Gibbs Lashes Back At Dean, Suggests He's Irrational

On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs strongly hit back at former DNC Chairman Howard Dean for criticizing the Senate health care bill, suggesting, at one point, that Dean was being irrational and didn't understand the contents of the legislation.

"I don't know what piece of legislation he is reading," said Gibbs.

"I would ask Dr. Dean, how better do you address those who don't have insurance: passing a bill that will cover 30 million who don't currently have it or killing the bill?" he added. "I don't think any rational person would say killing the bill makes a whole lot of sense at this point."

Asked if Dean was acting irrationally, Gibbs replied: "I can't tell what his motives are, to be honest with you."

A prominent champion of the public plan, Dean has strongly criticized the recent round of compromises made by Senate Democratic leadership, in which the public option was axed and a provision to expand Medicare was also sacrificed. The former Vermont governor has called the current incarnation a give-away to the insurance industry because it won't effectively control the cost of premiums and would not create additional competition for the private market. Gibbs went through a list of Dean's complaints, rebutting them one by one. He also insisted that, during his run for the White House in 2004, Dean ran on a platform that resembled the current Senate bill.

"If this is an insurance company's dream, I think the insurance companies have yet to get the memo," he summarized.

In actuality, the insurance companies do seem to have considered the recent round of negotiations a victory, with one executive telling Ben Smith of Politico: "We win."

The relationship between Dean and the White House has been frosty, starting when the president did not pick the former DNC chair for the post of Health and Human Services Secretary. But the rhetoric from Gibbs on Wednesday brought the animus to a far more public level.

Asked if they are worried that Dean's criticism of the bill will sway progressives in the Senate, Gibbs replied: "No."

Asked if Dean was an irritant, Gibbs replied: "That is not a question for me to answer. I think if you look at what Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and others have said, I think they can point out the benefits of the legislation."

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Comments

[SlappHappy]

05:40 PM on 02/22/2010

The Case for A PRIMARY CHALLENGE BY HOWARD DEAN, 2012:

"For all his hard work, Dean was rewarded by being passed over for the new Cabinet and was not invited to continue running the DNC. What’s more, in an ugly bit of symbolism, RahmObama named as press secretary Robert Gibbs, who was spokesman for the Democratic 527 committee whose sleazy advertising contributed to killing off Dean in the Iowa caucuses six years ago.

Already detested by Emanuel (our new Dick Cheney), Dean has more recently committed the cardinal sin of party disloyalty by openly denouncing Obama’s (and Max Baucus’s and Joe Lieberman’s) attempt to transfer huge amounts of taxpayer money to Wellpoint and other big insurance companies. So what’s he got to lose, except maybe an election? The country, on the other hand, might have much to gain. And Obama could relearn an important lesson about politics, and the consequences of betrayal."

--John R. MacArthur, "Rattle Obama with primary challenger"

[Maygressive]

03:41 PM on 12/18/2009

Gibby you aren't on Dean's level don't go there dude !

[ctom]

06:32 AM on 12/18/2009

Oh I love this. We've been saying Obama is a fake. Look, this dog wasn't worth keeping, let alone to feed it. Now that it's biting your hands, people get upset? The guy is a fake. Hillary was a better choice and 13 months after the fact, people begin to realize. At least she has some backbone and knows better not the bite the hand that feeds it. GOP doesn't matter anymore and during this one time when Dems have both houses with overwhelming majorities and the WH, they still can't have it their way? This is all Dems fault.

[pyradius]

07:03 PM on 12/22/2009

It's garbage like this that instigates more frustration from fellow Dem's (myself not included because I don't buy it)...

The 60 "fillibuster-proof" majority was always a joke. It was a media stretch to try and show Democrats could suddenly "do whatever they wanted" without concern. It was BARELY pulled off with a recount and a "party-changer" who changed parties in name only. This does not suddenly translate into "PASS WHATEVER WE WANT". It's also a lot easier for Republicans to appear unified with their Part of No process. Democrats in my opinion have always had a broader base of people they appeal to and we do NOT always agree on many important issues.

[RationalDubSteppa]

01:13 AM on 12/18/2009

Gibbs should watch what he says. His @$$ wouldn't be in the white house if it wasn't for Dean taking control of the DNC and forcing the dems to grow a pair.

[chicagurl]

03:28 AM on 12/18/2009

Exactly. The White House owes a lot to Dr. Dean, they're being very disrespectful.

[clsez]

12:52 AM on 12/18/2009

But not a peep of criticism directed at Lieberman.
If you wanted your guide map, it has been placed in front of you on the wall at 12 O'clock. Don't miss it.

[AnnfromCA]

12:42 AM on 12/18/2009

Gibbs is starting to look a bit ragged around the edges.

[USAFVET76]

01:02 AM on 12/18/2009

So is his boss. This rule of not being able to vote Present is starting to take its toll on him. Silly rule he says.

[bayviking]

12:23 AM on 12/18/2009

Dean was the Chair of Democratic Campaign Committee in for 2008. He created the fifty State strategy. The Democrats won big, for Obama. No Democrat was more deserving of Obama's gratitude. He was promptly sidelined. Instead we get Rahm Emanuel.

Dean got the job done in Vermont and on the National level. He is anything but irrational. The Democrats better start listening to him or they will be in real trouble.

[kgb999]

12:55 AM on 12/18/2009

Yep. He rebuilt the party after the DLCers destroyed it in the 90's and it didn't even take 5 months back in power before the same people have it headed right at the same cliff they've already driven over once.

Both parties are broken ... likely beyond repair.

[carol]

10:59 PM on 12/20/2009

Right on! I have been upset about Dean not getting a WH appointment since Obama was sworn in. He's a natural for Sec/Health or Surgeon General. Instead we get Sebellius who is a serious bore and has, as far as I know, contributed nothing to the reform dialogue. She's a runner- up, of course, to Dashle (who withdrew his nomination) who is on the HealthCare gravy train. Howard Dean is enlightened, informed, articulate, and a good Democrat. What a farce that he's been dissed by Gibbs.

[lordmi]

10:31 PM on 12/17/2009

Really?
Are you rational placing Mandat and taking off Public option in any form?
How people would be able to get Mandat?
Dems, you screw the thing.

[Aerows]

10:20 PM on 12/17/2009

Sir, you are irrational if you think the same sh*t is going to go on for 3 more years. We've put it off as long as we are going to. It's Christmas, and it doesn't even feel like it for most households in America, because we don't have justice. The Democrats are in office, and it's still the same "covering for criminals" agenda.

The Republicans are doing no better - they are covering as fast as they can for their criminals. It is time for REAL change we can believe in - accountability. Everyone forgot about that in the drama of Health Care Reform that never happened, and isn't going to happen. That's a shiny object. Let's start looking at real problems. A war that isn't going to end, but will supply an endless supply of paychecks to people we don't like and are sick of having a stranglehold.

[JinChicago]

10:05 PM on 12/17/2009

call the whitehouse

gibbs must apologize or be fired; depending on if he was making remarks that didnt support the presidents views.

if it is in agreement with the president; well i hate to say it but progressives are being sold up the river BIG TIME

[carol]

11:02 PM on 12/20/2009

You're naive if you think Gibbs didn't speak for the WH. These guys don't say anything that might be misconstrued unless they want to. Gibbs' comment was a clear jab at Howard Dean with the goal of shutting down any progressive dialogue about the current iteration of the HCR bill.

[grf67]

09:40 PM on 12/17/2009

Right now, the White House is being run by amateurs who are trying to get reelected in 2012. Gibbs may be the leading amateur. If we do not see some real leadership from the president, he will not have to concern himself with 2012.

[RockyMissouri]

09:14 PM on 12/17/2009

Gibbs is alright- he was cool...

[mrohrbe]

09:09 PM on 12/17/2009

Gibbs is a good soldier, but this is one instance where he and a bunch of advisors, senate leaders and spokespeople are lying through their teeth about Dean and his appropriate critiques of this bill. It's not too late for Reconciliation to enable Medicare for Everyone option, along with Medicare/Medicaid Reforms, in tandem with stripped down legislation emphasizing private insurance reforms and preventive care that is broadly supported. A Xmas deadline is a fiction.

[carol]

11:08 PM on 12/20/2009

I agree. I've always liked Gibbs. He can only work with what he's given tho...

[tangelan]

08:59 PM on 12/17/2009

Mr. Gibbs wouldn't be where he is without Howard Dean. We wouldn't have a majority in the House and Senate without Howard Dean. Show some flippin respect!

[legalies76]

07:38 PM on 12/17/2009

Gibbs and Obama are sell-outs who tricked the American People.

[lordmi]

10:32 PM on 12/17/2009

do not blah-blah-blah, give me a proof

[kgb999]

01:10 AM on 12/18/2009

The current health care bill ... and Gibbs trashing Dean in the White House press room while Rham is dispatched to the Capitol to twist Harry Reid's arm into giving Lieberman everything he wants?

The die-hard Obama apologists should join with the die-hard Bushies and form a "head-in-the-sand" club ... in both imaginary universes the president does no wrong.

[kgb999]

01:12 AM on 12/18/2009

Did you even read the article we're commenting on? MHO, it serves as a proof.