Grading Howard Dean
How much credit should the outgoing Democratic chairman get for the party's success?
Howard Dean: Champion of the Democratic Party?
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
The Democrats were "in the wilderness and looked ready to stay there for quite some time," said Mike Madden in Salon, when Howard Dean took over as Democratic National Committee chairman. President Bush had just won reelection; the Republicans had taken control of Congress. Now Dean is stepping aside, and Obama should be grateful to him for forcing the party to fight back in states they had given up for lost and contributing to the Democrats' unexpectedly swift "rejuvenation."
If Dean helped Obama, said Kirsten Powers in the New York Post, it was only by "getting out of the way." He wasn't the "singular visionary" his fans make him out to be. The heads of the congressional campaign committees—Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Rahm Emanuel—"were more instrumental in Democratic gains in the House and Senate and key to their strategy was playing in red and purple districts," and Obama's heavy lifting on "red turf" was done by his "phenomenal" ground organization.
But it's silly to deny that Dean helped pave the way, said John Nichols in The Nation online. While other Democratic leaders talked compromise four years ago, "Dean promised to 'show up and fight.'" Republicans thought it was suicide to give Dean this job. But "with that 50-state strategy, his full embrace of netroots activism and, above all, his refusal to pull punches, Dean made being a Democrat mean something."
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3 Comments
Posted by Jim Z., Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 3:31 pm My gut tells me that Dean had an enormous effect on where the Dems are today. Over the past few years, I probably heard Howard Dean's name in the news more than any single Democratic leader, and it was always in the context of fighting back against poor GOP policies, statements and actions. He made it OK for Dem's to fight back and stand up to the stupidity and evil that has been running things since 2001. He has earned the Democratic Party's enduring gratitude.
Posted by Michael J. Gorman, Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 3:41 pm Howard Dean is one of those guys who do very well in the background, but who rile people up unnecessarily when they are in front of the camera. The Democrats owe Dean credit for a job well done, especially fighting for every vote in all fifty states. Dean is like a good "assistant" football coach, who turns into a "Buddy Ryan" or "Bill Belichick" when he's the man. I like him in the background, providing ideas and support.
Posted by heath eiden, Thursday, November 13, 2008, 12:04 pm Dean gave the Democratic Party a backbone when no one--no one else had the courage to stand up to the neo-con, sandbox mentality toward the world. Rahm and Chuck, meanwhile, were plotting for Hillary in '08 and were willing to follow the DLC down the drain for 4 more years of the Bush Massacre. Dean's a hero and history will vindicate him, never mind the debate over the 50 state strategy.
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