Calling Dr. Dean

The political and media elites within Washington are quick to characterize Dr. Howard Dean as a raving liberal. They’re quick to claim he’s pursuing the Chairman of the DNC position as a springboard for the 2008 elections. They are also quick to make misguided assumptions, based on dubious information, about the mentality of the average voter. The fact is, Dr. Dean understands the problems of the Democratic Party, and is exactly the doctor to fix them.

Howard Dean was correct about the war in Iraq, even when ridiculed by the over patriotic media of post September 11^th America. He was correct about the future of the Democratic Party, claiming that it should not be solely comprised of urban elite, but also extended to “guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks” (a much ridiculed statement as well). Most importantly, he was correct that the electorate responds to assertive speech and convictional decisiveness, more than political cogency; advice not heeded by the unsuccessful presidential nominee John Kerry. It was Dean who first said, you may not agree with me, but at least you know where I stand, not Bush. Dean correctly understands that the decay of the Democratic Party is founded in ambivalent, centrist beliefs and allegiance to big money donors. It was the Deaniacs who single handedly rewrote fundraising precedent and revitalized Democratic grassroots organizations. Though his flaws as a presidential candidate were clear, his over-zealous populist ambitions as a DNC chair will be virtues when reshaping the Democratic Party. Democrats need help; Dr. Dean is on the case.