Howard Dean for DNC Chair

In the wake of Terry McAuliffe’s departure, the Democratic National Committee will require a new chairperson. After the election losses of 2004, the chair position will be more important than ever. The Democrats need new energy, new ideas, and a boldness that will cut through the despair of defeat. A handful of serious candidates have announced their interest in the post. Most of the candidates, though they may be known within certain circles of the Party, do not have national name recognition. A low profile choice, I think, is a mistake for the party at this time of reconstruction. Howard Dean, the only candidate with a national reputation, is the bold, daring, risky choice. At this time, I believe the Democrats need to take the risk.

There are many criticisms of the Dean candidacy, and most are legitimate. I cannot dispel all concerns, but I would like to address the most prominent arguments that I have heard. Some people, I know, hold an intense dislike for Howard Dean, and will not be convinced of his worth. To them, I can only ask that they remain in the party and give Dean a chance.

“Howard Dean is a liberal”. Although Howard Dean did not run from the “liberal” label, which I personally think is commendable, can he really be called a liberal? Consider the budget. Howard Dean balanced the budget every year he was governor of Vermont, even though Vermont is one of the few states that does not require a balanced budget. He cannot legitimately be called a “tax and spend” liberal. Consider gun rights. Howard Dean received the endorsement of the NRA as governor. Consider same-sex marriage. Instead of pushing for marriage rights for homosexuals, he established the very reasonable compromise of civil unions. Are these positions liberal? To some political strategists, who are a little to savvy for their own good, it does not matter. Governor Dean has been branded with the “liberal” label, and therefore is untouchable. My answer is: so what? Dean is not running for President. He is not running for Congress in a red state. He is seeking an internal office where he will not face the votes of the public at large. Perception may equal reality in electoral politics, but in this internal Party office it is more important to look at what the candidate really is. Some of Dean’s positions, far from being liberal, may be too conservative for some people. That brings me to the next criticism.

“Howard Dean is too conservative”. Nonsense! The right-of-center positions listed above are counterbalanced by his positions on health care, abortion, and the Iraq war. As governor of Vermont, Dean was fiscally responsible enough to balance the budget, but he was not averse to government programs that help poor people. He expanded health care to almost ever person in his state. He is ardently, unwaveringly pro-choice. He was the first prominent presidential candidate to stand up against the war in Iraq, and he never backed down from that position. So what do you get if you roll these conservative and liberal positions into one person? You have a moderate. But not a wishy-washy, let’s-all-get-along moderate. You have Howard Dean.

Republicans seem to be eager for us to elect Howard Dean to the chair of the DNC. They seem to think that they can use his chairmanship as leverage to win more elections. No doubt they think they can use his outspokenness against him. My answer is: so what? Why cares what the Republicans think? They won’t be running elections against him, so the advantage they think they will gain from his chairmanship will not materialize. To illustrate, look at Karl Rove. The Democrats attacked Karl Rove relentlessly. There is no person that can be better described as Darth Vader than Rove. Did these attacks gain us anything? Did it win us one single election? No. And attacking Howard Dean will not win the Republicans a single election. People simply do not vote for a candidate based on who the party chairperson is. Most don’t even know who the party chairperson is.

Let’s look, for a moment, at what Howard Dean can do for the Democratic Party. Obviously, he is not someone we will run for president. He did some things wrong in his campaign, but he also did some things right. He was able to organize a grass roots movement that built into a full-fledged political force. He pioneered internet political communication. He energized the base of the party at a time when the party bigwigs were basically rubber-stamping everything George W. Bush sent down the pike. He presented a bold, passionate Democratic Party to the country at a time when the Party was demoralized and defeated. If not for Howard Dean, there would have been no John Kerry, no Barack Obama, and no 48%. This Party owes it to itself to get this man in a position where his strengths can be utilized and his weaknesses can be minimized. His energy, his appeal to youth, his gift for fundraising, and his grass roots appeal will all be vital ingredients to a revitalized Democratic Party.

Howard Dean has his enemies. Everyone who dares to take a stand on any issue will have enemies. Some criticisms against the man are legitimate. The “scream” was handled poorly by his campaign. Focusing on his weaknesses, however, misses the point. His strengths are in areas that are important for the DNC chair. Democrats, do not be timid. Democrats, do not fear risks. Democrats, be bold and stand up for yourselves. Elect Howard Dean as your chairperson.

© 2005 Bryan Lower

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