Much of the opposition to Howard Dean as D
NC chair comes from members of the D
LC.
Given three minutes in front of the Democratic Leadership Council, here is what I would say.
(With an appreciative nod to Malacandra, who gave us the following excellent quote during his speech at a recent breakfast with DNC members and rank-and-file Democrats: "Some of you may see us as barbarians at the gate. Some of us see ourselves as the cavalry. The truth is, we're fresh horses.")
[taps microphone]
Is this thing on? Great.
Thanks for giving me a few minutes of your time. I'll be brief.
This country needs us.
The world needs us.
We must win in 06 and 08.
My message to you today is simple.
Leadership comes from the top down. Victory comes from the ground up.
I'll say that again.
Leadership comes from the top down. Victory comes from the ground up.
The decision before the DNC today hinges on a clear-eyed understanding of that simple reality.
To win in 06 and 08, we need leadership at the top that will inspire from the ground up.
Look at this party. Really look at us.
Set aside your preconceptions and prejudices, your labels and labels. Just take a quiet breath and look.
Some of us are tired.
We've been fighting for years, and 2004 was a cruel punch in the gut.
Some of us are grim.
We're battle-scarred political veterans with a hard faces and a thousand-yard stare.
Some of us are angry.
We will never lay down our arms, not while breath still crosses our teeth.
And some of us are fresh recruits.
We're brand spanking new. Whether old, young, professionals, students, or parents, we've pulled our heads out of the sand and we're taking action.
We've donated money and time to the Democratic party and its candidates like never before.
We're willing to listen and learn.
And Howard Dean brought us to you.
Many of you here in the DLC do not like Howard Dean. You may have concerns about his personality, his opinions, his history, or some of his recruits.
I tell you this.
Howard Dean is the core of a huge movement of energy and hope for this party.
Think about that. Just take a moment and consider that.
Without lifting a finger, or spending a dime, we could have the biggest shot in the arm this party has seen in a generation. Volunteers. Innovation. Reinforcements for those who have struggled at the barricades for so long.
You're all veterans of the American political battlefield. You know how valuable fresh troops are. Well, here we stand. Fresh horses ready to ride.
And Howard Dean brought us to you.
I tell you something else.
Howard Dean's most powerful vision is not about politics.
It's about elections.
In the days immediately following his defeat in the primaries, Howard Dean reforged Dean For America into Democracy For America. The second he was no longer a candidate, he began setting a new course for us.
I remember well the conference call in which he explained to us that we were to find -- or become -- local candidates with progressive values and take control of our country from the bottom up.
From the bottom up.
You see the importance here? He immediately saw that, no matter what kind of leadership we received from the top, we could only win through individual action at the local level. At the level where one good man or one good woman can truly turn the tide.
Empowerment.
Victory.
Vision.
Howard Dean is no fiery demagogue. He is a visionary pragmatist. He can see where we need to be, he sets us on a pragmatic course to that goal, and then he trusts us to work together to come up with the best solutions for our individual tactical challenges.
I realize that some of you will not be swayed to support Howard Dean no matter what I can say today. You have strong convictions, and I respect that.
All I ask today is that you choose a positive path.
Fight for whomever you choose for chairman. Absolutely.
But do not fight against anyone.
Should Howard Dean win, you and I will see each other again, as we fight side by side in the trenches in 2006, the gritty grins of victory on our faces.
Should another candidate win, you and I will still see each other in those trenches. But we will have fewer allies around us. And the grins will be harder to muster.
I'm your friend. Your ally. Your fellow trooper. A fresh and ready soldier reporting for duty.
So is Howard Dean.