Howard Dean To Become Regular CNBC Contributor (VIDEO)

Former DNC Chair Howard Dean will become a regular contributor for the business news network CNBC, a source close to the former Vermont Governor confirms. Dean started his new gig on Monday morning with a guest-hosting appearance on the station.

The move comes at a time when CNBC is under intense pressure to change its format and criticism for its failures to report or foresee much of today's economic crisis. In this regard, Dean -- who worked on Wall Street after graduating college and has family ties to the financial sector, but has nevertheless been an early critic of the business practices that contributed to the current recession -- should be a refreshing presence, particularly for progressive economists.

But the decision to bring the recently departed DNC Chair on board, the source says, was finalized well before the current wave of CNBC-angst. So while grassroots groups have sprouted up in recent weeks petitioning the network to make wholesale changes, Dean's hiring can't be viewed as a direct result of public pressure.

"This was in the works long before the Jon Stewart stuff," said the source, "but it will be good for our side to have him on."

"I'm going to be neutral between Jon Stewart -- who I'm enormously fond of -- and Cramer," Dean told Politico. "I like CNBC because I can offer them a different perspective that they would find useful."

The Dean hire was announced on Monday's "Squawk Box." Watch:

Comments

[Bitsko]

That wasn't "CNBC-angst," that was CNBC-disgust.

[TheJokeIsOnUs]

Dean is not allowed to appear at the same time as Jim Cramer because experts warn that their combined shouting may cause avalanches.

[Bitsko]

Gov. Dean had a lot to do with the Democrats winning both houses of Congress and the White House. He can "scream" all he wants for all I care. Wish he was back in politics, though.

[openlids]

me too Bitsko, me too.

[kdlaiusa]

His strategy has helped Obama win the election.

What can that Michael Steele do for GOP?

[EdCinOK]

Dean is a very wise and hard working representative of the Democratic Party. His victory screams for the recent campaign should still be ringing across the nation. But all republicans can talk about is the one time they know of that he lost his voice along the campaign trail.. They are so smug and small human beings. That is why our economy is so hugely out of whack. Because such small people got too much control and power over our lives. They moved us under a dictatorship mentality where they told Americans what to believe through their republican brainwashing machine. It's time America heard from the Democratic Party that is going to save our nation. It's most certainly time for Change and Change is a coming!!! Bring it on down Howard!!!

[Pettit]

I sooooo agree with you!

[BlueZoo]

He didn't scream this morning! He was low-key and terrific!

[LeftLeaner]

HUH (scratching head)!

Now he's an expert on finance, not that that ever was a prerequisite for hosting on this lame network as it turns out.

Anyway, I thought he was considering Surgeon General.

I'm confused.

[sarabono]

Read SOLERSO68's post just a few post prior. He/She gave an excellent, concise review of Dr. Dean's background.

He is Old School, East Coast, Upper Crust, Aristocratic, Buku Bucks.

[Bitsko]

Franklin D. Roosevelt was an "aristocrat." John F.. Kennedy was an "aristocrat." Gov. Dean is also a physician, not a spoiled brat stockbroker.

[Bitsko]

No, he wasn't in the running for Surgeon General. Where do people come up with this stuff?

[tjc7513]

The Surgeon General is not an elected office. Might have been able to buy it from Obama, Chicago Politics you know....

[AdGuy]

HIs father at one time was the head of, but no relation to, Dean-Whitter.
Before deciding to chuck it all and go to medical school, Howard Dean was following in his father's footsteps.

[sarabono]

He doesn't need money. Dr. Dean is old school money like the Kennedy's . He has his at least $100 Million personal wealth and probably much more.

He wants to be part of the debate. He needs TV face time in order to reinsert his views back into the debate. CNBC is a much better outlet than MSNBC or CNN for him to accomplish his goal. He certainly knows where the "power" is.

[vesaversa1]

I like it Dean will bring some credibility to the babyfox news channel .

[sarabono]

CNBC is a Financial News Channel.....It is not a General News Channel like CNN ....... Nor is it a one sided Political Opinion Channel like MSNBC. To say it is a "babyfox' channel shows a complete lack of understanding of CNBC and it's audience which includes 68% of Americans that own financial instruments / investments.

[mrfreeze]

CNBC is not a news channel of any sort. CNBC is an entertainment channel, nothing more. Here's a simple test of media outlet legitimacy and importance: If the channel/network ceased to exist, would it negatively affect the world? If CNBC went away tomorrow (along with CNN, FOX, NBC, ABC & CBS) we would all be unburdened by the shoddy journalism and fear-mongering that has plagued us for the last 30 years. Not one single life would be affected negatively. The fact that Americans waste their valuable Life's energy watching TV news is sad and disturbing.

[LeftLeaner]

Or used to include 68% of Americans that own financial instruments/investments, that is, if they took Kramer's advice - LOL - not funny, though, I'm afraid.

[RickyPoo]

"Nor is it a one sided Political Opinion Channel."

LOVE the caps, btw.

File this one under the OTHER delusional rantings of the few remaining GOPers:

"Katrina was all Gov. Blanco's fault."

"Bush inherited a recession from Clinton, not a surplus."

"Bush kept us safe."

"Water boarding is not torture."

"Barney Frank and Chris Dodd caused the economic collapse."

"Sarah Palin is a moderate."

"John McCain's POW experience automatically qualified him to be President." (You sure did jump all over Gen. Clark when he said that it didn't.)

"John McCain is a bipartisan moderate."

"We HATE the AIG bonuses." (Even tho we did everything we could over the past 8 years to give the entire Treasury to the kind of people who received them.)

And now, a network with a host who is actively using his show for a GOP Senate run in CT is not a one sided Political Opinion Channel.

Whatever....

Just one more example of delusional GOP pablum as your party continues its Death March to irrelevancy.....

[dphilip]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhaaaaawwwwwwwww!

[SOLERSO68]

dr phi,l ladies and gentelmen

[SOLERSO68]

the sound of the republican party in severe pain.

[sarabono]

I think he would be very welcome reasoned voice on CNBC, He should be head of HHS. The "Chicago (Obama / Rham) Mafia" blew it.

[Wiseup2Day]

Great..now CNBC is turning into a political show to squelch any criticism of economic policy..lovely..this admin and it's media supporters are weak..Donnie Duetsche now Dean..both non-financial people..We are turning into Russia..and the media is welcoming it with open arms.

[AdGuy]

He WAS a financial person. But even if he weren't, could he possibly be any worse for capitalism than Jim Cramer?

[nogimmicks]

Obama chose corrupt Rahm over honest Howard, Rahm appointed Summers (derivative deregulation architect) and Geithner, and this "wonderful" team with the Fed in no time pushed the incredible amount of the public money to the bankers and insurance companies and printed trillions of inflationary dollars thus imposing an "invisible" Fed tax on everyone. All this activity to launder the hundreds of trillions they made by selling the fraudulent unsupported "derivatives" to the world. "Crime and reward" is the name for it.
The Republicans never even dreamed of stealing this kind of money, initially they were asking for 50-100B for the war and ended up giving the public a bill for a trillion or two.

[amanaceo]

but steal, they did. on attacking a country that has not harmed us to promote their self-interests (watch closely for Bush family's actions in the Arab world with their petro-buddies).

[BannedInBoston]

He certainly knows how to purse his lips -- probably not a bad qualification for Talking Head.

[BlueZoo]

I saw Dean this morning on CNBC and he was terrific! He's funny and has a breadth of knowledge I was unaware of. Maybe he's matured or maybe he's learned from past gaffs. Whatever happened, this Dean is made for this job! Bravo to CNBC!

[joebaggadonuts]

I managed to catch his appearance on CNBC when they were interviewing Dick Armey. The rest of the crew kept calling that fool Armey "Leader Armey" while giving the visual and verbal snub to Dean. I thought Dean was a guest, but now that he is apparently a part of the crew, I am looking forward to a slightly more balanced CNBC in the future. It was heartening to watch as Non-leader Armey and the crew were trashing the Obama-Geithner plans while the Dow was jumping up in the background (or at least the futures were). Now the Dow is up nearly 350. The market is giving them the invisible middle finger now.

[tokenconservative]

Maybe it's just my ignorance, but wasn't Dean a doctor?

[loucreattie]

From article:

"Dean -- who worked on Wall Street after graduating college and has family ties to the financial sector"

Yes he is a doctor.

[SOLERSO68]

His famillies buisness is banking. His father and brother were investment bankers and Dean worked on wal st before he was a doctor. The Dean in Dean Whittier comes from his familly. They are one of the oldest and richest famillies in New York. He was also a 3 term Governor, and an old school Keynesian. He should provide shome balance for that market fanatic netowrk.

[emmasvoice]

Maybe Dean can bring some order to CNBC. I like Howard Dean aand if CNBC is trying to bring some class and honesty to the network, Dean may be the right guy. Lord knows though that I am afraid for him being thrust into those vultures.

[goodog]

I LOVE Howard Dean, but his recent decision to do work for a lobbyist and, now, CNBC gives me heartburn.

i like taking the message to the enemy, but you can do it without becoming one of them.

That's my natural reflex, but I hold off demoting the man in my esteem. I worry, though, because CNBC sounds like the kind of place a guy like Dean can get too carried away and say crazy things.

With these two decisions, to work for a lobbyist and one of the obviously more corrupt and craven parts of the financial industry, I must assume that Dean has given up on the idea of sparing his reputation for another run for president. And that's disappointing.

But he's surprised me before, and I'll GLADLY be surprised again. Dean, more than anybody, is the come-back kid.

[marinade]

Kind of pales in comparison to Geithner's ties to Wall Street and Emanuel being a former hedgefunder.

[Tosca]

Dean does not work for a CORPORATE lobbyist. Lobbyist is a generic term for those who are organized behind an issue in order to influence legislators to back laws supporting their views. Believe it or not, there ARE lobbyists who promote progressive issues--that's what Dean's lobbying connection is. GET OVER the "crazy" thing!! He was never CRAZY, CNN and MSNBC and FOX just made him out to be because they were furious that he advocated breaking up media conglomerates!

Don't worry about Dean becoming "one of THEM"! He knows who he is and he's not for sale.

[Pablo175]

Howard wants money!

[Snuffleupagus]

Typical smear tactic of right winger.
Always accuse the good liberal of chasing money, while ignoring the wealth and greed of his idols in the Republican party.

[sarabono]

Dean is filthy rich, just like Kennedy, Gore, Pelosi and our Heinz Ketchup baby. Geezzz.

They wer all born with a golden spoon in their mouth.

[RickyPoo]

I would love to see Gov. Dean quote this graf from his book, "Winning Back America". This one paragraph PERFECTLY sums up the Bush years.:

"The president's tax cuts are much more than simply a giveaway to friends and supporters. They are part of a massive strategy to starve the core programs that have shaped our country's safety net for sixty years. And with this strategy, they are putting at risk the future of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and countless other programs designed to ensure that our middle class stays strong and working families can make ends meet."

Dr. Dean was describing perfectly in 2004 what the Repubs were doing and, thus, implicitly predicting the mess that the next president would have to clean up as a result.

So let him quote this paragraph in his first appearance on CNBC while we all watch Rick Santelli's head explode.

Now THAT would be "all the business news I need from the LEADER in business news"....;)