We'll Miss The Vermont Rebel Yell

There's a story on Politico, discussing outgoing DNC chair Howard Dean's absence from Tim Kaine's press conference. The speculation is that Obama and Rahm Emanuel are basically giving Dean the back of their hand and walking away, which is a pity, because Dean is at least partly responsible for the big Democratic turnaround over the last four years.

Remember when we all complained that Democrats had no spine? When he ran for president in 2004, Howard Dean had spine to spare. The man denounced the war in Iraq, kind of like that Obama fellow, made health care a real issue again, and he campaigned with a fire and passion that we hadn't seen in a politician in years. Up to then, candidates just played it safe and kept their passions beneath the belt, but not Dean. His famous scream after losing the Iowa Caucus probably buried him, yes, but at least this Vermont physician's rebel yell was heard far and wide. Democrats would matter again soon, if they actually cared.

Kerry never had a chance to beat Bush, partly because he played it safe. He was the "default" for the Democratic Party: a noble loser with no backbone and no passion. He lost nobly and, not coincidentally, his best speech by far was his concession. Democrats are proud losers, most of the time, but not the Good Doctor Dean.

Dean also has to be given credit for kick-starting the Democratic Online Machine, for what it is. Online fundraising, blogs, social networks -- these were all part of Dean's big new way of campaigning, and soon everybody else was following suit. Dean was the first online candidate, who grew his support on an online grassroot network. The Democratic Party would not have the huge online advantage it has today if it weren't for Dean's original push. And Obama certainly knocked McCain (and Hillary) out of the park in terms of online organization and fundraising. People are still getting emails from Obama and Plouffe asking for donations. Who should get credit for that? Not just the Facebook dude.

Finally, we've got the 50 State Strategy. Another Kerry gaffe was simply going for the Blue States and crossing his fingers. Not a chance there. Dean saw the map differently. He knew that it wasn't so long ago that Democrats could take Virginia and Ohio and Florida, without it being a huge upset. Without the two years of ground work Dean put in as DNC chair after the 2004 election, the Democratic Party might not have captured those states in 2008.

Now, nobody deserves a cabinet position; no, these jobs should go to the best possible candidate. But Obama shouldn't dismiss Dean's contributions. The Politico story quotes a friend of Emanuel on the new Chief of Staff's thought process, saying:

"I talk to Rahm every day," said the friend. "Neither he nor I have mentioned the name of Howard Dean. It's just not on his radar screen."

That's precisely the problem. Forget what got you there, and you might just be leaving sooner than you thought. Can Kaine bring that same passion, that forethought to get online, that strategy that blew open the map? We'll find out, but I doubt we'll ever see him scream.

Comments

[lizr]

Dean is the best, he totally rocks and we will miss him. I only hope he can come home to VT and fix the mess that Douglas has us in here. He wants to balance the budget on the backs of the poor who are already suffering terribly from lack of jobs- his last campaign promise, unfulfilled.

If O doesnt stay progressive, I'd support Dean in a 3 rd party. Hard to say as a lifelong Dem, but I am getting pretty sick and tired of it all.

[joebhed]

The reason for the guvna's slap of inappreciation from the Obama/Emmanuel machine is quite simple.
Howard really did try to represent the democratic wing of the Democratic party, which to me means the more progressive, traditional 'farmer-wo­rker-popul­ist' element that once was.
Their will be no move by the Obama folks that Dean wouldn't have taken.

These guys want to be more centrist.
No room for people-oriented dogma.
Put Dean out to pasture.
Silence that Vermont rebel.
America, after all, is not Vermont.
Thank you, guvna.

[TRYKER]

Thank you for your thoughtful post re: Howard Dean, Blaise.
I too think Dean deserves all the credit for the dems big win and the 50 state strategy that he introduced. Wouldn't he make a great Surgeon General?
I suppose that Rahm is feeling a bit sheepish at not having had the best plans...so Dean gets the cold shoulder. But, there could be something behind the scenes that we aren't knowing about, perhaps Dean just wants to go home and go back to doctoring, or relax.
Either way, we will always have the scream to remember him, his boundless energy and solid spirit. Thanks Howard Dean. Maybe he'll be back at a later time.

[sebastiana]

I don't understand this. A simple oversight? Doubt it. Why exactly is Dean being dissed?

[ProudLiberalDan]

That Dean didn't get a top position is a personal disappointment of mine. His contribution to the Democratic Party has been invaluable. I don't think people remember just how much opposition to his 50-state strategy there was. The elites wanted the party to focus on television ads in a few states and write off huge sections of the country. The Democrats have a health majority in no small part to the fifty-state strategy.

If Obama didn't want him in the cabinet, then I think Surgeon General would have been suitable.

I have a feeling Rahm Emanuel's lingering resentment that Dean was proven right has more to do with snubbing Dean than any oversight on Obama's behalf.