My favorite DLC'er on
Dean:
My basic take on Howard Dean's DNC chairmanship is simple. After the 2004 elections, Dean had a choice. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for him to have assumed leadership of an abrasive and divisive faction of the Democratic party, as a proto-candidate for the 2008 presidential nomination.
But instead, he chose to pursue the difficult and often thankless job of party chairman, building on the aspects of his 2004 candidacy that virtually all Democats appreciated: small-dollar fundraising, and grass-roots efforts to expand the ranks of party activists. For all my differences of opinion with Dean's 2004 campaign, his self-sacrificing choice afterwards earned my respect, and my loyalty.
Dean's work as party chairman has focused expanding the Democratic base in red states, and that, too, is exactly what I hoped he would do.
Every party chair spends a lot of time speaking to Democratic activists, and inevitably serves up a lot of red meat. Dean's recent "controversial" remarks would have been completely unobjectionable, and probably unnoticed, if they had been uttered by his predecessor.
So I think the media treatment of his remarks is unfair, and moreover, misses the legitimate thrust of his basic argument: the GOP leadership does indeed favor wealth over work, and is indeed divisive and exclusive on issues of culture, ethnicity and religion. Sound-bites aside, Dean is right, and you can count me out of any campaign to get him to resign for saying the right thing in a way that is being wilfully misrepresented.
The Deaniac DLC Wing? Who knew?
Seriously though, everyone knows I have great respect for Kilgore. But understand, tomorrow or the next day he'll write something we are sure to disagree with. But remember this post. and remember, Kilgore is a Dem, and on substance, not just in name. Our Big Tent Democratic Party needs Kilgores and Deans, McDermotts and Nelsons. Boxers and Conyers. Rangels and Clarks. Reids and Kennedys. Feinstein and Clinton, Hillary AND Bill.
We need them ALL.
