Howard Dean: Health Care's Jilted Crusader

The Daily Beast:

The doctor's upper lip is so stiff these days, he might want to write himself a prescription for a muscle relaxant.

Howard Dean--physician turned governor, presidential candidate, and Democratic National Committee chairman--is recovering from an overdose of public humiliation administered by President Barack Obama's inner circle. Now the Man from Vermont is uncomplainingly soldiering onward in the health-insurance-reform battle--a happy warrior for Obamacare.

Read the whole story: The Daily Beast

Comments

[coreypaul]

05:57 PM on 09/05/2009

Equal Treatment for the LGBT Community - Brad is a longtime supporter of LGBT equality and will be a forthright ally in the City Council. Brad will not stand for discrimination in our laws, and will fight to protect civil liberties of all members of our community. Source: http://www.bradlander.com/the-issues

OH..REALLY:

Howard Dean Endorsed Candidate Tied To Anti Gay Ad - News that Brad Lander, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for City Council from Brooklyn who is endorsed by Howard Dean, might have financed a full-page anti-gay adattacking his openly gay opponent Bob Zuckerman in the ultra-orthodox Yiddish newspaper Der Blatt, has outraged gay leaders.
Source: http://thepoweronline.org/blog/?p=936

[motamanx]

08:18 PM on 08/25/2009

Better Dean than Rham.

[wwoody]

11:49 PM on 08/24/2009

Dr. Dean knows how to deal.

[Sally1952]

09:44 PM on 08/24/2009

Governor Dean is my hero, and I hope he continues to be interviewed on every tv show he can promoting healthcare reform with a public option. He has been tireless for the cause.

[vintagefunk]

11:03 PM on 08/24/2009

MIne too. He knows the perfect is the enemy of the good; yet gives full-throated advocacy of the perfect whenever he can. Because he knows it is right.

We've gotta be right there with him.

[Wilbur]

08:19 PM on 08/24/2009

I know the feeling, Gov./Dr. Dean. But YOU are the man! Every day you affirm for me that I was right to vote for you in the Wisconsin Democratic primary in 2004. Thank you!

Wilbur

[Samalabear]

08:18 PM on 08/24/2009

Bill Clinton discussing single-payer and universal health care:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp7WEdcarp0

[MrCoffeeCup]

08:18 PM on 08/24/2009

Let's look at the facts: 1. Doctor=earning a pretty good buck but the cost of insurance for his practice ends that song and dance. 2. Governor=a lifetime income from the State without the high cost of liability insurance 3. Runs for Presidential nominee of the Dem's~no wins..but get's good money to pay bills+travel. 4. Dem's.National Committee Chairman for 4 years=really good earnings, no liability insurance costs and serious power. 5. Loses National Committee Chair. Why? 6. Tom Daschle gets nod to spearhead Obamaland Medical dream, but he's crooked. yet no one remembers Dean is a doctor. Why? Perfect for the job...know how to drive a hard bargain.. Hmmmmmm. Not crooked, doesn't owe back taxes... whas up wid DAT??? Did he like Hillary too much? Wass he be too Anglo saxon....Not even a nod for Surgeon General.
Were Axelrod and Emanuel that vindictive or was it that Dean carries more Charisma and scene stealing power equal to Obama himself? Dean would be the perfect patsy set-up if the medical bill isn't passed until 2011.
And Dean, does he have the Stockholm Syndrome: Love your tormentors??

[weatherwaxx]

10:35 PM on 08/24/2009

Dr. Dean has the intelligence to realize what the REAL goal is.

My sweatshirt from 2004 says: DEAN FOR AMERICA. The website is now DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA.

As President Obama himself has said -- it's not about him. It's not about personal power.

It's about accomplishing something VITAL for America.

And frankly, I think Howard Dean is a stronger voice for all of us than if he had been appointed to the Cabinet and required to toe the party line.

You're a clever troII, but a troII nonetheless. The sneer always gives you away.

[LeeCalif]

07:46 PM on 08/24/2009

Rahm " little d ick" Emmanuel, I loath e you.

[Pegi]

07:03 PM on 08/24/2009

I don't know what Howard Dean did to be so viled by the administration but frankly, they have no BETTER ALLY in this fight than Gov. Dean. I like him - I don't like the way he has been treated. If it wasn't for his doings to a large extent, we would be dealing with mccain/failin. Wake up White House and treat this man with some dignity and respect, which he richly DESERVES!!!

[LeeCalif]

07:41 PM on 08/24/2009

What Dean did was prove that his strategy was the way to win the house, the senate and the presidency.

And no, there is no better ally than Dean. He doesn't hold grudges. But I do !

[TKI]

07:55 PM on 08/24/2009

It seems to me that, if Howard Dean were feeling wronged by the Administration, he would speak for himself...He certainly is man enough

[TKI]

06:47 PM on 08/24/2009

What a creepy analysis. Why is HD not speaking for himself...Or, is someone trying to incite a fight?

[weatherwaxx]

10:37 PM on 08/24/2009

The latter. Divide and conquer.

Howard Dean knows that the mission is to get health care for Americans. The rest is just 'reality show' bullshot.

[epiphany1234]

06:00 PM on 08/24/2009

The Obama administration might want to ostracize the good Dr Dean, but just ask the grass roots and base who they prefer -- Rahm or Howard.

Howard blows the "F"-man out the water!!

[Pegi]

07:04 PM on 08/24/2009

YOU BET HE DOES!

[wijg]

05:17 PM on 08/24/2009

Liberal Democrats have some strong leaders, it's time to split off and leave the impostors in the dust.

[CTtransplant]

04:50 PM on 08/24/2009

It is up to us to continue to push if we want to get Health Care Reform with a Strong Public Option passed - we need to keep up the pressure on these officials that we elected...you know, the ones who are supposed to represent US?

Our taxes pay a majority of the cost of healthcare for our Congress people.

While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.

While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.

While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.

Sign this petition to have paid health care removed from our representatives in Congress until such time as they reform health care - to include a strong public option - for 'we the people' who they are supposed to represent. Then spread the word to anyone and everyone you know!

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html

[PaxEterna]

04:41 PM on 08/24/2009

Obama is afraid of Dean. He doesn't like his message (universal health care), and he doesn't like his delivery: forceful, direct, to the point, concise and matter-of-fact, like any idiot ought to be able to connect these dots.

Obama is afraid that if Dean gets too much airtime delivering HIS message, Obama's bill (the House bill) will get scrutinized and found to be the bogus bill that mandates giveaways to the insurance companies that it is.

[bluehand]

06:26 PM on 08/24/2009

It's worked out better that Dean appears to be separate from the white house. It allows him to say what the white house can't, and smack down the repubs, without the Pres being blamed. Don't you recognize a military strategy when you see it?

[sociocanuck]

06:59 PM on 08/24/2009

Good analysis.

I kind of like that the best messages of former candidates (Howard Dean on Healthcare and Al Gore on the environment) can actually be heard best and clearest from a distance. The wouldn't have the kind of influence they do being caught in the middle; at least not until the obstructionist agenda is clearly exposed and invalidated.

Once it is, either man's position will ultimately be vindicated. Garuanteed.

[bluehand]

06:27 PM on 08/24/2009

I meant a "political strategy."

[jemborg]

04:09 PM on 08/24/2009

Wow! I'm a freedom loving Aussie and I find this paranoia over decent pubic health care amazing.

We've had it for almost 30 years.

I've expounded on this in many of Huffo's threads but let me simply say... America you deserve better, do not believe the Conservative lies.

NB: It took two goes in my country to get universal Medicare established. The Conservatives got rid of it when they got voted back in. The Labor Party re-established it at the next election after that. And although they have undermined it every time they got back into power the Conservatives don't dare try to get rid of it again. What I am getting at here is you have to push HARD for it- it's NOT going to happen through bi-partisanship.

[Nonpartay]

04:17 PM on 08/24/2009

The paranoia is really amazing to me, too. Conservatives don't realize how much they're being used by big business to further their aims at the expense of the people, at the expense of their own self-interests. I don't know why they should be such willing sheep, going along with such an inhumane and unfair system as the one we have in this country. It's a mystery to me. Glad to hear your country is more enlightened.

[jemborg]

03:52 AM on 08/25/2009

I guess it's because their beliefs are faith based.

[annieooo]

09:01 PM on 08/24/2009

Thank you soooo much for taking the time to write and give us your view. As a former RN I have been waiting for more than 30 years for health care reform. I have seen far too many patients suffer because of health insurance corruption. I am fighting back by supporting the marches and demonstrations for single payer health care on Sept 8th and 13th and encouraging everyone to drop their health insurance policies so that their premiums will stop paying for the corruption. Howard Dean has been a tremendous advocate for single payer and deserves the Medal of Honor for his work.

[jemborg]

03:55 AM on 08/25/2009

You are most welcome annieooo. Have a good month of Sept. All the best.