The Myth About Dean 's Courage For Being Anti-War Early [View All]

[DrFunkenstein]

Dean was a complete long shot from a nowhere state and no real rationale for being in the contest. People who were paying attention at the time understand that Dean's anti-war statements were also his biggest applause lines. Despite hardly being a pacifist by any stretch, he responded to his audience reactions like a true politician.

Dean saw that his numbers were going up the more vigorously he opposed Bush, and you can actually watch his transformation from moderate Governor to radical activist (although he skipped out on the protests just in case). The IWR was the best thing that ever happened to Dean, because it gave him a wedge over the obviously more qualified and knowledgable Sen. Kerry. Outside the IWR, their stances on Iraq were almost indistinguishable. And so Dean dutifully gripped the issue as a crutch, and a substitute for a larger policy agenda.

Dean was very well served by the internet-driven anti-war movement that had built up at the same time as his candidacy. He was also well-served by a grassroots campaign that was largely out of his hands, although he played the demagogue with appropriate panache.

I am still surprised when I hear people talking about his courage for opposing the war early, but these supporters seem oblivious to the political nature of that courage. Without opposing the war, Dean would be an also-ran at best. As it stands, he is running on a platform of 4 years of anti-Bush to great success.

<>