Dean Allies Suspicious Of Surgeon General Leaks, See Politics At Play

Allies of Howard Dean are saying that recent leaks from the White House, in which anonymous officials suggest that the former DNC Chair is being considered for the post of Surgeon General, seem suspiciously-timed and politically motivated.

"The White House knows Dean indicated he was not interested last December, so it seems odd that they are floating his name," said one ally of the former Vermont Governor. "I question the timing given that they have been getting criticism for how he's been treated."

Late last week,CNN quoted two White House officials saying they "would not dismiss" the possibility of Dean taking the post after Dr. Sanjay Gupta had withdrawn from consideration. The network also quoted "one Democratic strategist close to Dean" saying, unequivocally, that the former DNC chair would accept the appointment if offered.

But from conversations with several Dean allies, one gets the exact opposite read. "This is a position that Dean has already indicated he is not interested in back in December when his name was floated," said one confidant. That his name would now be mentioned seemed like a late-hour attempt to placate Dean backers angry over his absence from the administration, not a serious proposal.

Dean, in an interview with the Huffington Post, made it clear that he once held interest in being appointed secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. But with that nomination going first to former Majority Leader Tom Daschle and then to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, he has turned his sights to achieving health care reform from outside of elected office, those close to him insist. His plate is certainly full. Dean is scheduled to take on roughly seven different part-time gigs, including renewing his work with Democracy for America, serving as an adviser for the firm McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, working at the National Democratic Institute, and consulting foreign politicians on progressive politics.

The White House did not return a request for comment.

Comments

[mark12345]

To deny Howard Deans leadership and judgment in the presidential election of 2008 is to deny General Sherman's supremacy in the “Great March to The Sea” during The Civil War. While there were many good Capitan’s and many doubters among them,like Sherman. the dominion of General, Doctor, Howard Dean was the force that allowed us to prevail.

You know, to this day Lee Atwater ( the republican chairman)is credited with Geo HW Bush's victory in 1989.
Napoleon is quoted as saying that "History is mutually agreed upon fiction". It ain't, like that today..We do not agree with you revisionist. Your falsehoods are lain butt assed naked in the information age.

[joeinvt]

Since Sanjay Gupta turned down the position, which will never be offered to Howard Dean (who would have to be crazy to take it anyway), I nominate Dr. Ferdie Pacheco for Surgeon General. Ferdie is a real fighter with lots of media experience who knows how to handle heavyweights.

[Ratso]

I think Dean would be very good.

[mark12345]

To deny Howard Deans leadership and judgment in the presidential election of 2008 is to deny General Sherman's supremacy in the “Great March to The Sea” during The Civil War. While there were many good Capitan’s and many doubters among them,like Sherman. the dominion of General, Doctor, Howard Dean was the force that allowed us to prevail.

You know, to this day Lee Atwater ( the republican chairman)is credited with Geo HW Bush's victory in 1989.
Napoleon is quoted as saying that "History is mutually agreed upon fiction". It ain't, like that today..We do not agree with you revisionist. Your falsehoods are lain you naked in the information age.

[mark12345]

This man is so significant to the Obama presidential victory that he should have been a default to President Obama’s cabinet. I'm very, very, disappointed that he's been dissed in this manner. Why hasn’t Rahm beat up on the republican house members...­Ohhh, I know,cuz we’ll get them in the midterm elections. But to not appoint Howard Dean to the Obama administration is a disservice to the American people.

[duchamp2008]

Dean's 00.15:30 of fame is over. He's a buffoonish character, not ready for Obama's team of grownups. What is perverse is all the Deaniacs who get upset when the good Dr. isn't named Czar of Dog Catchers. Get over him already.

[ProudLiberalDan]

Without Dean, Obama could not have happened.

Without Dean, the Democrats might still be in the minority.

Get over your Obama worship already.

[duchamp2008]

Very few people care about Dean. I think you'll have to accept that eventually. Face it: Obama gets at least 4 years. Dean flamed out after 15 minutes in 2004 (against a weak field). One last YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR! for the road.

[mark12345]

How dare you !
Dr Dean as the head of the democratic party fielded the most unlikely candidate in American history.Fo­r that matter, in the history of the western world .Not only did his leadership succeed with that candidate. But the party received an overwhelming MANDATE to rule. Your comment could have come from the foaming lips of Rush Limbaugh. Dr Dean has done more for the American people in one year than the arrogant,v­indictive,­ruthless Rahm has done in more than ten.
And more people like Dr Dean than Rahm.I think Emanuel is neck deep in the Blagoy cesspool, “quiet as it's kept”....T­hough not for long :)

[duchamp2008]

You act as if Dean won the election. Nice of you to undermine Obama and attribute everything to Dean. How risible.

[Ratso]

Obama's team of grown-ups? You must be kidding. Nice advice on the gifts to the British dude. Check the London tabloids. Grown-ups?

[duchamp2008]

You're asking me to check the London tabloids. Tabloids? LOL!

[goodog]

I wish Dean had been offered HHS, but I hope he takes the surgeon general position, instead of some of the alternative work he discussed.

Public policy work at McKenna Long & Aldridge sounds similar to the path Daschle took. And that's what bothered me about Daschle's recent background.

http://www.mckennalong.com/practices-37.html

"Many of our professionals have held senior level positions in the executive and legislative branches of federal, state and local government. This experience provides a unique perspective that is often critical in resolving issues involving government.

"We regularly assist clients with matters pending before federal agencies. In the legislative arena, we draft legislation, testify before legislative and executive bodies, advocate the passage or defeat of legislation, and generally assist clients in the development and implementation of programs to affect public policy decisions.­"

I like the idea of Howard Dean as MY lobbyist, but I don't like the idea of him working for one. This could hamper his prospects later, such as it did for Daschle.

[tbone99]

He would have been ideal for HHS but the Surgeon general job is basically just an advertising job for public health. It would be a waste of his skills.

[partyofone]

Dean may not deserve to be appointed to anything, but he does deserve respect from the White House. Rahm Emanuel would do well to stop playing distractiv­e,get-even politics, spurred on by his fellow Clinton loyalists Paul Begala and Jame Carville. He really needs to focus on the VERY difficult but essential implementation of the Obama reform agenda.

[Maxiesid]

I think that Dr. Dean would have been an excellent choice for HHS... but, since we can see how that is all going, it is important that he be able to work outside the beltway bunch in order to try to help the rest of the American people get single payer healthcare through the system. Yes, I know, the big insurance companies are already hysterically making sure that they have people lined up in government to make sure that wont happen, (Rush, Faux News, Rupert Murdoch, etc -people that have never had to worry about having healthcare in their lives) but I think we can do it. Get the profit out of healthcare and our country starts to be brought back from the edge of the disaster we are heading for... if the politicians can't get with that then they should lose their excellent healthcare plan that we are all paying for them to have and they should have to deal with it like everyone else. No more double standards.

[Ratso]

For HHS I think Dr. Kenneth Olden (former Environmental Health Services Director) is the man for the job. He has everything.

[Palemoon]

Dean will simply join a growing list of REAL Democrats who are marginalized, ostracized, generalized and otherwise kicked to the curb by their own Party. Folks like Murtha, Kucinich and now Dean. Not to mention all of us voters who voted for the Dems in both 06 and 08, which I voted full slate 100% Democrat both times. What do I have to show for it? NADA. I've been kicked to the curb too. The Washington Insiders like Reid, Pelosi and some others, were real quick in setting up their little Junta in order to keep the real Democrats at bay. Who they are working for and who is paying them off, is what I want to know. Actually, I demand to know. But as a constituent, I'll be told again the same old tired line, "I don't work for you, I work for the American people".

Washington DC, the more things change, the more they stay the same. One Rove for another. The only thing that did change was the names on the desks.

[LeeCalif]

That's why Nader's third party idea is the only way to accomplish what we want to accomplish.

No more $$ to dems.

[Palemoon]

Sadly, looks like you will be right in the longterm forseeable future. The only way to root out the corruption, cronyism and buddyism is to get a third party showing some strength in Congress. For the life of me, I can't figure out why we don't have 3 or 4 parties represented in Congress.

[duchamp2008]

Ralph Nader: "To put it simply, he [Barack Obama] is our first African American president, or he will be. And we wish him well. But his choice, basically, is whether he is going to be Uncle Sam for the people of this country or Uncle Tom for the giant corporatio­ns."

You like this loser?

[JustAThought56]

On its own your post is completely irrational. As a strategy for trying to mobilize other Democrats by putting the "kicked to the curb by President Obama" meme into the blogosphere, it makes sense.

Jack Murtha is being investigated by the FBI for illegally steering $98 million in contracts to the PMA Group, Inc. He probably already has a higher profile than he should, and the fact that the Ethics committee is not investigating him is probably a mistake.

Dennis Kucinich frequently takes far left wing positions that would only serve to widen the partisan divide (let's find the guy who talks about prosecuting Cheney and Bush and elevate him in Congress while we simultaneously deal with a serious economic crisis that is threatening our national security - great idea!)

Howard Dean has until very recently been involved in a lawsuit related to the retaliatory firing of a staff member whose partner published an article critical of Dean. His last act as DNC chair was to sign off on the six-figure settlement. Mr. Dean will be out of the limelight for a bit.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were in charge of the House and Senate for two years before President Obama showed up. You think at a time like this he should get into a power struggle with the Congressional Democratic leadership because...­.why? How does that help?

Neo-con meme designed to divide. Next?

[Palemoon]

Being that you listed 3 neocon engineered smear campaigns, the one against Murtha was orchestrated by Rove, seems to me that you are the Neocon. ;o)

All I am doing is trying to bring one ounce of respect and credibility back to this country by getting rid of the corrupt element. Meanwhile, you are behaving like one of the PUMA operatives. Remember them? Every single one was a republican paid operative. Yet, because they played the part of disaffected Hillary supporters, and the media buying into it gave them one ounce of credibility, well, that's how they almost managed to fool some people. They didn't fool me for even 1 nanosecond. A charlatan such as yourself in half the time. ;)

[Snuffleupagus]

So that is the tactic is it? Any legitimate criticism of Democrats coming from the left is met with hostility and accusations of being a neocon.
Oh that is rich!
Since the whole issue here IS the neo-con infestation of the Democratic party by right wing DLC types. The very same DLC neo-cons who have genuinely kicked Kucinich, Dean and other liberal Democrats to the curb.

PS we agree on Murtha, must be an accident or something.­...

[Helzapoppin]

This a monumental waste of talent by the Obama administration. Thanks for nothing, Rahm. Team of Rivals? More like Team of Middling, Timid Half-wits (yes, I'm looking at you, Timmy).

On the other hand, I am very excited about Dean's reported return to greater involvement with DFA, and am certain he will do well in his private healthcare reform efforts as well.

[trudem2]

With the Herculean task before the Obama administration and the country of establishing a viable universal health care system by the end of the year, it seems Dr Dean could be assigned a top position in devising our new system. Hillary Clinton took on that responsibility as First Lady -- Dean could certainly take on a similar role in some capacity other than Secretary of HHS...... a position could created for him to fill with the aim of addressing universal health care and that alone, leaving Sebelius to tackle all the other issues that fall under HHS. Dean did not and DOES NOT have to be overlooked in this endeavor -- specifically, universal health care.

[partyofone]

trudem2, tell the truth. As first lady, Hillary so badly fumbled health care reform in the early 1990s with her arrogance, secrecy and ineptitude , it has taken 15 years to get the issue back on the national agenda. Please, please do not invoke Hillary as an example for this era of reform.

[tbone99]

It wasn't her so much as the forces arrayed against her by the healthcare industry and insurance companies. And of course the repugs were not going to allow the Clintons to succeed at anything - just like they're trying to do now - but now we have a Dem Congress.

its a lot different today - even many physicians now support universal and single payer and so do corporations . And with so many people out of work - its obvious its a broken system.

[humbop]

I, for one, am withholding all future donations to the DNC and to Obama for this slight on Dean. It's outrageous, and I'm sure it stems from Rahm's petty and juvenile vindictiveness. Obama should have been more grateful towards Dean.

[JustAThought56]

Ridiculous. Until this past January Dr. Dean has been involved in a lawsuit for the retaliatory firing of a staff member because his partner criticized Dean. You want that front and center when we are trying to investigate Gonzalez for doing the exact same thing?

[JulieinVT]

Blogging for Rahmbo, eh?

[citizensrus]

Dean should be a Senator. He should have been President. I don't want him in a honorary role of Surgeon General. He needs to be able to make a difference, his skills are necessary to the progressive movement. Obama has turned a blind eye to Dean, and this opens my eyes to Obama.

[LeeCalif]

If Dean would have become President, there would be a completely different reality.

[JustAThought56]

If Dr. Dean was meant to be President he would have won the primary. He is not a Senator because, among other things, he has never run for the Senate.

The Surgeon General's office has a very high profile and a considerable amount of political power. Your contention that it is honorary denigrates the powerful role of the Surgeon General and the influence of the Surgeon General's report.

You don't think that the Surgeon General's campaign to put health warnings on tobacco products was significant? On alcoholic beverages? You don't think it mattered when C. Everett Koop wrote the US policy on AIDS urging that we start educating kids in grade school and mailing AIDS information to every house in America? Or that his refusal to cave to political pressure from Reagan and claim that abortion was physically harmful to women mattered?

[AceInTheHole]

At first I thought it would be a good idea for him to be offered the post and I stated as such in my other post on here.. But after reading some of the angry post by some of his former dyed in the wool supporters. I think he just might be more of an distraction than an asset to the new administration. I admire his work at the DNC but there he was at the helm and practically answered to no one with clout. But him trying to fit into an hierarchy may not suit his temperament because every post he has ever held, he has been the titular head, except maybe in his marriage of course.lol

[Snuffleupagus]

That is quite the extensive psychoanalysis of Howard Dean.
Why don't we just stick to the real issues here and forget the personalities?

Dean is for single payer, and the entire Obama administration is opposed.
More good info on this issue from a trusted source.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/6/as_obama_hosts_summit_on_health

[reliant1]

Then why would anyone in their right minds expect Obama to choose Dean for any post if Dean does not agree with Obama...yo­u said it best..."De­an is for single payer, and the entire Obama administration is opposed."

If Dean is in disagreement with Obama over such a huge issue why would Obama allow him anywhere near his admin or future legislatio­n...that would be the act of a fool.

[Manx]

Obama made a huge mistake when he appointed Tim Geithner treasurer. He made a big mistake in appointing Sebelius as head of HHS, which was a political payoff. It should have been Howard Dean, who is spirited and dedicated to the task. According to the NY Times, Sebelius' record on health-care legislation in Kansas isn't impressive. Her attempt at bipartisan legislation failed.

Offering Dean the position of Surgeon General is a consolation prize, an insult. He is over-qualified.

[JustAThought56]

Do you have anything to support your contention that Tim Geithner with his extensive education and experience in domestic and global economics and Howard Dean who has no such education or experience, should have been Seceretary of the Treasury?

Kathleen Sebelius is credited with bringing the state out from under the influence of the insurance industry. She has a long history of successfully fighting the insurance industry. She was named as one of the five best governors of the year in 2005, in part for eliminating the $1.1 billion debt she inherited by ferreting out waste and strongly supporting education - all without raising taxes. She is also admired for her bipartisan approach to problem-solving.

She seems a very qualified candidate for many reasons. Perhaps if Dr. Dean had not gotten involved in a lawsuit over a retaliation -firing of a DNC staff member, which he signed off on just in January of this year, and if he did not have a stated position that excludes the possibility of working with the insurance industry, which is a political necessity, he would have been a contender.

[Snuffleupagus]

Tim Geithner was a huge mistake. Like gorilla huge. Huge.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=12462

[Manx]

JustAThought56

"Kathleen Sebelius is credited with bringing the state out from under the influence of the insurance industry."

Is that why insurance companies in Kansas are praising her appointment?

You are naive to think a lawsuit had anything to do with Dr. Dean's exclusion. Rahm Emanuel's petty dislike for Dean had everything to do with it.

[JulieinVT]

Wow, you really ARE blogging for Rahmbo. Just about every post supporting Dean has a negative reply from you.