Howard Dean Absent From Obama/DNC Affair

Barack Obama is set to host a press conference with incoming Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine on Thursday in what will ostensibly mark the beginning of a new era for the party and the committee.

Noticeably absent from the affair will be the individual who symbolized the old regime.

Former Gov. Howard Dean is not on the list of attendees for the event, a noticeable nonattendance for someone largely credited with revitalizing the Democratic Party ranks and contributing - whether politically or through his 50-State Strategy - to major electoral gains.

It is unclear whether Dean's absence reflects a snub or a scheduling conflict. An Obama transition official said it was their understanding that Dean was traveling. But a source with knowledge of the proceedings said that Dean was not asked to attend and suggested that he would have changed prior plans.

Either way, he's not attending tomorrow's presser when the DNC torch is unofficially passed to Kaine. The Virginia Governor officially takes over the post on January 21.

Comments

[LINY516]

If this a snub, it's truly tacky.
Dean is one the one that drafted the blueprint for internet campaigning and the 50 state strategy.
To throw this man out with the garbage is horrible.
I hope it's just a bad rumor. If not, shame on you democrats, event organizers, and obama.

[John Warren Gotsch]

If anyone deserves standing in the second tier of major players for what's coming;
it's surely Dr Howard Dean.

I cannot believe that there is not a special niche for Dean after all he did in quieting
roiling waters prior to the convention. If he hangs out to dry this way, then pox on
your house Mr Obama.

[who38]

There is a special niche for Dean, just as there is for Carter. It involves substance, integrity, thoughtfulness, and focuses on the best interests of most Americans. He needs to write a book, make DFA a household term, use his influence in determining who Democratic candidates for Congress will be in the future, and guide foreign policy.
Hope he runs for president in 2012.

[yesivoteddem]

chair of the battle monuments commission probably

[Sparhawk]

If ? ? ? IF ???

Politicians eat their own especially ones coming to town on a wave of change. Dean represents the Old Democratic party..Obama the New...

Sad commentary how Public servants are treated by their peers.

[who38]

Think you have those connections reversed. Dean represents Progressives, Obama the same old DLC.

[socks1]

It is Obama that is taking up the Globalists chant from the corporatist DLC. Rahm is the DLC darling that opposed Dean so vehemnately, saying that the money raised from small donors should be given to the DC insiders and not to build the party in every state. Remember Hillary saying over and over again about states that count? That was code for only campaigning in the big delegate states and leaving behind all other states.

Dean is the real progressive.

Don't get me wrong, I want Obama to be successful in pulling us out of the quicksand. But if you think he is going to do anything but pay lipservice to American ideals such as protecting the commons or making the middleclass more secure..... we have a bumpy road ahead. He is a globalist, meaning 'for corporate welfare state'.

[joeinvt]

Re Obama's choice of Sanja Gupta as Surgeon General, Sam Stein also noted the following today on another HuffPo post:

"Howard Dean, a doctor himself, noted that Gupta's responsibilities would be much the same as those in his current job: explaining medical issues of public concern in a manner that the public could understand."

Even when Dean is ignored and disrespected, he still puts Party first. He's the kind of stand-up guy the Obama administration could use.

[GeorgeP922]

So very very true.

He is a true Democrat, and I encourage him to start a new coalition for our party.

If he did I PROMISE you all liberals in our party would flock to him, just like they did in 2004 and now in 2008 with Obama.

If it weren't for the liberals, Obama would not have been nominated in the primaries.
Its just fact, ask any Clinton supporter.

[yesivoteddem]

I saw this coming.

As a pro labor Dem -

Economically -No one is to the left of me - except Jesus himself and I stood with Hillary.

And 90% of the AFL CIO stood by her till the end.

I will be with this admin when I agree with it and fight it when I dont/

In 1996m 2 days after reelecting Clinton I went to work full time on a labor funded project to educate americans about fair trade and the evils of Nafta...

And I Loved Bill Clinton!

You think Im not going to offer my dissent to this bunch?!

[TeresaInPa]

funny thing happened on the way to the rigged democratic primary. Clinton was the populist and Obama the corporatist. Hillary got more votes and the blue collar workers who were supposed to hate her flocked to her. Hillary was the regular guy and Obama was the out of touch empty rhetoric spouting elitist. But CDS reigned supreme on the blogs and misogyny in the AA male community and it was encouraged and supported by the Obama campaign.

The democratic party is getting what it deserves. I am a liberal and I couldn't even force myself to vote for Obama in the general. Of course I was disgusted by the sexism that happened in both the primary and general that most people will not acknowledge.

[swan1]

Harold Ford wants to run for Gov. of TN , good luck with that one

[yesivoteddem]

Dean NOT A CONTENDER for health secretary

Politico - 11/13/08

Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean is not a serious contender to be secretary of health and human services in the new Obama administration, sources said.

Dean"s name HAS appeared on short lists for the Cabinet post circulating throughout Washington, based largely on his party chairmanship and career as a doctor. Dean also PASSED HEALTH CARE reforms while governor of Vermont. And HIS ALLIES SAID the Obama transition team HAS HAD SOME informal discussion WITH HIM about the JOB.

But the chief attributes President-elect Barack Obama is seeking in his HHS secretary will be an ability to work with members of Congress and shepherd reform legislation through the House and Senate.

That job description has turned out to be a particularly ILL SUITED one for DEAN, given his part isan background and lack of congressional experience, sources INSIDE the transition offices say.

[joeinvt]

1. You are repeating yourself.
2. It makes a lot sense to pick someone for HHS secretary who was an ineffective minority leader and couldn't get reelected in his own state, no?

[yesivoteddem]

Im sorry I couldt get the to post and then they all posted!!

[who38]

Bingo!

[Carolab]

It's POLITICO--they are a right-leaning rag.

[yesivoteddem]

AND THEY POINT OUT DEAN WANTED THE JOB - ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED FOR IT - AND OBAMA GAVE IT TO DASCHLE.

WHICH YOU BLAME IN LIEBERMAN,...

OR BILL CLINTON -

OR GEPHARDT -

OR AL FROM ...

IM SO CONFUSED!

I THOUGHT HE GAVE UT TO DASCHLE CAUSE HE OWES HIM -

AND DOESNT FEEL HE OWES DEAN -

BUT THAT DOESNT INCLUDE THE DLC...

or does it....?

oooooooh,,,,,,,

[Bearangaria]

I'm baffled by the level of animosity thrown at Howard Dean. He designed a strategy
that won the contentious Dems the White House and helped refill the Congress.
What's the beef? He's not warm and fuzzy enough? He feels he has the right
to some gratitude and respect? He demonstrated that it was the young vote that could turn
this country around and created the path for victory. Why all the enmity?
Is it coming from him to the O crowd or from them to him? Is this a who gets the credit
problem? Petty. Great ideas are always improved on but the guy with the great idea
shouldn't get left back and out.

[who38]

From them to him. They are jerking O's chain. As they will continue to do.

[owlsocks]

Dean is the man!

The "scream heard round the world" was a total media-created fiasco.

Come back Howard, we need you!

[yesivoteddem]

the Iowa scream followed a commercial that had Dean's face morph into the image of O sama.

Presssecretary for the 527 that ran it was Robert Gibbs who has been named to be White House Press Secretary.

------
New Democratic Group Finances a Republican-like Attack on Dean

New York Times
December 16, 2003

The spot opens with a Time magazine cover featuring O samabinLaden as synthesizer music seemingly out of a post-apocalyptic science fiction movie is heard.

As the camera focuses on Mr. bin Laden's eyes. the following words flash on the screen: ''Dangerous World,'' ''Destroy Us,'' ''Dangers Ahead'' and ''No Experience.''

''Americans want a president who can face the dangers ahead,'' an announcer intones. ''But Howard Dean has no military or foreign policy experience. And Howard Dean just cannot compete with George Bush on foreign policy. It's time for Democrats to think about that -- and think about it now.''

The advertisement amounts to a ''stop Dean'' campaign sponsored by the new Democratic group, Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values....

...Its spokesman, Robert Gibbs, recently resigned as the press secretary for Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Mr. Gibbs emphasized in an interview that he left the Kerry campaign several weeks ago, after a staff shake-up. (which of course, he went back to)

''Whoever is behind this should crawl out from underneath their rock and have the courage to say who they are,'' said Tricia Enright, spokeswoman for Dr. Dean.

[Carolab]

Again, it was David Jones who did this ad. And the 527 had Kerry and Gephardt and Gephardt's main money men behind it. Gephardt FOUNDED the DLC. The other founder, David From, attacked Dean after he said he represented "the democratic wing of the Democratic party", indirectly attacking the DLC in the process. The guns came out after that. The DLC sabotaged Dean. The media were complicit.

[yesivoteddem]

Dean NOT A CONTENDER for health secretary

Politico - 11/13/08

Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean is not a serious contender to be secretary of health and human services in the new Obama administration, sources said.

Dean"s name HAS appeared on short lists for the Cabinet post circulating throughout Washington, based largely on his party chairmanship and career as a doctor. Dean also passed health care reforms while governor of Vermont. And HIS ALLIES SAID the Obama transition team has had some informal discussion WITH HIM about the job.

But the chief attributes President-elect Barack Obama is seeking in his HHS secretary will be an ability to work with members of Congress and shepherd reform legislation through the House and Senate.

That job description has turned out to be a particularly ILL SUITED one for DEAN, given his partisan background and lack of congressional experience, sources INSIDE the transition offices say.

[yesivoteddem]

Health care contenders

POLITICO

11/11/08

While some are coy about their prospects in the new Obama administration...

Howard Dean, on the other hand, remains mum.

The Democratic National Committee chairman"s name has been floating around health care circles as a POSSIBLE pick for secretary of health and human services.

Asked by CNN"s John King whether that"s possible, the former governor of Vermont, who"s a physician, demurred, saying it was UP TO PRESIDENT ELECT Barack OBAMA.

When King pro dded further, Dean said: "I'm not going to say anything about anything to do with tran sition. Generally, those who talk don't know, and those who know don't talk. And I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO, but I a in't talking."

While more of a LONG S-HOT for HSS secretary THAN former Sen. Tom DASCHLE (D-S.C.) or Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Dean OVERSAW the expan sion of UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE for children and pregn ant women DURING HIS GOVERNSHIP in Vermont.

[yesivoteddem]

Im sorry I couldt get the to post and then they all posted!!

[Carolab]

You have to be patient.

[globality]

Dean isn't a bible thumper who is going to promote faith based BS so he is out

[cjo30080]

Howard Dean should be canonized.

Dems everywhere, the country and the world owe him a debt of gratitude for his part in bringing the needed sea change of elected officials in the last two election cycles. I hope he's not gone for long. We desperately need him.

[KoolAidAmerica]

one case where i like someone being thrown under the bus

[lizr]

have some more kool aid.

[hortonhearsawho2]

As long as his mom calls the office it will be fine...

[Mayme]

Dean would make a much better Surgeon General than tv cute boy Gupta.

[hortonhearsawho2]

that labotomy didn't go to well huh...

[lizr]

In some ways yes, others no. Sanjay is good for selling anything to the public, which O needs now, good sales people.

But he also needs good policy brains, and Dean is that. I really hope O can find a place in his admin where his skills will be used.

Dean does not deserve to be used and thrown away. He has given way too much to our party for that.

Horton needs to go back to Who land.

[NCYvonne]

You just love stirring up controversy, don't you?

Out of his own mouth yesterday on Hardball . . . . Howard Dean said he wanted to go into the private sector to "make money." He said it. So, if it's a lie, Dean is the one who told it.

[Dwjackson]

I agree. Don't count HD out just yet.

[marinade]

Dean went to Samoa. Hmmm.........

I'm fired up and ready to go for Dean! Where should I send my money, Howard?

[marc1antony]

why samoa? Is he traveling with dwayne johnson?

[marinade]

He's going to the inauguration of the territorial governor.

With all the travelling he has been doing, his rolodex must be getting full. He could get a grassroots organization off the ground in a jiffy.

[DuPageDem]

The DLC is firmly in charge, and liberals are back in their cage. There's no room for progressives in the cabinet, so why even trot them out for a press conference?

[Mayme]

Same ole, same ole.

[yesivoteddem]

So Harold Ford is telling Obama who to choose?

Boy that losing the election thing really worked out for old Harold!

[Carolab]

Harold Ford Jr. is still trying to bring a blue dog coalition together. You didn't know that?

[lizr]

Oh God just hearing that sickens me because it in some ways feels so true.

Please O, say it aint so!

Or better yet, show us something to believe in.

On the other hand, I guess he's just a bit distracted by trying to pull the economic MESS back together, a bohemoth that W left him.

[yesivoteddem]

in Feb 2006 - after a meeting with Dean in Harlem - Clinton endorsed Dean's 50 state program and said hed help raise money for it.

At this time Dean was oppos ed in this by Reid, Pelosi, Rahm and Schumer.

---------------------------

Hotline On Call: Bill Clinton's A Convert To Dean's 50-State Project

March 31, 2006

by MARC AMBINDER

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/bill_clintons_a.html

Will Howard Dean's Democratic National Committee be ready for the November elections? Party leaders and congressional campaign strategists are nervous ly pressuri ng Dean to stop spending money to staff organizers in states and instead commit to transfer the bulk of the DNC's kitty to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

At a tense meeting in February, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urged Dean to give to the Senate committee the same amount as the Republican National Committee was expected to transfer to the GOP's Senate committee. Reid argue d that the DSCC's historically rare fundraising advantage could be wiped out with a single check from RNC chairman Ken Mehlman. If Republicans shuffled their cash, Reid said, the outcome of several critica l Senate races might be jeopardized.

According to three sources familiar with the meeting, Dean said no.

cont below -

[Carolab]

You are spamming this and other posts and it is annoying.

[yesivoteddem]

cont below -

Of course, he said, the DNC will spend millions on the midterms. His argument was this: While the DSCC and DCCC's role is rightfully incumbent protection, Dean, on the other hand, was elected chair to tend to overall health of the party. And that includes his responsibility to hundreds of non-federal candidates as well. His investment in state parties, Dean promised Reid and House Min. Leader Nancy Pelosi, would pay off and the benefits would accrue to Democrats at all levels.

---

And Dean has one supremely important new ally who, when he goes public, will almost certainly help with donors. In late February, Dean traveled to Harlem and sat down with former President Bill Clinton, often said to be privately disparaging of Dean.(ed- which was nothing but goss ip )

But as Dean walked Clinton through his 50-state capacity-building project, Clinton became a convert. He vowed to help Dean win the attention of donors.

[marinade]

"DSCC and DCCC's role is rightfully incumbent protection"

How about the incumbents who don't deserve protection?

Perhaps this is the role for Dean. He could strengthen the Democratic party by helping to get rid of incumbents like Reid and Feinstein.