Along with about 100 other Democrats in American Samoa, I had dinner with Governor Howard Dean tonight. Dr. Dean arrived in American Samoa Thursday night, attended the inauguration festivities for our Democratic Governor, toured the island, and had a chance to experience the unique culture of Samoa. At the dinner tonight, he was gracious, personable, and very willing to chat about local and national issues. He even took a turn on the dance floor after dinner.
After reading the many diaries and comments here speculating about his future, I had a chance to ask him what he has planned for the future. Gov. Dean said (and I am paraphrasing here) that he wanted to make some money giving speeches, to continue to work on health care and early childhood education issues, and that to continue to speak out, agitate and confront on issues he believes to be important to our future.
His keynote speech at the dinner talked about President-Elect Obama's election as the passing of the torch to a new generation, much as JFK's election was in 1960. He noted that the election this year marked the first time that voters under 35 outnumbered voters over 65, and that 63% of those young people voted Democratic. He talked about the difference between the activists of his (my) generation and today: We got a million people to demonstrate for civil rights, young people today generate millions of emails to Congress and their voices are heard more clearly than ours were. Governor Dean said he will continue to be loud and "confrontational" about important issues.
Like many people here, I wish Gov. Dean had been selected as HHS Secretary or another highly visible role, but I am happy to know he will continue to be a voice for change. It was nice to have a chance to hear him tonight, and to be able to thank him in person for the 50 state strategy and the gains the Party has made under his leadership.