Bush's extremism opens the door for a strong, non-ideological pragmatic but aggressive progressive like Howard Dean. The Republicans fear Dean is another Bill Clinton, a threat out of nowhere - a governor of a small state who accomplished things for people and won election after election navigating between the extremes.
"You've got nuts on the left, nuts on the right, and then you've got me," Dean laughs. The Republican brain trust is concerned that unless they paint Dean as a nut on the left, he'll expose Bush as a nut on the right, and voters will pick Dean.
I obtained a strategy email from Ed Gillespie, the RNC Chairman, sent to Republican "Team Leaders." These attacks directly from the Republican National Committee against Gov. Howard Dean expose the Bush Republicans' fear and loathing of Howard Dean and emphasize what they call his courageous "ULTRA-LIBERAL" positions and play up his disagreements with other Democrats.
Gillespie attacks Dean's accomplishments including signing a civil unions law, and his stance favoring equal rights for all Americans, including protecting rights for gays. Republicans attack Dean for expanding health care in Vermont, and his demands for universal national health care in an affordable, sensible plan. Republicans hope to whip up their faithful against Dean by attacking his long-standing respect for women shown by protecting a woman's right to choice.
Republicans express outrage against Dean's criticism of Bush's unfunded education gimmicks. They try to paint Dean as a hypocrite for not trusting Bush with "fast track" trade authority. The GOP glower: "Dean is the only candidate advocating a repeal of most of the President's tax cuts."
When Dean stands up to Bush and the extremist Republicans, they call him "out of the mainstream." They insist Dean is "WRONG," when he's right - just not right wing.
I left the following text unchanged. Knowing the Republicans' allergy to accuracy, the quotes may not be in context and these "facts" may be inaccurate. I present this not to endorse any of the assertions, but rather to demonstrate the GOP strategy against Howard Dean:
"Gov. Dean is an unabashed, unapologetic liberal...against the huge tax cut and for a dramatic universal health care plan...Yes, Gov. Dean and the rest of New England are outside the current mainstream." (Editorial, "About Gov. Dean," Bangor [Maine] Daily News, November 18, 2002)
THE FACTS ABOUT GOVERNOR HOWARD DEAN (D-VT)
DEAN IS ULTRA-LIBERAL ON CIVIL UNIONS
Governor Dean "Supported And Signed" A Law Requiring The State Of Vermont To Formally Recognize Same-Sex Civil Unions. "[Dean] supported and signed the state's famous and controversial 'civil unions' law, allowing gay and lesbian couples to participate in a formal ceremony that confers on them all the legal benefits of marriage." (David S. Broder, "For '04 Run, A Walk In Carter's Shoes," The Washington Post, July 12, 2002)
If Elected President, Dean Would Honor Civil Unions As A Matter Of National Policy. "'As president of the United States, I will recognize civil unions, which will then allow full equality under the law as far as the federal government is concerned,' Dean said in a speech to the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention in Philadelphia." (Ross Sneyd, "Dean Would Recognize Civil Unions As President," [Barre-Montpelier] Times Argus, September 14, 2002)
DEAN IS OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM ON HEALTH CARE AND TAXES
The Centerpiece Of Governor Dean's Presidential Platform Is Budget-Busting Universal Health Care.
Dean Has Said He Would Repeal Most Of President Bush's Tax Cut In Order To Fund His National Health Insurance Program. "Dean not only advocates universal health insurance but also tells audiences that Vermont already has moved in that direction...How to pay for this? Simple, says Dean. Roll back virtually all of President Bush's tax cut of 2001..." (David S. Broder, "For '04 Run, A Walk In Carter's Shoes," The Washington Post, July 12, 2002)
DEAN OPPOSED BIPARTISAN EDUCATION REFORM
Governor Dean Routinely Attacks President Bush's Bipartisan Education Reform.
To Avoid The Accountability Requirements Of The New Law, Dean Threatened To Refuse Federal Title I Money For The Poorest Of Vermont's Schoolchildren. "The Bush education plan is a bad plan...[W]hat we are looking at in Vermont is not accepting the money..." (Caryn Rousseau, "New England Governor Tests Waters In Arkansas," The Associated Press, August 16, 2002)
DEAN IS ULTRA-LIBERAL ON ABORTION
As Governor, Dean "Impressed Feminists By Opposing Occasional Legislative Efforts At Restricting Abortion." (Jonathan Cohn, "Invisible Man," The New Republic, July 1, 2002)
Dean Supports Abortion On Demand, Which He Believes Is "None Of The Government's Business." (NBC's "Meet The Press," July 21, 2002)
DEAN IN DEPTH
WRONG ON CIVIL UNIONS: DEAN WOULD RECOGNIZE CIVIL UNIONS NATIONALLY
Dean Speaks Out Proudly About His Role In The Passage Of Vermont's Civil Unions Law. "Speaking before an audience of gay and lesbian rights advocates Sunday, Dean [said]...'[I]t was in many ways the most important event in my political life...There aren't many people who get to do what I did.'" ("Gov. Dean Touts Civil Unions In Pennsylvania Address," The Associated Press, January 28, 2002)
Dean Believes Public Support For Civil Unions Is So Widespread That There Should Be A National Law Conferring The Legal Benefits Of Marriage On Homosexual Couples. "I think civil unions will continue to sweep across the country...As president, I would recognize civil unions federally, because equal rights under the law doesn't just mean equal rights under state law. It means equal rights under federal law." (Carla Marinucci, "Democrats Go West To Get To White House," The San Francisco Chronicle, October 19, 2002)
Vermont Is The Only State In The Country That Formally Honors Same-Sex Civil Unions. As of fall 2001, 35 states had formally refused to recognize homosexual marriages. (Saskia Kim And Drew Liebert, "A Primer On Civil Unions," Assembly Judiciary Committee Of California State Legislature, October/November 2001)
A Plurality Of Americans Oppose Civil Unions And A Majority Do Not Approve Of Legal Marriage For Homosexuals. In a poll conducted by The Associated Press, 46% opposed civil unions, that would give gays and lesbians all the rights and benefits of marriage. Just 41% of respondents supported civil unions for gays. In the same poll, 51% believed gays and lesbians should not be allowed to legally marry, while only 34% thought they should. (The Associated Press Poll, Conducted By ICR, May 17-21, 2000; N=1,012 Adults Nationwide; MoE ± 3)
WRONG ON HEALTH CARE: DEAN SUPPORTS UNIVERSAL BUDGET-BUSTING HEALTH CARE
In Vermont, Dean Pushed For The Same Type Of Liberal Health Care Policies That Failed Under President Clinton. "Dean...work[ed] closely with the Clinton team and champion[ed] for Vermont a 'managed competition' scheme similar to the one the administration was pushing for the country as a whole." (Jonathan Cohn, "Invisible Man," The New Republic, July 1, 2002)
Dean Does Not Comprehend That Universal Health Care Would Be A New, Sweeping Government Entitlement. "In his appearances, Howard Dean champions universal health care patched together with a government-supported program to guarantee health insurance for the young, prescription benefits for the elderly and insurance support for small-business employees. 'This is not a big government plan,' Dean said. 'Insurance companies should like this plan.'" (C. David Kotok, "Presidential Hopeful Travels To Nebraska, Stumps For Stormy," Omaha World-Herald, October 9, 2002)
Dean Says That, If Elected President, He Would Repeal The Tax Cut In Order To Fund Universal Health Care. He admits that universal health coverage "can't be done without a new infusion of money 'which can't be done without eliminating the president's tax cuts. Somebody has to tell the truth about health care policy...'" (Mike Glover, "Dean Sees Corporate Scandals Damaging Republican Image," The Associated Press, July 16, 2002)
WRONG ON TAXES: DEAN OPPOSES THE PRESIDENT'S TAX CUTS
During Eleven Years As Governor Of Vermont, Dean Enacted Only One Limited Tax Reduction And Opposed Cutting Taxes When The State Was Running A Large Surplus. "As unwilling as Dean was to raise taxes, he cut them only once, in 1999, and then only moderately. In the late '90s, when the state suddenly had large surpluses on its hands, Dean opposed larger tax cuts..." (Jonathan Cohn, "Invisible Man," The New Republic, July 1, 2002)
Dean Has Come Out Strongly In Favor Of Repealing President Bush's Tax Cuts, Calling Them "Bad Economic Policy." "I think most of the [P]resident's tax cut ought to be repealed. It's very bad economic policy." (NBC's "Meet The Press," July 21, 2002)
Dean Also Supported Repealing Tax Cuts That Benefit Working-Class Americans. When asked whether he would repeal tax relief even for low and moderate income taxpayers, Dean responded, "[s]ure, because no middle class and working class people that I know noticed they got a tax cut." (CNN's "Capital Gang," October 5, 2002)
Dean Believes He Knows Which Americans "Need" Tax Relief And Which Do Not. "'The Bush tax cuts don't go to the people who need help,' said the governor. 'Rather the bulk of the tax cuts go to people in the top 2 percent of income earners. They are people who don't need a tax cut.'" (Bob Andersen, "Vermont Governor Visits Clayton County As He Seeks Democratic Presidential Nomination," Clayton County Register, September 11, 2002)
WRONG ON EDUCATION: DEAN HARSHLY CRITICIZES THE BIPARTISAN EDUCATION REFORM ENACTED BY PRESIDENT BUSH
Dean Called The President's Education Reform "A Terrible Mistake." "Dean...has called President Bush's education plan 'a terrible mistake.'" (Krista Larson, "State Awarded Federal Education Funds," The Associated Press, July 11, 2002)
The No Child Left Behind Act Is Supported By Most Republicans And Democrats. The No Child Left Behind Act conference report passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the Senate, by a vote of 87 to 10. The conference report also passed in the House by a vote of 381 to 41. Only six Senate Democrats and six House Democrats voted against the bill. (H.R. 1, House Roll Call #497: Passed 381-41: R 183-33; D 198-6; I 0-2, December 13, 2001; H.R. 1, Senate Roll Call #371: Passed 87-10: R 44-3; D 43-6; I 0-1, December 18, 2001; Public Law No. 107-110, January 8, 2002)
Potential Presidential Rivals Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), John F. Kerry (Mass.) And John Edwards (N.C.) All Voted In Favor Of The Education Bill In The Senate. (David S. Broder, "For '04 Run, A Walk In Carter's Shoes," The Washington Post, July 12, 2002; H.R. 1, Senate Roll Call #371: Passed 87-10: R 44-3; D 43-6; I 0-1, December 18, 2001)
Dean "Rebell[ed]" Against The Education Law, Suggesting That Vermont Reject Federal Money For Its Schools In Order To Escape New Accountability Requirements. "Rebelling against new school-testing demands, Vermont's governor says he wants his state to consider rejecting $26 million in federal education money to escape the requirements attached to it."
"The testing component is a key part of President Bush's education plan, which Gov. Howard Dean called 'a terribly flawed bill.' He also said provisions on school prayer and access to student information overstep the limits of federal oversight." He later avoided taking this tough position on funding by leaving the decision to his successor." (Greg Toppo, "Vermont Governor Considers Refusing Federal Funds So Schools Can Opt Out Of Testing," The Associated Press, April 19, 2002; David S. Broder, "For '04 Run, A Walk In Carter's Shoes," The Washington Post, July 12, 2002)
Dean Scoffed That The No Child Left Behind Act Will Eventually Be Known As The "Every Child Left Behind Bill." (Wilson Ring, "Dean Says Bush Ed Policies Showing True Colors," The Associated Press, August 28, 2002)
WRONG ON ABORTION: DEAN SUPPORTS ABORTION ON DEMAND
As Governor Of Vermont, Dean Earned Points From Feminist Groups By Fighting Any Legislation That Would Strengthen Abortion Laws. (Jonathan Cohn, "Invisible Man," The New Republic, July 1, 2002)
Dean Maintains That Regulating Abortion Is "None Of The Government's Business." (NBC's "Meet The Press," July 21, 2002)
Most Americans Think The Government Should Impose Some Legal Limitations On Abortion. In a 2001 Gallup poll, 56% believed that abortions should be legal only under "certain circumstances." 43% supported legal abortion "only in a few circumstances," while just 12% supported it in "most circumstances." (Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll, Conducted By The Gallup Organization, Conducted August 10-12, 2001, N=1,017 Adults Nationwide)
WRONG ON BUDGET POLICY: DEAN CLAIMS HE'S A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, BUT HIS RECORD AS GOVERNOR DOESN'T SHOW IT
Dean Claims He Is Leaving The Vermont Governorship With A Balanced Budget In Place. "[W]hen Dean claims that he is departing office with a balanced General Fund budget, honesty ought to compel him to confess just how he got it to balance: robbing other funds, increasing local share property taxes, and levying an unlegislated tax on health insurance paid by individuals, small businesses, and self-insured companies." (John McClaughry, "Climbing Out Of The Hole," Rutland Herald, December 18, 2002)
But Dean Finagled A Balanced Budget By Shifting Funds And Hurting Taxpayers:
Reduced the General Fund's required contribution to the Education Fund by $9.3 million
Shifted $9.2 million from the tobacco settlement fund, $6.4 million from the Transportation Fund and $2.1 million from elsewhere to claim a year-end surplus projection of $80,000
Drastically reduced payments to doctors, hospitals, and other caregivers to make up the shortfall in the state's Medicaid bills, increasing health care costs to non-Medicaid patients
Forced an increased local share property tax by reducing the state contribution to the Education Fund
(John McClaughry, "Climbing Out Of The Hole," Rutland Herald, December 18, 2002)
"Seeking To Prove" He Is Leaving Office With A Balanced Budget, Dean Took The Unusual Step Of Releasing His Own Outline For A 2004 State Budget. "[E]ager to underscore the fiscal discipline he believes is part of his legacy, [Dean] released the outlines of a 2004 state budget...."
"He was seeking to prove that the state's books are in balance as he prepares to leave office, despite warnings from the incoming administration that a deficit of $30 million to $40 million could be looming...The plan tends to hide how difficult the budget situation is, though, because it would require departments to spend no more next year than they are now even though state employees are due negotiated pay raises." (Ross Sneyd, "Dean Offers Outline Of '04 Budget," Burlington Free Press, December 12, 2002)
Incoming Governor Jim Douglas Sees A Bleak Budget Picture. Douglas is "writing a plan for the 2004 budget that will rely on general fund revenues that appear to be much softer than even the reduced estimates that outgoing Gov. Howard Dean and legislative leaders settled on...Douglas said he was anticipating some fundamental changes in state government to hold down spending, including eliminating some programs, leaving some jobs unfilled and possibly laying off workers." (Ross Sneyd, "Douglas Appoints Cabinet Secretaries, Discusses Budget," The Associated Press, December 5, 2002)
AT ODDS WITH FELLOW DEMOCRATS
On Freezing The Tax Cut
Dean Disagrees With Every Other Major Democrat Candidate On The Tax Cut. Dean is the only candidate advocating a repeal of most of the President's tax cuts, while Kerry, Lieberman, and Edwards have called for freezing various portions of the tax relief act. Gephardt has not taken a clear position on freezing or repealing the tax cut. (NBC's "Meet The Press," July 21, 2002; NBC's "Meet The Press," December 1, 2002; NBC's "Meet The Press," October 6, 2002; CNN's "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer," October 13, 2002; Ronald Brownstein, "Lieberman Urges Tax Cut Rollback," The Los Angeles Times, May 21, 2002)
On Education
Dean Disagrees With Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards, And Gephardt On The Bipartisan Education Reform Law. Dean repeatedly criticizes the No Child Left Behind Act, which he calls a "terrible mistake." But Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards, and Gephardt each voted for the bill. (Krista Larson, "State Awarded Federal Education Funds," The Associated Press, July 11, 2002; H.R. 1, House Roll Call #497: Passed 381-41: R 183-33; D 198-6; I 0-2, December 13, 2001; H.R. 1, Senate Roll Call #371: Passed 87-10: R 44-3; D 43-6; I 0-1, December 18, 2001; Public Law No. 107-110, January 8, 2002)
On Gay Marriage
Dean Disagrees With Lieberman, And Gephardt On Gay Marriage. Dean signed legislation that extends all the legal benefits of marriage to gay couples in Vermont. However, Lieberman, and Gephardt all voted in favor of the 1996 "Defense of Marriage Act." (David S. Broder, "For '04 Run, A Walk In Carter's Shoes," The Washington Post, July 12, 2002; H.R. 3396, Senate Vote #280: Passed 85-14: R 53-0; D 32-14, September 10, 1996; H.R. 3396, House Vote #316: Passed 342-67: R 224-1; D 118-65, July 12, 1996)
On Balancing The Budget
Dean Disagrees With Lieberman, Kerry, And Gephardt On Balancing The Federal Budget. Dean is campaigning on the claim that he will bring a balanced budget to Washington, and he supported the 1995 attempt to create a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. But Lieberman, Kerry, and Gephardt each voted against balanced budget legislation. (NBC's "Meet The Press," July 21, 2002; CNN's "Crossfire," February 28, 1995; S.J. Res. 1, Vote #24: Rejected 66-34: R 55-0; D 11-34, March 4, 1997; H.J. Res. 1, Vote #158: Rejected 64-35: R 52-1; D 12-34, June 6, 1996; H.J. Res. 1, Vote #98: Rejected 65-35: R 51-2; D 14-33, March 2, 1995; H.J. Res. 103, Vote #65: Rejected 271-153: R 172-1; D 99-151; I 0-1, March 17, 1994)
On Fast Track Trade Authority
Dean Disagrees With Kerry, And Lieberman On Giving Fast Track Trade Negotiating Authority To President Bush. While Dean supported fast track trade authority under President Clinton, he has since changed his position, telling unions and other interest groups that he would not vote to give such trade negotiating power to President Bush unless strong labor and environmental standards were guaranteed by the bill. Senators Kerry, and Lieberman voted for the Trade Act of 2002, which gave fast track trade authority to President Bush. (David S. Broder, "For '04 Run, A Walk In Carter's Shoes," The Washington Post, July 12, 2002; H.R. 3009, CQ Vote #207: Adopted 64-34: R 43-5; D 20-29; I 1-0, August 1, 2002)
Howard Dean emerged from back of the Democratic pack because he's taking the fight directly to Bush, and Dean is using the media to inform millions of Americans about Bush's failed policies. Some of the other candidates who were reluctant to speak out are following Dean's lead. Democrats are finally finding their voices.
The right wing is not taking this sitting down. FAUX News, Rush Limbaugh, and other GOP tools slam Dean every day. Sean Hannity calls him "Howard Dean McGovern." This is because - whether or not Dean eventually ends up with the nomination - Dean is helping us against Bush. The right wingers understand that. Unfortunately some on our side apparently don't get it.
Someone else may end up as the nominee, but as Dean begins to pull away from the pack, unfair accusations against him circulate like the "SOBIG" virus. Some of his rivals are making these desperate attacks, but I've traced some directly to Republican National Committee talking points. No shock there.
Right wingers love the DDT method. That stands for Distort, Distract and Trash. They put out attack faxes and post messages to trick unwitting tools into distorting Dean's record. They do this to distract attention from Bush's lousy record and away from Dean's strong anti-Bush message. They do this hoping to trash Dean himself.
Karl Rove knows if he can discredit Dean he can bury Dean's message. As Democrats blame and bloody each other in this internecine struggle, Rove laughs. The right wing is a minority in America, and can only stay in control through divide and conquer tactics. They need us infighting and so they foster and relish these attacks against Dean -- and against any Democrat.
The RNC is encouraging attacks on Dean now, even as they funded Nader's attacks on Gore in 2000. If someone else emerges as a threat, their venom will shift to that candidate. Was Al Gore perfect? No. Was he light-years better than Bush? Yes. Are the Democratic contenders perfect? No. Are they light-years better than Bush? Yes.
One question for Dean / Democrat bashers: Unless you actually want to help Bush win so the right wing can continue to screw us over, please think before attacking any Democratic candidates. Don't be an unwitting tool of the right wing.
