Howard Dean: “We Are Now in Danger of Losing Everything” by Gregory Hilton

Former Gov. Howard Dean (VT) knows Democrats are headed for a significant setback in November. He is nevertheless actively campaigning for liberal candidates who are certain to lose. Dean is appearing in a variety of Congressional districts around the nation in his role as Chairman of the left wing lobbying group Democracy for America. The organization was originally established as Dean for America to promote his 2004 presidential campaign, and his current goal could be challenging Barack Obama for the 2012 nomination.
The former Governor is a medical doctor and the immediate past Chairman of the Democratic Party (2005 – 2009). He can claim credit for their huge success in both the 2006 and 2008 elections. Prior to the 2004 Iowa caucuses, Dean was considered the frontrunner for the party’s presidential nomination. He was endorsed by the top two candidates from the previous election, former Vice President Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley (NJ), as well as powerful labor unions. He was the first major candidate to largely finance his campaign from the Internet, and his major issue was opposition to the Iraq war.
His 50 state strategy later proved to be the road map for Barack Obama’s 2008 victory. Dean wanted to serve as HHS Secretary in the Obama administration, but his battle with Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel prevented the appointment. Dean said “I made it pretty clear I wanted to be HHS Secretary.” He was also passed over for Surgeon General. In a snub to Dean, he was not even invited to the White House press conference when Governor Tim Kaine (VA) was announced as his successor at the DNC.
The theme of Dean’s current speeches is that President Obama has abandoned his liberal base on Afghanistan, the health care public option and gay rights. Dean is telling liberal groups “This is not joking around time anymore. You caused a revolution in this country two years ago. We are now in danger of losing everything you worked for.”
Many liberals are dismayed with the White House and the feeling is mutual. On August 9th, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said: “The professional left will not be satisfied until we have Canadian health care and we’ve eliminated the Pentagon. That’s not reality. I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested. I mean, it’s crazy.” Rahm Emmanuel says many liberal activists are “retarded.”
If Dean does challenge Obama he is likely to have the support of left wing activists such as MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, as well as filmmaker Michael Moore. All of them are major left wing critics of the White House.
The former Governor does not want Obama to endorse an extension of the Bush era tax cuts and says “I don’t agree with supply-side economics. Reagan proved it was wrong. George H.W. Bush proved it was wrong, and George W. Bush proved it was wrong.” Dean also says:
“The biggest danger is not Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives. It’s that we’re not talking to each other.”
“I wasn’t that happy with the health care bill, and we should have done more. . . Democrats can not be blamed for health care reform. It was a bipartisan bill. The biggest problem is that it can’t work in the present system.”
“I don’t think the majority of Republicans are haters, but there is a significant hate wing of the Republican Party, including the talk show hosts like Glenn Beck and Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh and people like that and they don’t dare cross them.”
Surprising Comments:
Dean surprised many of his supporters by opposing the construction of a mosque near the ground zero site in New York City. He said: “We have to understand that it is a real affront to people who’ve lost their lives.”
“The best way to decrease the federal deficit is to change programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. I think everything has to be cut. Everyone needs to put something into the pot.”