Sen. Harkin Backs Dean For HHS Secretary

The idea of nominating Howard Dean to head up the Department of Health and Human Services has the backing of at least one prominent national Democrat.

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, who endorsed Dean's presidential campaign in 2004 and is rumored to be in the HHS running himself, applauded the idea of the former DNC header taking over the cabinet post vacated by Tom Daschle.

"I think that would be a very good move," Harkin told the Huffington Post. "He brings all the background and experience. He's very strong on prevention and wellness, which I'm very strong on. I think he'd make an outstanding secretary of HHS."

Asked if he had spoken to White House on the matter, Harkin demurred: "I'm not going to get into that," he said after a pause.

Dean's hopes of taking over HHS -- he would, those who know him say, take the job if offered -- is, at this point, not a campaign. The former Vermont Governor has and will remain mum on the notion because, as he himself admitted, the surest way to not be chosen is to actively pine for a post. In progressive circles, however, supporters of Dean insist that he is best suited for the job, having managed health care in Vermont and served as a doctor himself.

Whether this endorsement helps or hurts is a topic of debate. The conventional wisdom seems to be that Dean's frosty relationship with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel will be the main impediment to his ending up at HHS. Others are concerned that a major netroots movement to appoint Dean will actually turn the White House off the notion. They don't want it to seem like they are "bending to the demands of the left," as one Democrat put it -- not because they aren't concerned with progressive priorities, but because the choice will be criticized as an effort in political pacification.

Comments

[TiaL27]

07:17 PM on 02/09/2009

Rahm Emanuel doesn't get along with Howard Dean? What is the story behind all this?

[RightsGuy]

04:42 PM on 02/07/2009

I recommend Marcia Angell, MD for HHS Secretary. She is a physician, former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, now Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Angell is highly respected and has worked hard for ethics and scientific integrity her entire career. In 1997, Time magazine named Marcia Angell one of the 25 most influential Americans.

She wrote the book, “The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It.” A few of her articles include:

• Industry-sponsored clinical research: a broken system. JAMA 2008.
• Excess in the pharmaceutical industry. CMAJ 2004
• Editorial policies on financial disclosure.(Comment)Nat Neurosci 2003
• America's other drug problem: how the drug industry distorts medicine and politics. New Repub 2002
• Medicine: the endangered patient-centered ethic. Hastings Cent Rep 1987

Marcia Angell, MD is eminently qualified, “clean” politically, and would bring ethics and integrity to the office of HHS Secretary.

[jp5472]

02:54 PM on 02/06/2009

This isn't political pacification - he's clearly the best for the job. Get it done. Case closed, next item!

[mergina]

09:53 AM on 02/06/2009

Really Obama, why would you NOT WANT a doctor and someone who semi-fixed your election in the primaries to be your secretary of hhs?

[AlwaysaLiberal]

01:31 PM on 02/06/2009

Excuse me, are you involved in politics at all?

[Lisbeth35]

09:36 AM on 02/06/2009

Not surprising. Harkin was standing right behind Dean during the "scream heard 'round the world", right after Dean came in third in the Iowa caucus.

[vippy]

07:34 AM on 02/06/2009

Dean is the best choice, I hope Obama also knows this.

[joeinvt]

05:56 AM on 02/06/2009

Didn't you Deaniacs get the memo? The more you praise Dean, etc., the worse it gets for him. Go figure.

[AlwaysaLiberal]

02:06 PM on 02/06/2009

Exactly. I like Dean and would be supportive of it if Obama thought he was right for the job, but the Deaniacs are not helping matters by throwing temper tantrums. It's called politics. Obama didn't promise anyone he would pick Dean. We elected the guy for his policies not his associations.

[Chopin]

03:03 AM on 02/06/2009

Doctor Howard Dean is a good family doctor and actual medical practitioner.
He is also a good political campaign strategist and quiet successful negotiator.
He is also a good shouter -- he sure can shout a goosebumpy warcry to rally the troops !!!
He is also the one rare person whom most independent observers would agree is a very humane, empathic and sensitive man and medical doctor.
He understands the medical profession inside out, the political realities of change, and the medical needs of the nation, and the power of Secretary of Health and Human Services to do good.

That sums up 4 or 5 of the most essential requirements of the post.
It is entirely logical and natural to nominate Dr. Dean for that post.
It would be incomprehensibly illogical and unnatural to pass him up for somebody else less well-qualified and less well-suited for that post than Dr. Dean.

Mr. President, please nominate Dr. Dean. That will enjoy the overwhelming support and approval of a large cross-section of the informed public, of all political leanings.

[goodog]

02:34 AM on 02/06/2009

Rahm Emanuel needs to grow up and get over it.

If Obama can put the 2008 election behind and take on Clinton as SoS, them Emanuel can swallow his bruised ego over losing his debate against Dean's 50-state strategy.

Stop whining, Rahm, and get to work.

[Barbara2423]

11:43 PM on 02/05/2009

I Hope Dean gets appointed.

[Carolab]

10:14 PM on 02/05/2009

Thom Hartmann said that the reason Dean didn't want it is that Obama doesn't want universal health care and Dean does. So we'll have to see how that gets worked out.

[AlwaysaLiberal]

01:50 PM on 02/06/2009

He wants universal health care. He just doesn't think it's a realistic expectation at this time. This has always been his position. He wants something as close to it as possible.

[Carolab]

09:59 PM on 02/05/2009

MOMENTUM FOR DEAN IS BUILDING!!!

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/02/dean_for_hhs_gains_momentum.php

[Carolab]

10:18 PM on 02/05/2009

Letter from Raul Grijalva:

http://politics.theatlantic.com/GrijalvaLetter.pdf

[EnputiSoroi]

08:53 PM on 02/05/2009

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. What a choice! Do I want a criminal or a mentally unstable person?

[Harrygton]

09:21 PM on 02/05/2009

Are you referring to yourself?

[GingerB]

09:32 PM on 02/05/2009

You're pathetic.

[larry278]

08:47 PM on 02/05/2009

Rahm may have to get used to Dr Dean as Secty of HHS or Surgeon General or other appointive office in Pres Obama's administration.

[Carolab]

10:19 PM on 02/05/2009

F**K Rahm. We didn't vote for HIM!

[weatherwaxx]

12:05 AM on 02/06/2009

Prez Obama needs a tough doorkeeper--Emanuel can do that.

I did vote for Dr Dean -- in 04 -- and would LOVE to see him in this post.

[Harrygton]

08:40 PM on 02/05/2009

"They don't want it to seem like they are "bending to the demands of the left," as one Democrat put it -- not because they aren't concerned with progressive priorities, but because the choice will be criticized as an effort in political pacification"

Who the He11 won the last election? This really pizzes me off... Rahm can go and rim himself for all I care... Dr. Howard Dean is the best candidate for HS and he deserves a chance... you owe him that chance Barack... you would not be where you are had he not lay the ground work for your victory in those Caucus States!