our compassion." In the post-9/11 world, that may be a stretch. But for political battlefield surgery, it'll have to do.
How To Moralize in Politics
Joe Lieberman, take note: Howard Dean is doing the right kind of moralizing when he calls providing access to affordable health care "a moral imperative". He realizes that there are more important moral issues -- poverty, poor education, sick children -- for government to concern itself with than the puritanical revival tent sex-police priorities of the Republican Party.
Whining about Hollywood and calling yourself "pro-family" -- what does that mean, anyway? that you don't want to be single? -- are cop-out moral stands for Republicans, and Democrats aren't going to get elected by imitating them. Phony outrage against rap music and bare butts on TV take the place of what should be real outrage over the fact that in the wealthiest, most powerful country in history millions of people still live in poverty, still can't see a doctor when they need to, and still aren't provided a decent education.
This is exactly what Republicans want. They want government in your bedroom when you're having sex, but not when you're home sick in bed. They would rather pay for you to be in jail for having a certain type of sex than pay for you to be in the hospital for a broken leg.
Howard Dean is right. Health care for everyone is a moral imperative. And he's out there telling Republicans that they should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting it. That's a real moral stand -- and a winning message for Democrats, too.
Whining about Hollywood and calling yourself "pro-family" -- what does that mean, anyway? that you don't want to be single? -- are cop-out moral stands for Republicans, and Democrats aren't going to get elected by imitating them. Phony outrage against rap music and bare butts on TV take the place of what should be real outrage over the fact that in the wealthiest, most powerful country in history millions of people still live in poverty, still can't see a doctor when they need to, and still aren't provided a decent education.
This is exactly what Republicans want. They want government in your bedroom when you're having sex, but not when you're home sick in bed. They would rather pay for you to be in jail for having a certain type of sex than pay for you to be in the hospital for a broken leg.
Howard Dean is right. Health care for everyone is a moral imperative. And he's out there telling Republicans that they should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting it. That's a real moral stand -- and a winning message for Democrats, too.
Dean unveils proposal to insure more Americans with $88.5 billion plan http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/05/13/dean.healthcare.ap/
NEW YORK (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean laid out his plan Tuesday to provide health coverage for all Americans up to age 25 and greatly expand coverage to uninsured adults.
Providing health care for the uninsured will be a major campaign issue for many of the Democrats trying to oust President Bush next year. Dean, a physician who has a record of expanding health care coverage as governor of Vermont, sees himself as the best positioned to lead on the issue.
As governor, Dean focused on small expansions of the existing health care programs so that today 96 percent of Vermont children and 91 percent of adults are covered, and his presidential campaign is based on the same principle.
"This is a moral imperative. Here, in the richest and, most advanced country in the 21st century, it's unbelievably wrong for a sick child to go without seeing a doctor because her parents can't afford it," Dean said in a speech at Columbia University, where he took classes before going to medical school. "We have fallen 50 years behind in this country, behind the social standards of what we consider to be the civilized world."
Dean burst onto the national scene as an outspoken opponent of the U.S.-led war with Iraq and is often described as an anti-war candidate. But he says his campaign will be based on his ideas for providing health care to the uninsured.
Dean lost ground on the issue to Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, who announced last month that upon taking office he would push legislation requiring all employers to insure their workers. Gephardt would reimburse companies for 60 percent of their health care costs, and repeal President Bush's tax cuts to pay the $200 billion-plus annual cost.
On Tuesday, Dean, trying to take the lead on the health care issue, drew distinctions between his proposal and Gephardt's plan. Dean's plan is designed to expand coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans, about the same as Gephardt, for less than half the cost at $88.3 billion a year.
"This is the best health care proposal I've seen in terms of its ability to pass, its ability to cover people and its price tag," Dean said.
Dean also criticized Bush for failing to address the issue of insured Americans while passing tax cuts that have increased the deficit. He said he would repeal part of Bush's tax cuts to pay for the insurance and pledged that his presidency would start with balancing the budget.
"If we don't restore fiscal integrity to our government we will simply not have the dollars it takes to offer the health care coverage America needs," he said.
Lesson learned treating uninsured
Dean talked about how he and his wife, Judith Steinberg, worked together at a medical practice in Vermont and about his volunteer work at a community health center for people with no insurance. He said the lessons he learned treating those uninsured patients motivated him to get involved in politics.
Dean said he would provide health coverage to everyone up to age 25 by expanding existing government programs for low income families -- Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program or SCHIP.
He also would expand SCHIP to cover adults that earn up to 185 percent of the poverty level and allow other uninsured adults to buy into the a heath care plan identical to the one available to federal employees.
Dean would allow small businesses with less than 50 employees to buy into a subsidized health care system identical to the one for federal workers. And he would cut tax breaks for corporations that don't provide health insurance.
Other candidates in the nine-way race for the Democratic presidential nomination also plan to address the need to insure more Americans, including Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who will give his health care speech Thursday.
Providing health care for the uninsured will be a major campaign issue for many of the Democrats trying to oust President Bush next year. Dean, a physician who has a record of expanding health care coverage as governor of Vermont, sees himself as the best positioned to lead on the issue.
As governor, Dean focused on small expansions of the existing health care programs so that today 96 percent of Vermont children and 91 percent of adults are covered, and his presidential campaign is based on the same principle.
"This is a moral imperative. Here, in the richest and, most advanced country in the 21st century, it's unbelievably wrong for a sick child to go without seeing a doctor because her parents can't afford it," Dean said in a speech at Columbia University, where he took classes before going to medical school. "We have fallen 50 years behind in this country, behind the social standards of what we consider to be the civilized world."
Dean burst onto the national scene as an outspoken opponent of the U.S.-led war with Iraq and is often described as an anti-war candidate. But he says his campaign will be based on his ideas for providing health care to the uninsured.
Dean lost ground on the issue to Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, who announced last month that upon taking office he would push legislation requiring all employers to insure their workers. Gephardt would reimburse companies for 60 percent of their health care costs, and repeal President Bush's tax cuts to pay the $200 billion-plus annual cost.
On Tuesday, Dean, trying to take the lead on the health care issue, drew distinctions between his proposal and Gephardt's plan. Dean's plan is designed to expand coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans, about the same as Gephardt, for less than half the cost at $88.3 billion a year.
"This is the best health care proposal I've seen in terms of its ability to pass, its ability to cover people and its price tag," Dean said.
Dean also criticized Bush for failing to address the issue of insured Americans while passing tax cuts that have increased the deficit. He said he would repeal part of Bush's tax cuts to pay for the insurance and pledged that his presidency would start with balancing the budget.
"If we don't restore fiscal integrity to our government we will simply not have the dollars it takes to offer the health care coverage America needs," he said.
Lesson learned treating uninsured
Dean talked about how he and his wife, Judith Steinberg, worked together at a medical practice in Vermont and about his volunteer work at a community health center for people with no insurance. He said the lessons he learned treating those uninsured patients motivated him to get involved in politics.
Dean said he would provide health coverage to everyone up to age 25 by expanding existing government programs for low income families -- Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program or SCHIP.
He also would expand SCHIP to cover adults that earn up to 185 percent of the poverty level and allow other uninsured adults to buy into the a heath care plan identical to the one available to federal employees.
Dean would allow small businesses with less than 50 employees to buy into a subsidized health care system identical to the one for federal workers. And he would cut tax breaks for corporations that don't provide health insurance.
Other candidates in the nine-way race for the Democratic presidential nomination also plan to address the need to insure more Americans, including Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who will give his health care speech Thursday.
health care as homeland security http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/13/health/13HEAL.html
Imagine the following scenario: a terrorist attack releases a biological weapon in downtown Chicago (much like the the terrorism drills conducted today). Many people are infected with a dangerous disease. However, a large fraction of these people are uninsured.
Some of the uninsured will go to county hospitals, and the exorbitant cost of their treatment will be borne by the taxpayer. The lack of insurance will stretch already-strained resources and the overall capability of the health care infrastructure to respond to the attack will be undermined. And some of the uninsured will simply not seek medical care, thus enabling the biological agent to continue to spread. We have seen how the Chinese government's failure to isolate suspcted SARS cases has led to an explosion in the infection rate - imagine how much worse the situation could be were the virus a weaponized virulent agent instead of a natural one.
To Bush, homeland security is an excuse for government restrictions on liberty, an ideal to which he pays rhetorical lip-service while cutting funds. Dean's healthcare proposal, however, would have a real impact. It would save money in the long run, by reducing the state cost of health care - and it would save lives.
Some of the uninsured will go to county hospitals, and the exorbitant cost of their treatment will be borne by the taxpayer. The lack of insurance will stretch already-strained resources and the overall capability of the health care infrastructure to respond to the attack will be undermined. And some of the uninsured will simply not seek medical care, thus enabling the biological agent to continue to spread. We have seen how the Chinese government's failure to isolate suspcted SARS cases has led to an explosion in the infection rate - imagine how much worse the situation could be were the virus a weaponized virulent agent instead of a natural one.
To Bush, homeland security is an excuse for government restrictions on liberty, an ideal to which he pays rhetorical lip-service while cutting funds. Dean's healthcare proposal, however, would have a real impact. It would save money in the long run, by reducing the state cost of health care - and it would save lives.
Dean Health Care Plan for America http://www.deanforamerica.com
Here are some excerpts from Governor Dean's health care speech today. To read the full speech, go to our website.
From the moment I entered this race, guaranteeing affordable access to health care, and balancing the budget have been the touchstones of my campaign. From day one, I’ve outlined how I'd achieve universal health care – and challenged my opponents to do the same.
To me, health care isn’t simply a policy issue. It’s a moral imperative. Here, in the richest, most advanced country in the world in the 21st century, it’s simply wrong for a sick child to go without seeing a doctor because her parents can’t afford it.
Wrong for a woman to find out she has late stage breast cancer, because she couldn’t afford a mammogram.
Wrong for elderly people to be choosing between prescriptions and food.
We must remember that the important distinction in this election isn’t between the details of the Democratic plans. It’s the distinction between Democrats – who view this as a moral imperative – and President Bush, who for over two years has failed to address this issue.
Instead, he and the Republican party have pursued a misguided economic policy mortgaging our economic future for a set of tax cuts that provide, at best, minimal help to the average American working family.
From the moment I entered this race, guaranteeing affordable access to health care, and balancing the budget have been the touchstones of my campaign. From day one, I’ve outlined how I'd achieve universal health care – and challenged my opponents to do the same.
To me, health care isn’t simply a policy issue. It’s a moral imperative. Here, in the richest, most advanced country in the world in the 21st century, it’s simply wrong for a sick child to go without seeing a doctor because her parents can’t afford it.
Wrong for a woman to find out she has late stage breast cancer, because she couldn’t afford a mammogram.
Wrong for elderly people to be choosing between prescriptions and food.
We must remember that the important distinction in this election isn’t between the details of the Democratic plans. It’s the distinction between Democrats – who view this as a moral imperative – and President Bush, who for over two years has failed to address this issue.
Instead, he and the Republican party have pursued a misguided economic policy mortgaging our economic future for a set of tax cuts that provide, at best, minimal help to the average American working family.
Texas Dems show Dean backbone http://www.statesman.com/legislature/content/coxnet/texas/legislature/0503/0512quorum_herman.html
One of the grossest abuses of power by a majority party is to abuse the redistricting process. By "gerrymandering" districts to favor one party's demographic base, the politicans end up choosing the voters, instead of the other way around. The GOP in Texas has chosen to ignore the budget crisis (exacerbated by Bush's unfunded mandates), and instead of doing what's right for Texas, attempted to tighten their grip on power.
Yesterday, a group of Texas House representatives stood up for their principles, and in a brilliant move, broke the quorum[1] to prevent the GOP redistricting bill from passing.
The sheer courage and idealism on display by these Texas Democrats makes me proud to be a Texan transplant. What's more, it's exactly the kind of take-our-country-back attitude that Dean has personified. In the heartland of the GOP and the home turf of George Bush, we have scored a major victory, due to a sacrifice by 53 honorary residents of Deanistan. Their names are:
If one of these heroes is your representative in Texas, write to them and express your support. And I hope Dean weighs in, because these courageous representatives have put their careers on the line - and their freedom. Gov. Perry has authorized the Texas Rangers to forcibly return them to Austin. They need all the support they can get.
[1] I analyse this amazing drama at UNMEDIA in more detail, and liken it to the famous Kobayashi Maru test in Star Trek II, the Wrath of Khan. Like Kirk, I don't like to lose. Dean is our Kirk.
Yesterday, a group of Texas House representatives stood up for their principles, and in a brilliant move, broke the quorum[1] to prevent the GOP redistricting bill from passing.
The sheer courage and idealism on display by these Texas Democrats makes me proud to be a Texan transplant. What's more, it's exactly the kind of take-our-country-back attitude that Dean has personified. In the heartland of the GOP and the home turf of George Bush, we have scored a major victory, due to a sacrifice by 53 honorary residents of Deanistan. Their names are:
Roberto Alonzo, Dallas
Kevin Bailey, Houston
Lon Burnam, Fort Worth
Gabi Canales, Alice
Jaime Capelo, Corpus Christi
Joaquin Castro, San Antonio
Garnet Coleman, Houston
Robby Cook, Eagle Lake
Yvonne Davis, Dallas
Joe Deshotel, Beaumont
Dawnna Dukes, Austin
Jim Dunnam, Waco
Harold Dutton, Houston
Craig Eiland, Galveston
Dan Ellis, Livingston
Juan Escobar, Kingsville
David Farabee, Wichita Falls
Jessica Farrar, Houston
Pete Gallego, Alpine
Timoteo Garza, Eagle Pass
Ryan Guillen, Rio Grande City
Scott Hochberg, Houston
Terri Hodge, Dallas
Mark Homer, Paris
Chuck Hopson, Jacksonville
Jesse Jones, Dallas
Pete Laney, Hale Center
John Mabry, Waco
Trey Martinez-Fischer, San Antonio
Ruth Jones McClendon, San Antonio
Jim McReynolds, Lufkin
Jose Menendez, San Antonio
Joe Moreno, Houston
Paul Moreno, El Paso
Elliott Naishtat, Austin
Rick Noriega, Houston
Rene Oliveira, Brownsville
Dora Olivo, Missouri City
Aaron Pena, Edinburg
Joe Pickett, El Paso
Robert Puente, San Antonio
Chente Quintanilla, Tornillo
Richard Raymond, Laredo
Allan Ritter, Nederland
Eddie Rodriguez, Austin
Patrick Rose, Dripping Springs
Jim Solis, Harlingen
Barry Telford, DeKalb
Senfronia Thompson, Houston
Carlos Uresti, San Antonio
Mike Villarreal, San Antonio
Miguel Wise, Weslaco
Steve Wolens, Dallas
If one of these heroes is your representative in Texas, write to them and express your support. And I hope Dean weighs in, because these courageous representatives have put their careers on the line - and their freedom. Gov. Perry has authorized the Texas Rangers to forcibly return them to Austin. They need all the support they can get.
[1] I analyse this amazing drama at UNMEDIA in more detail, and liken it to the famous Kobayashi Maru test in Star Trek II, the Wrath of Khan. Like Kirk, I don't like to lose. Dean is our Kirk.
health care: the Big Picture
The most important thing Dean had to say about Health Care was:
This is the right way to move things forward - by rising tide that floats all boats.
"We must remember that the important distinction in this election isn't between the details of the Democratic plans," said Dean. "It's the distinction between Democrats -- who view this as a moral imperative -- and President Bush, who for over two years has failed to address this issue."
This is the right way to move things forward - by rising tide that floats all boats.
Democrat Dean Unveils Plan for Health Coverage http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&ncid=584&e=3&u=/nm/20030513/pl_nm/politics_dean_dc
Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean is to outline a plan on Tuesday to vastly expand U.S. health care coverage, making it easier for families to afford health insurance and for small businesses to offer it to employees.
Dean, a doctor and former governor of Vermont who has promised to put health care at the heart of his 2004 White House campaign, said his plan also would penalize large companies that do not make it easy for employees to buy insurance by taking away corporate tax breaks.
"To me, health care isn't simply a policy issue, it's a moral imperative," said Dean, according to the text of a speech he will deliver on Tuesday at Columbia University in New York.
"Here, in the richest, most advanced country in the world in the 21st century, it's simply wrong for a sick child to go without seeing a doctor because her parents can't afford it," he said, noting the United States was the last of the major industrialized countries to provide universal health care.
Dean, who expanded health coverage in Vermont during his term as governor, is the second of nine Democratic contenders vying for the right to challenge President Bush (news - web sites) to release a detailed plan for health care coverage for the 41 million uninsured Americans.
His proposal would expand existing state and federal plans to allow health care coverage to every child and young adult up to age 25 while offering tax and other incentives to help working families afford insurance.
It also would organize a system for small businesses similar to the federal employee health system and allow employers to join it at lower rates.
Dean aides estimated the plan would cost about $88 billion annually, and Dean said he would pay for it by eliminating portions of Bush's tax cuts.
"We can do this if we take part of the Bush tax cuts and use it to create a practical system giving every American an affordable way to purchase health insurance," Dean said.
Democratic Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri outlined a sweeping universal coverage plan last month that he said would also help stimulate the economy by easing the health insurance burden for employers. His plan would cost more than $200 billion annually, which Gephardt would pay for by repealing Bush's tax cuts.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry will outline his health care plans during an Iowa speech on Thursday as Democrats focus on an issue pushed into the shadows after the failure of former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites)'s proposal to pass Congress in 1994.
"We must remember that the important distinction in this election isn't between the details of the Democratic plans," said Dean. "It's the distinction between Democrats -- who view this as a moral imperative -- and President Bush, who for over two years has failed to address this issue."
Dean, a doctor and former governor of Vermont who has promised to put health care at the heart of his 2004 White House campaign, said his plan also would penalize large companies that do not make it easy for employees to buy insurance by taking away corporate tax breaks.
"To me, health care isn't simply a policy issue, it's a moral imperative," said Dean, according to the text of a speech he will deliver on Tuesday at Columbia University in New York.
"Here, in the richest, most advanced country in the world in the 21st century, it's simply wrong for a sick child to go without seeing a doctor because her parents can't afford it," he said, noting the United States was the last of the major industrialized countries to provide universal health care.
Dean, who expanded health coverage in Vermont during his term as governor, is the second of nine Democratic contenders vying for the right to challenge President Bush (news - web sites) to release a detailed plan for health care coverage for the 41 million uninsured Americans.
His proposal would expand existing state and federal plans to allow health care coverage to every child and young adult up to age 25 while offering tax and other incentives to help working families afford insurance.
It also would organize a system for small businesses similar to the federal employee health system and allow employers to join it at lower rates.
Dean aides estimated the plan would cost about $88 billion annually, and Dean said he would pay for it by eliminating portions of Bush's tax cuts.
"We can do this if we take part of the Bush tax cuts and use it to create a practical system giving every American an affordable way to purchase health insurance," Dean said.
Democratic Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri outlined a sweeping universal coverage plan last month that he said would also help stimulate the economy by easing the health insurance burden for employers. His plan would cost more than $200 billion annually, which Gephardt would pay for by repealing Bush's tax cuts.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry will outline his health care plans during an Iowa speech on Thursday as Democrats focus on an issue pushed into the shadows after the failure of former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites)'s proposal to pass Congress in 1994.
"We must remember that the important distinction in this election isn't between the details of the Democratic plans," said Dean. "It's the distinction between Democrats -- who view this as a moral imperative -- and President Bush, who for over two years has failed to address this issue."
Monday, May 12, 2003
South Carolina II http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/5844911.htm
Democratic presidential candidates courting voters in South Carolina and other early primary states have been invited to an event that Fox News Channel plans to broadcast live on Jan. 29.
The South Carolina Business and Industry Political Education Committee would sponsor the event. BIPEC sent invitations to the candidates last week but doesn't know yet who will commit to attending while their schedules are jammed with events leading up to the primaries.
The debate would be two days after the New Hampshire primary and five days before presidential selection events in South Carolina and several other states.
On top of that, the groups involved aren't the most hospitable to Democrats, said former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian, who organized the May 3 presidential debate in Columbia.
"I think it will be a debate that nobody comes to," Harpootlian said of the Fox event. "BIPEC is a known Republican front organization, and the debate will be held by a right-wing network."
Tom DeLoach, BIPEC's chief executive officer, denied his group is affiliated with the GOP. "We're a nonpartisan education association," he said.
Marty Ryan, Fox News' political coverage executive producer, also disagreed with Harpootlian's assessment. "I don't buy the premise on either front," he said.
BIPEC has run two Republican debates, DeLoach said, but state and national Democratic Party issues prevented a 2000 Democratic presidential debate.
Campaign officials for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said they had received invitations but had not decided whether to participate. Other campaigns contacted did not immediately respond.
The South Carolina Business and Industry Political Education Committee would sponsor the event. BIPEC sent invitations to the candidates last week but doesn't know yet who will commit to attending while their schedules are jammed with events leading up to the primaries.
The debate would be two days after the New Hampshire primary and five days before presidential selection events in South Carolina and several other states.
On top of that, the groups involved aren't the most hospitable to Democrats, said former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian, who organized the May 3 presidential debate in Columbia.
"I think it will be a debate that nobody comes to," Harpootlian said of the Fox event. "BIPEC is a known Republican front organization, and the debate will be held by a right-wing network."
Tom DeLoach, BIPEC's chief executive officer, denied his group is affiliated with the GOP. "We're a nonpartisan education association," he said.
Marty Ryan, Fox News' political coverage executive producer, also disagreed with Harpootlian's assessment. "I don't buy the premise on either front," he said.
BIPEC has run two Republican debates, DeLoach said, but state and national Democratic Party issues prevented a 2000 Democratic presidential debate.
Campaign officials for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said they had received invitations but had not decided whether to participate. Other campaigns contacted did not immediately respond.
Newsweek -- High-Tech Insurgent http://www.msnbc.com/news/911590.asp
To add something of a positive note -- this week's print edition of Newsweek has this Howard Fineman piece
Dean Running Second in TNR Primary http://www.tnr.com/primary/matrix-daily.mhtml
Matthew Yglesias directs us to the new feature at The New Republic Online -- the TNR Primary. Their description of how it works:
UPDATE: Headline edited to reduce obnoxiousness in response to Kerry-bashing sensitivities expressed in comments. For the record, I like Kerry a lot and he's my number two in this race at this point. Jim Jordan and Chris Lehane, though, aren't exactly earning my respect. These two views are not necessarily contradictory.
From now until the eve of the first presidential contest in Iowa next January, TNR writers are offering observations, criticisms, suggestions, and, most importantly, letter grades, in response to developments in the primary fight. Each entry will grade a candidate in one of five categories: foreign policy, domestic policy, intellectual honesty, political courage, and general likeability. All of a candidate's letter grades are averaged together, with foreign policy and domestic policy grades weighted double, and the resulting "grade point averages" are used to rank the candidates. (Click here for the current standings). At the end of each month, TNR declares a winner--the candidate with the highest GPA. The candidate who performs the best over the course of the entire TNR Primary will win special mention in TNR's endorsement issue next January. Only the candidates with some shot of winning the nomination--Howard Dean, John Edwards, Dick Gephardt, Bob Graham, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman--are eligible to compete.So, flipping through candidates' report cards (here's the full report for Dean), one finds Howard Dean earning an "A" for his response to George Stephanopoulos when he asked if any of the candidates would raise taxes:
"[A]ll I am going to do is put the tax rate back to where it was when Bill Clinton was president," Dean explained, "because we did a lot better under Bill Clinton than we are under George Bush."Flip around some more and--ready your gasp, Jim Jordan--someone questions John Kerry's political courage. And it's not Howard Dean! But TNR does use a comparison with Dean to make its point:
On Saturday night George Stephanopoulos asked all the Democratic candidates at once whether any of them would "rule out raising taxes as president of any kind." There followed an awkward pause. No one wanted to be dishonest--but certainly no one wanted to be Walter Mondale, either. Suddenly Howard Dean, always the most impetuous of the bunch, threw up a hand. Down at the end of the table, John Kerry looked at Dean and followed with something that looked like a hand-raise of his own. Only it wasn't quite that. Kerry lifted his forearm halfway up, then left it suspended in an tentative gesture of ambiguous meaning. It was as if he were Dr. Strangelove, wrestling his own arm as his political and intellectual impulses clashed internally. It's possible Kerry was simply indicating he wanted to speak. But when he was called on a moment later, he completely glossed over the question about taxes and proceeded to attack Dick Gephardt's health care plan. We're still waiting for an answer.After someone resuscitates Chris Lehane, they should let him know that it was Kerry's political courage on an issue that TNR's Michael Crowley was questioning. We all revere Senator Kerry's heroic service in Vietnam. But those -- again, not Howard Dean -- who question his political courage to take a tough stand in a national campaign with his career on the line are talking about a politician's calculations, not a young man's bravery.
UPDATE: Headline edited to reduce obnoxiousness in response to Kerry-bashing sensitivities expressed in comments. For the record, I like Kerry a lot and he's my number two in this race at this point. Jim Jordan and Chris Lehane, though, aren't exactly earning my respect. These two views are not necessarily contradictory.
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About Nation-Building
Nation-Building was founded by Aziz Poonawalla in August 2002 under the name Dean Nation. Dean Nation was the very first weblog devoted to a presidential candidate, Howard Dean, and became the vanguard of the Dean netroot phenomenon, raising over $40,000 for the Dean campaign, pioneering the use of Meetup, and enjoying the attention of the campaign itself, with Joe Trippi a regular reader (and sometime commentor). Howard Dean himself even left a comment once. Dean Nation was a group weblog effort and counts among its alumni many of the progressive blogsphere's leading talent including Jerome Armstrong, Matthew Yglesias, and Ezra Klein. After the election in 2004, the blog refocused onto the theme of "purple politics", formally changing its name to Nation-Building in June 2006. The primary focus of the blog is on articulating purple-state policy at home and pragmatic liberal interventionism abroad.
